A known eastern news source DigiTimes, is reporting that Apple is increasing screen size in upcoming iPhone 5. The sources in component supplier indicate that display size will be increased to 4 Inches so that iPhone 5 can compete with growing class of 4 Inch devices. May be one of three iPhone 5 prototypes have this screen size ?
The report makes also sense in regard of recent reports about iPhone Mini/Nano. If Apple produces a smaller iPhone then there should be a considerable difference in screen size between a normal iPhone and iPhone Mini. Apple would also like catering the gray area between smart phone and tablets.
In fact, smartphones that adopt the Google Android platform are mainly 4-inch and larger models. Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy S and Google’s Nexus S adopt 4-inch panels, Sharp adopts 5.5-inch for its smartphone, and Acer plans to launch a 4.8-inch smartphone. With Apple joining the 4-inch and larger market, 4- to 5.5-inch will become the major battlefield for smartphones and further change the industry dynamics for small- to medium-size panels.
Another report from DigiTimes claims that Apple is considering changing supplier for custom chips. Currently, Samsung has been producing Apple’s A4 chips. However, due to growing competition and afraid of its architecture leak, Apple may transfer the orders towards TMSC.
With Samsung now competing directly with Apple with its own smartphones and tablet PC, Apple is reportedly concerned about leakage of its processor technology to a major rival in the end-use market.
In fact, Apple already began handling some A4 orders to TSMC in 2010 when Samsung’s capacity was unable to fulfill strong demand of Apple devices, the sources said, adding that the move at the time was perhaps to test TSMC’s capability.
The report also reveals that iPhone 5 will be equipped with A5 chip while iPad 2 will have an enhanced version of A4 chip.