5.5-inch iPhone 6, new iPad Air and iPad mini models reportedly entering mass production in September

BY Evan Selleck

Published 25 Jul 2014

iPhone 6 concept render

The big question on everyone’s mind right now is when Apple is going to launch bigger iPhones. While it’s a foregone conclusion that the company has bigger iPhones in the pipeline, the only detail left standing at this point is a launch window. A new report is adding some fuel to the fire that we may have to wait a bit longer for the 5.5-inch model.

According to Chinese news sources, and published by GforGames, rumors that Apple would put the 4.7- and 5.5-inch iPhone 6/Air models into mass production in July will apparently not pan out. Admittedly, the reports of Apple’s iPhone 6 progress have been all over the charts. Just recently, we heard that Apple was asking its suppliers to ramp up mass production of the iPhone 6 — both the 4.7- and 5.5-inch variants. However, this follows a series of ups and downs in the timeline for a launch date, with most reports suggesting the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 could be delayed due to differing complications, including battery problems, or even to avoid competition with the 4.7-inch variant.

In fact, some had even pointed out that a lack of internal parts leaks, as we have seen a plethora of such pieces from the rumored 4.7-inch iPhone 6, suggests that the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 is not as close to production as many believe. On July 24, the first reported image of the Volume/Power flex cable for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 landed on the Internet, which just adds more confusion to the pot.

image iPhone 6

Now, a new report claims that Apple will wait to put the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 into mass production in September. Moreover, it suggests that Apple may be experiencing some yield issues with the 4.7-inch model, but that it could be alleviated as early as August, ahead of the tentatively scheduled September launch date. The report also points out that the upgrades to supplier facilities, from humans to robots, is obviously helping with any manufacturing woes that could have originally cropped up.

Interestingly enough, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 isn’t the only device mentioned in the article, as it suggests that Apple will gear up mass production for the iPad Air and iPad mini successors in September as well, which would mark a later launch date than expected.

With so much talk of delays, or just waiting in general, it’s good to hear that the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is still on schedule, as noted by the report. Which means we should still see it, and iOS 8, launch in September.

Are you getting excited, or are you waiting for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6?

[via GforGames; UDN]