The smartphone market is full of rumors about the iPhone 6 as Samsung Electronics announces early launch of its new flagship smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy S5. According to supply chain sources, the suppliers of Cupertino, California based Apple Inc. will initiate the mass production of displays in the month of May for the preparation of the next installment of the iPhone, which is expected to have a launch date of this autumn. Sources have said that the device will have two versions with the 4.7 inch screen to be introduced first while the 5.5 inch version may have to face a slight delay.

The sources specifically asked not to be identified and also added that Sharp Corporation, Japan Display Inc. and LG Display Inc. of South Korea have all been ordered to make the screens. No comment was made by Apple Inc. and none was made by the representatives of the three suppliers. Both the mentioned iPhone screens will be larger than the 4.0 inch panels that can be found on the company’s existing models, which are the iPhone 5C and the iPhone 5S. Larger iPhones are the subject of this month’s rumor grid and they will indicate yet another incremental tweak to the highly demanded smartphone line. Moreover, this will also mark an attempt of the iPhone maker to catch up to its competitors such as the formidable Samsung Electronics.

American technology innovation was once defined by Apple Inc., but these days, the company is under rising pressure to revolutionize the gadget industry once again. However, Tim Cook, chief executive officer continues to play cards close to his chest even though he has promised new product categories to be introduced this year. Since November 2012, the company’s share price has languished under $600 and this is partly because of worries about the saturation of the smartphone market and the company’s ability to stay at the forefront of technological innovation.

It is expected that both screens of the iPhone 6 will use in-cell touch panel technology, which will be incorporated into the screen and this will allow thinner construction as compared to standard ouch panel films, which were launched with the iPhone 5. However, sources added that in-cell production technology was giving rise to some difficulties in the larger 5.5 inch size. Therefore, it was decided to initiate mass production with only the 4.7 inch version. It is expected that production of the 5.5 inch version will start a few months later.

There is also a possibility that a shift might be made in the larger version from the in-cell technology to film version, as per the sources. The first supplier to begin the production would be Japan Display. It was also said that the company would be using its flagship plant in Mobara, Tokyo for doing so and will start in the month of May. The others, however, will be starting mass production from the month of June, as per the orders of Apple Inc. The news hasn’t been made official yet.

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