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Higher-End 4.7 and 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 to Get Sapphire Displays, Higher Price Tags

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Apple has plans to use a sapphire crystal display in the higher-end models of the two versions of the iPhone 6 that it plans to debut this fall, reports The Wall Street Journal. Because of the higher cost of sapphire, Apple may also charge more for the high-end versions of the devices.
Apple is considering using sapphire screens in more-expensive models of the two new, larger iPhones it plans to debut this fall, if it can get enough of the material, people familiar with the matter say. Some analysts expect Apple to charge more for the phones than previous new models, because of increased component costs.
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Multiple iPhone 6 rumors have speculated that sapphire could be constrained to either the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6 or the higher-end models due to cost and production issues, but The Wall Street Journal is the first mainstream publication to confirm those rumors.

If Apple is only planning to use sapphire in the higher-end models of the 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6, that could explain why a sandpaper test on a leaked iPhone 6 front panel revealed that it was not made of pure sapphire.

Apple is investing a considerable amount of money into partner GT Advanced's sapphire plant, shelling out more than $500 million to outfit the factory with high-output furnaces for sapphire production. Rumors have suggested GT Advanced has the capability to eventually produce enough sapphire to outfit 100 to 200 million iPhones, but other rumors have pointed towards high costs and production problems as limiting factors. Apple is also planning to use sapphire for the upcoming iWatch, according to The Wall Street Journal. The first sapphire displays for the two devices are "expected to roll off production lines this month."

Sapphire is seen as a desirable material due to its extreme durability and scratch resistance, but many smartphone manufacturers have suggested Apple's plan to use the material is just a marketing gimmick due to its prohibitive cost.

While Apple may not be able to produce the entire lineup of iPhone 6 displays in sapphire, rumors have suggested that when the factory is fully functional, it will give the company a way to produce massive quantities of sapphire at a low cost, which means a full sapphire lineup could be more feasible for future devices.

Article Link: Higher-End 4.7 and 5.5-Inch iPhone 6 to Get Sapphire Displays, Higher Price Tags
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/08/14/sapphire-limited-to-high-end-iphone-6/
jrswizzle

jrswizzle

macrumors 603
Aug 23, 2012
6,107
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McKinney, TX
Basically the WSJ "confirmed" that Apple MAY use sapphire in the more expensive versions of the two iPhone 6 variants and that analysts are in fact saying they MIGHT cost more.

So.....what exactly was "confirmed"?

I'm telling you right now, we WILL NOT see any price increases. The only price variation will come from the added iPhone "Pro" (5.5") line starting at $299/$749.

I still think we could see the price increases go down for each storage bump from $100 to $50. I also don't think we'll see purely sapphire displays. They will utilize a sapphire coated material to retain some of the benefits of sapphire and keep costs down.

Even if the BOM increases by $10-$15, Apple's profit margins will still fall in the 60% range. Margins will be similar or slightly higher on the 32 GB and 64 GB models EVEN IF they reduce the cost of the storage bump from $100 to $50.

And I'm sure their margins will be even better on the 5.5" version.
 
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phillipduran

phillipduran

macrumors 65816
Apr 30, 2008
1,055
607
If they are committed to making the best products, they should be in all of the phones.
 
S

SilianRail

macrumors 6502
Feb 24, 2011
352
56
Didn't the 5C bomb? What's the point in confusing consumers and hurting the brand with garbage devices that nobody wants?
 
R

roow110

macrumors regular
Jul 1, 2011
110
26
While it is still an annoying compromise I prefer a premium model for both phones to making the 5.5 the only premium model.
 
thatoneguy82

thatoneguy82

macrumors 68000
Jul 23, 2008
1,895
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Beach Cities, CA
So, this suggests that there will be variety between iPhones that's not color or size of storage? I don't know why, but that seems unlikely since the average joe may not know the difference. Also, I'm sure most people would opt to buy the "cheaper" one anyway.
 
D

Dribo

macrumors newbie
Mar 19, 2014
21
17
Roskilde, Denmark
So much talk about sapphire..

All these rumors about wether it will be sapphire or not. I'd rather go with a hybrid of sapphire and glass like last time there was rumors about sapphire in the iPhone 6.

And how should this be done? Like the previous iPod Touch style?
 
C

Cougarcat

macrumors 604
Sep 19, 2003
7,766
2,553
jrswizzle said:
Basically the WSJ "confirmed" that Apple MAY use sapphire in the more expensive versions of the two iPhone 6 variants and that analysts are in fact saying they MIGHT cost more.

So.....what exactly was "confirmed"?
Click to expand...

What was confirmed is that they considered it. Which is fairly useless information, as I am sure they have decided at this point in production.

DShap5 said:
By "higher end" are we talking about the regular 6 and the "lower end" might be a C version?
Click to expand...

Hopefully. I don't see how they'd do it otherwise, unless they separated it by screen size, which would anger a lot of people. Phones that look the same on the outside but aren't would be...odd.
 
Markiie

Markiie

macrumors 6502
Oct 10, 2011
473
213
Los Angeles, California.
Whats the most you guys would pay for a premium phone? I see a lot of people on here complaining all the time. Nickel and Dime.

Personally, if the 5.5 started at 399 and went up to 599....I wouldn't complain. Nor do i think i would complain at entry level 499 pricing if the phone is stacked with high end parts. 2GB, 13MP Camera, Sapphire, etc.
 
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agsystems

macrumors 65816
Aug 1, 2013
1,199
1,140
phillipduran said:
If they are committed to making the best products, they should be in all of the phones.
Click to expand...

Uh...meaning they should add $ 100 to each tier - 16/32/64? or only to the 64G models - the supposedly person familiar with the matter should be able to be more specific - meaning this is a crap article as usual.
 
taptic

taptic

macrumors 65816
Dec 5, 2012
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California
SilianRail said:
Didn't the 5C bomb? What's the point in confusing consumers and hurting the brand with garbage devices that nobody wants?
Click to expand...

Why does this keep getting said? There's nothing further from the truth. The 5c is huge. I see it all the time "in the wild"
 
iBlazed

iBlazed

macrumors 68000
Feb 27, 2014
1,594
1,249
New Jersey, United States
How would they differentiate the higher end models from the lower end models? Especially if there is no difference that you can see or feel. Hard to imagine Apple creating a higher end model with the only difference being higher quality screen material. Weird.
 
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scorpionvenomm

macrumors newbie
Aug 3, 2014
5
0
So i paid €700 last year in Belfast for a 16GB iphone travelled up from Dublin since the Irish release date takes forever, how much more can it be like €700 is crazy as it is for a phone even though i swear by my iPhone :) but more money just seems crazy to be honest
 
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