• Wall Street Journal Report Claims Apple Tapping Suppliers For Larger iPhone Displays

    by
    Phillip Swanson
    Published on 2012-05-16 05:05 PM
    14 Comments Comments



    A new Wall Street Journal report claims Apple’s next iPhone will indeed feature a larger 4-inch screen.

    Citing sources “familiar with the situation” the WSJ claims Apple has been looking to its suppliers for larger screens for the next iPhone with sizes of at least 4-inches. Rumors surrounding the next iPhone, and even the iPhone 4S before it, have long speculated that Apple has plans to increase the size of their iconic handset. However, the rumors haven’t materialized with each generation of the iPhone sharing the familiar 3.5-inch screen size.

    Apple is tapping the likes of LG, Sharp and Japan Display to supply the larger screens according to the WSJ’s sources. The larger screens could be in response to the mammoth-sized handset trend high-end Android manufacturers are currently enamored with. However, Mizuho Investors Security Analyst Nobuo Kurahashi points out to the WSJ that the screen isn’t necessarily a response to Apple’s rivals, and won’t likely be the phone’s defining feature.


    Dustin Curtis shows the thumb-touch coverage of the iPhone compared to the larger Galaxy S II.


    The larger screen rumor comes up during every rumor cycle before every new iPhone launch. In October of 2011, Dustin Curtis presented the reasoning behind his theory on why Apple has stuck with the 3.5-inch display for so long. Curtis makes his main point with an interesting graphic representing the potential touch coverage of the average hand holding the iPhone. On a 3.5-inch screen most people can hold the device in a single hand and nearly reach all four corners of the screen with their thumb with little to no strain. Increase the size to 4.2-inches, now the single hand operation becomes more difficult with the opposite top and bottom corners becoming useless as the user can’t touch them without using another hand. The entire side opposite of the user's thumb becomes useless as well Increasing the phone to 4.8-inches (Samsung Galaxy S III) or 5.3-inches (Samsung Note) makes single hand use restrictive for everyone without giant like features.

    Apple may finally increase the size of the iPhone’s screen, but it’s not a bet I’d be willing to put money on.

    Source: WSJ [via CNET]
    This article was originally published in forum thread: Wall Street Journal Report Claims Apple Tapping Suppliers For Larger iPhone Displays started by Phillip Swanson View original post
    1. Categories:
    2. iPhone,
    3. iOS,
    4. Apple,
    5. Mac,
    6. iPad
    Comments 14 Comments
    1. Zokunei's Avatar
      Zokunei - 2012-05-16, 05:08 PM
      I doubt that they're going to ask developers to adjust their apps to a new resolution yet again. I doubt even more that they would keep the same resolution on a larger screen.
    1. Silverado1987's Avatar
      Silverado1987 - 2012-05-16, 05:28 PM
      I think the German iPhone 5 mockup will look like the iPad type. Use the thin curved back aluminum and make it faster and more features. My 2 cents. I love how I can touch my entire phone with one hand cause right now I'm typing this while eating a cheeseburger
    1. spooneditr's Avatar
      spooneditr - 2012-05-16, 05:43 PM
      Maybe in the "iPhone 5s" would but I don't think the 5 will.
    1. feidhlim1986's Avatar
      feidhlim1986 - 2012-05-16, 06:02 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Zokunei View Post
      I doubt that they're going to ask developers to adjust their apps to a new resolution yet again. I doubt even more that they would keep the same resolution on a larger screen.
      Can they not just increase the size of the screen and keep the resolution?
    1. andypropaganda's Avatar
      andypropaganda - 2012-05-16, 07:23 PM
      If they do, I say they go to 4 inches, but definitely not a monster screen.
    1. Zokunei's Avatar
      Zokunei - 2012-05-16, 08:41 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by feidhlim1986 View Post
      Can they not just increase the size of the screen and keep the resolution?
      Yeah but I doubt that they would do that even more than I doubt that they would change the resolution because of how big of a deal they've made of the retina display.
    1. budsalinger's Avatar
      budsalinger - 2012-05-16, 08:45 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by spooneditr View Post
      Maybe in the "iPhone 5s" would but I don't think the 5 will.
      5s ? They would need the 5 first and you know whatever the physical dimensions are of the 5 they will be exactly the same for the 5s. So why mention 5s?
    1. Greatbiguns's Avatar
      Greatbiguns - 2012-05-16, 09:17 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by andypropaganda View Post
      If they do, I say they go to 4 inches, but definitely not a monster screen.
      BIGGER is BETTER!!

    1. Jsouthernindiana's Avatar
      Jsouthernindiana - 2012-05-16, 09:26 PM
      Man. I'm hungry. A cheeseburger sounds real good about now.
    1. skiptowncat's Avatar
      skiptowncat - 2012-05-16, 09:28 PM
      ^^^nice!!^^
    1. tdawg3000's Avatar
      tdawg3000 - 2012-05-17, 04:29 AM
      Off topic but I really like the way the first mock iPhone looks. Wouldn't mind that "iPod" type design
    1. LSZ33's Avatar
      LSZ33 - 2012-05-17, 07:53 AM
      I'm looking forward to a 4" iphone screen. I think that is the ideal size that could still fit in one hand.
    1. confucious's Avatar
      confucious - 2012-05-17, 10:26 AM
      I really hope they don't increase the screen size. I would have to look elsewhere for my next phone.
    1. GeoffS4's Avatar
      GeoffS4 - 2012-05-17, 04:18 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by Greatbiguns View Post
      BIGGER is BETTER!!

      But...doesn't this depict...uhmmmm...small(er)???

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