14 DAY TRIAL // A new report coming from the Wall Street Journal puts a spotlight on the future high-end iPhone models. According to the WSJ story, Apple will take the route of splitting their iPhone models into high end ones and low end ones. The more expensive models will get a better screen, the long-awaited sapphire display.
Apple has invested over $700 million (€523 million) in a sapphire plant in Arizona and the results of that investment will show up in less than a month. The tech giant is producing synthetic sapphire that is designed to replicate the properties of one of the hardest minerals on earth.
As we have previously seen in a video leak, the future iPhone screen will be bendable, but it will not crack or scratch under normal pocket or purse use. It appears to be even better than the current Gorilla Glass 3 screen in the iPhone 5s.
Apple is using sapphire glass already with the iPhone 5s, but only for the camera lens and the Touch ID home button. Using it for the full display would be costly. According to the cited report, analyst Mr. Virey estimates that a sapphire screen could cost up to $16 (€11.95) to produce. That is over 5 times more expensive than the Gorilla Glass screens.
The Wall Street Journal believes that Apple will therefore use the sapphire display only in the more expensive models of the two new larger iPhones that will be launched in less than a month.