14 DAY TRIAL // The new iPhones aren’t even shipping yet, but industry chatter is already centering around the next-generation iPhone from Apple. According to sources in the supply chain, the Cupertino giant wants a tougher display in 2014.
Apple next year plans to equip the iPhone line with a sapphire touch-screen, likely because of the material’s hardness.
Sapphire makers in Taiwan are telling DigiTimes that “Apple is expected to extend the use of sapphire glass home keys to its new 9.7-inch iPad and 7.9-inch iPad mini to be launched in October,” a tidbit we’ve already covered here on Softpedia earlier today.
However, the same sources also say Apple might “possibly further adopt sapphire for making touch screen covers for its new iPhone to be launched in 2014.”
The reason is simple. If the iPhone 6 does end up with a considerably larger display, it makes sense for Apple to give that display all the blessing it can afford. And nowadays that’s done with sapphire, the second hardest material next to diamond.