By now the whole world has probably heard the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 will most likely debut in September. What you may not have heard is that the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 could be delayed until 2015. The report claims the production of the larger iPhone 6 is delayed due to battery issues.
For those of you who plan to hold out for a 5-inch-plus iPhone, this is very bad news. The long delay will also likely affect initial iPhone 6 sales, as some customers might pass over the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 in favor of the 5.5-inch iPhablet.
The new report comes from the Business Times, a Taiwanese news site. The site references unnamed supply chain sources, who are familiar with Apple's plans for the larger iPhone 6. The sources say the production delay is the result of Apple's demand for a sub-2.0-millimeter thick battery for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6. Typically, large batteries such as the ones that will be needed to power the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 range from 2.8-to-2.9-millimeters thick.
Naturally, Apple's requirements for a super thin battery have put battery suppliers in a difficult position. People on Apple's supply chain have even taken to calling the larger iPhone 6 the iPhone Air, because of its super thin body design. Although the publication states the release of this larger iPhone Air might be delayed until 2015, it is possible the battery suppliers will solve the problem before the year's end.
Earlier reports hinted the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 would arrive before the end of 2014, just in time for the holidays. Of course, Apple certainly hopes this will be the case. A recent poll indicated Apple fans are very excited about the upcoming iPhone 6 and many are interested in a larger, phablet-sized iPhone. Even though iPhone buyers have traditionally stuck by Apple's smaller form factor, there will be many iPhone fans who will overlook the release of the smaller 4.7-inch iPhone 6 this September and wait for the launch of its larger sibling, the 5.5-inch iPhone Air.
If Apple's suppliers can't solve the battery conundrum before the end of 2014, Apple could potentially miss out on a lot of profit from iPhone Air sales in advance of the holiday season. Apple is well known for pushing suppliers to get its products ready before the year's end, even if there are severe shortages or production issues. If the supplier manages to make a limited number of thinner batteries for the larger iPhone 6, it's possible Apple could launch the 5.5-inch model during the holiday season.
After all, selling some is better than selling none. Apple is a firm believer of that strategy, as evidenced by its release of the retina iPad Mini, which also faced production delays and the iPhone 5S, which quickly sold out of the famous gold color option shortly after launch.
