iPhone 6 Release Date May Suffer From Low Availability Due To Display Manufacturing Issues

Apple’s annual hardware update to their line of smart phones may have hit a snag as the iPhone 6 release date may suffer from low availability due to an issue in the manufacturing of the next iPhone. According to an exclusive Reuters story, Apple’s manufacturing facilities are reporting an 11th hour redesign that may impact availability on the release date of the iPhone 6.

The issue stems from the backlight of the iPhone, which uses an LED-backlit LCD display to bring the vibrant retina display to life. According to two supply chain sources speaking to Reuters, the setback stems from the LED assembly being revised, which in turn affects the assembly of the screen components of the phone.

Apple is attempting to further shrink the iPhone’s physical footprint by making the iPhone 6 even thinner by using only a single layer of backlight film, instead of the two-layer screens that have graced the iPhones to date. The next iPhone is reported to have two sizes to compete with the ever increasing physical size of the HTC and Samsung Android smart phone lines, which have earned the nickname “phablets” due to their excessive size.

The 4.7 inch model of the iPhone went into production first, and it was determined to not be bright enough. This caused the design to go back to the drawing board to fit in the two-layer setup. As a result, production for the months of June and July were brought to a halt while Apple rushed to fix the design issue.

While there is no confirmation from Apple or the supply chains speaking to Retuers, the iPhone 6 release date may suffer availability problems for those seeking the reported 4.7 inch model.

The rumored 5.5 inch “phablet” iPhone 6 model was already facing its own rumors regarding production issues back in July. The new in-cell touch screen panel, as well as the color unevenness on the metal casing, reportedly pushed back the larger edition of the iPhone by as much as a year, according to Apple Insider.

Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities has a reliable track record of revealing some of the future plans of Apple’s mobile products. His prediction was that the 4.7 inch model of the iPhone 6 would have a release date of this fall with the larger iPhone “phablet” 5.5 inch model launching at a later date.

Apple’s strict adherence to a high standard of product quality is one of the reasons the highly price phone line has commanded a loyal following, and it is not the first time that such a strict policy of quality has caused delays for the company. When launching the iPad Mini, display issues plagued the manufacturer leading to shortened supplies.

While Apple has not commented on this development, we should learn the facts behind the release date for the iPhone 6 at the media event scheduled for September 9 at Cupertino, California, where Apple is reported to make the official reveal of the iPhone 6.