Apple iPhone 6 Rumors: Taiwan’s Innolux To Supply 4.7-Inch Displays While Samsung And Sharp Lose Orders

The 4.7-inch display, which is expected to be featured in Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) upcoming iPhone iteration, dubbed the iPhone 6, is rumored to be partly supplied by a Taiwanese LCD manufacturer, instead of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (KRX:005935) and Sharp Corporation (TYO:6753), according to a new report Tuesday.

Although Samsung is expected to build the new A8 processor for the iPhone 6 and is likely to remain the supplier for the iPad, the South Korean tech giant could be dropped, along with Sharp, as a supplier for the iPhone 6 displays. Instead, Taiwan’s Innolux Corp (TPE:3481) could be the newest maker of the new iPhone’s 4.7-inch screens, Taiwan’s Economic Daily reported. If the rumor turns out to be accurate, Innolux will join LG Display Co Ltd. (NYSE:LPL) and Japan Display Inc. (TYO:6740) as the third supplier of panels for the iPhone 6.

Innolux, which provided display panels for the iPad 2 and iPad 3, is believed to have benefited from Apple’s reluctance to rely on Samsung. Although the South Korean company supplies many critical components for the iPhone-maker, the relationship between the companies has deteriorated in recent years over multiple patent-infringement disputes. Meanwhile, Sharp is believed to have lost Apple's business after its products failed preliminary quality tests, AppleInsider reported.

In addition to the 4.7-inch iPhone 6, Apple is also rumored to launch a bigger 5.5-inch iPhone, dubbed by many as the “iPhablet.” But it is unclear who could be the supplier for the larger display panels. The device is expected to be released later this fall, or in early 2014.

According to rumors, the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 could come with a resolution of 1136x640 pixels, while the 5.5-inch model could sport a resolution of 1740x960 pixels.