Apple's 6.1-Inch LCD iPhone Might Have October Release Date

Apple is expected to release three new iPhone models this year, but one of them might be delayed by a month. An analyst believes that the mass production of the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone has been delayed, which could mean that the handset won’t be available to purchase until October.

“We currently see no delay in the ramp of Apple's upcoming flagship 5.8-inch or 6.5-inch OLED iPhones. However suspected issues with LED backlight leakage have caused a 1 month delay in mass production of the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone, although this is down from a 6-week delay baked into the original production forecast, according to suppliers,” Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty said in a note seen by Barrons.

This isn’t actually the first time that the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone is rumored to be delayed. In early June, an unnamed analyst claimed that Apple has encountered yield issues due to light leakage caused by the notched display design of the handset. The unnamed analyst also said the device would be delayed by two months.

Later that same month, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said via 9To5Mac that mass production of the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone would be more difficult due to the notched design. However, Kuo also said that Apple would still be able to play catch-up and deliver the device on time. Kuo still believes that the two OLED iPhone models and the LCD model will all be released at the same time.

Although there may be conflicting reports on the release date of the 6.1-inch LCD iPhone, everyone seems to agree that Apple may be having trouble in mass producing the device. LCD screens require backlighting, which makes them thicker and a lot more difficult to be used for an edge-to-edge design with rounded corners and a cut-out for the notch, as pointed out by AppleInsider. Meanwhile, OLED screens are a lot more flexible and can be cut and folded to fit the manufacturer’s desired design.

If Apple decides to delay the release of the 2018 LCD iPhone, this wouldn’t be something new for the tech giant. Last year, Apple started shipping the LCD iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in September shortly after their official announcements. The OLED-equipped iPhone X was delayed and was eventually released in November.

The 6.1-inch LCD iPhone is expected to be the cheapest model out of Apple's 2018 iPhone lineup and it’s pegged to be the most popular model. The 5.8-inch and the 6.5-inch OLED iPhone models are expected to be the flagship models, complete with the best internal specs.