Apple Inc. (AAPL) may not use sapphire screens on iPhone 6

Apple Inc. (AAPL) has spent more than $578 million on its ambitious “Project Cascade” plant in Mesa, Arizona, a new sapphire crystal manufacturing facility that will increase the world’s capacity for making this high tech substance by at least 200 percent. Speculation was rife that the Cupertino-headquartered electronics firm would use this incredible manufacturing power to produce up to 100 million screens annually for the iPhone 6, giving the smartphone’s face tougher, more scratch-resistant glass. GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) was picked for the task.

However, fresh rumors circulating on the Internet today indicate that this remarkable, cutting edge manufacturing power will not be used to create screens for the iPhone 6 after all. Instead, the facility will make sapphire crystal faces for the new iWatch, the much-bruited wristwatch-like device whose final function and purpose is still not entirely clear. The sapphire panels would only need to be two inches rather than five inches wide, greatly reducing production costs relative to what an iPhone screen would cost.

Beta iPhone 6s are already said to have been shown to some industry insiders by Apple Inc. (AAPL), and have sapphire screens. However, it is asserted that the use of large sapphire panels on these smartphones would drive their price so high that the American tech company has abandoned its plans to use them in the production model, or at least postponed their use. Sapphire would likely appear where it is already used on the iPhone 5 – as the camera lens cover and to shield the Touch ID sensor.

The sources of these rumors are claimed to be Taiwanese supply chain insiders, according to GforGames. If this claim is true, and Chinese news sources are asserting that it is, then this lends considerable credence to the idea that Apple Inc. (AAPL) will not use the glass for the iPhone 6. Apple itself has issued no statements, though this unsurprising, as the technology enterprise is notoriously close-mouthed about its plans and operations.

Though use of sapphire panels on the iWatch is likely, this would not set it apart from any other high end wristwatch. Many costly watch brands already use sapphire faces for extra protection. The lack of a full sapphire panel on the iPhone 6 would make the smartphone stand out somewhat less from its competitors, which could disappoint some Apple (AAPL) enthusiasts, but might keep it more affordable.

It is perhaps unsurprising that rumors and speculation should conflict on this issue, since part of Apple’s reason to build its own sapphire facility is to increase secrecy about its intentions regarding new products.

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