Edible Apple

If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, right? A new report claims that Apple may, after all these years, follow the trend and release an iPhone model with a 4.8-inch screen dubbed iPhone Math. An unusual name to be sure, which leads some to believe it may simply be an internal codeword for the device.

The 4.8-inch model will reportedly come with an 8-megapixel camera and will launch alongside the iPhone 5S which will purportedly also sport an 8-megapixel camera. Interestingly, the China Times report also relays that Apple may have an additional iPhone update in the works for the 2013 holiday shopping season in the form of a refreshed model with a 12-megapixel camera.

Tantalizing, to be sure, but it takes a leap of faith to assume Apple will go ahead and release a 4.8-inch screen, and then to believe that another model will come along just a few months later seems well beyond Apple’s typical product upgrade patterns.

The shipments for components, including touchscreens and cameras, will start rising significantly in March, and iPhone manufacturers will begin production in late April. Hence, Apple’s suppliers will see major growth in 2Q 2013.

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. will undertake 90% of the manufacturing orders, and Largan has received orders for 8 million camera lenses. Fujikura, Flexium and Zhen Ding will share production orders for printed circuit boards.

Foxconn Technology and Coxon will provide molding parts for Apple’s new models; Foxlink will continue to offer connectors; Hon Hai Precision’s Microelectronics Technology will start designing 4G network solutions for Apple.

There of course have also been rumors that Apple will release a more economical (read: low cost) iPhone this Spring to target emerging markets and more cost conscious consumers.

And returning for a second to reports of a larger iPhone, previous reports from Digitimes and Jefferies analyst Peter Misek have indicated the same. Back in early January Digitimes reported that Apple may be following the trend of 5-inch displays for higher end models while Misek wrote in a research note to investors:

Several iPhone 6 prototypes appear to be floating around. The model with a 4.8″ screen is the most interesting. It has a Retina+ IGZO screen, a new A7 quad-core processor variant, and a new form factor with no home button. Full gesture control is also possibly included.

via China Times