A report in Reuters suggests Sharp may be falling behind on LCD panel production for the rumored upcoming iPhone. The timing couldn’t be worse for Apple as the Cupertino company is expected to announce and start selling its next iPhone model in September.
Reuters’ source would not say how far Sharp has fallen behind, but it did claim that the company was slowing down due to higher than expected costs associated with the production of the panel. The report suggests that Apple may use some of its cash reserves to give Sharp the financial incentive to accelerate production in time for its big launch.
Sharp supplies many panels for the iPhone, but it is not the only LCD manufacturer used by Apple. Besides Sharp, Apple is also using LG Display and Japan Display to provide panels for its next iPhone model.
These panels are expected to use new in-cell technology that embeds sensors into the display itself, removing the need for a separate touch screen layer. The iPhone display is also expected to get a boost from its current 3.8-inches to a 4-inch screen.
Apple may announce the new iPhone at a rumored event to be held on September 12.
[Via Reuters]