Prepping 4.7-Inch and 5.5-Inch Screen Sizes, Apple Tells Its Suppliers to Gear Up for a Record Initial Production Run

Apple Inc. is preparing for an exceptional initial production of iPhones, betting that larger-screen devices will attract consumers who have been enticed by similar offerings from competitors such as Samsung Electronics Co. and others.

Based in Cupertino, Calif., The tech behemoth has asked its suppliers to manufacture an estimated 70 million to 80 million units of two large-screen iPhone models. These models, which feature 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays, are expected to be completed by December 30th, according to sources.

The anticipated demand for this larger phone, unofficially dubbed the iPhone 6, exceeds its previous orders of approximately 50 million to 60 million variants of the iPhone 5S and 5C. Both these older models had a 4-inch diagonal display, as per internal sources. The upcoming models are expected to showcase similar metal casings to the iPhone 5S and are expected to come in a range of colors.

Despite the rise in popularity of large-display smartphones, Apple clung to smaller display sizes on its iPhones. However, companies that debuted larger screens saw an increased demand for these smartphones. Samsung particularly benefited from this strategy, offering a 4.8-inch display on its Samsung Galaxy S models as of 2012, and consequently introducing a range of larger devices.

Following the typical timeline, Apple usually unveils a new iPhone model in mid-September and is likely to present its fiscal third-quarter earnings and a financial outlook for the current period ending September 28 this Tuesday.

Industry analysts forecast Apple’s iPhone unit sales for the quarter ending June 30 to reach roughly 35.9 million, representing a 15% surge compared to the same period the previous year.

The reported difficulties faced by display manufacturers for the new iPhones in improving the development of the larger 5.5-inch screens could be a potential roadblock for Apple’s ambitious move into the larger screen market. The production process is complex due to their use of in-cell technology, a technique that incorporates touch sensors within the liquid crystal display, eliminating the need for a separate touch-screen layer and resulting in thinner, lighter screens.

Light edits were made in 2025 to improve clarity and relevance.