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GT Advanced to Supply 1.35-2.25 Million 5.5-inch iPhone Sapphire Covers in 2014?

Posted August 22, 2014 at 4:35pm by iClarified · 8087 views
GT Advanced will reportedly supply Apple with enough sapphire to make covers for up to 1.35-2.25 million 5.5-inch iPhones in 2014, according to DigiTimes.

GTAT started sapphire production in August 2014 and expects revenue contributions from sapphire to begin in the fourth quarter, and Apple's fourth down payment is due in October 2014, these conditions signal that GTAT's sapphire production will not reach a large scale by the end of 2014, Digitimes Research indicated. However, GTAT is likely to ship sapphire at a large volume beginning the first quarter of 2015.

The site claims that the cost for a 5.5-inch screen cover made from sapphire is $100 US, much higher than the $5-10 cost for a reinforced glass screen cover.

The WSJ reported mid-August that Apple may use sapphire screens in the high-end models of its two new iPhone 6 smartphones, if it can get enough. However, other analysts say Apple is unlikely to sell iPhones with sapphire this year.

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