New 4-Inch iPhone And iPad Mini Screen Shipments Starting This Month Ahead Of September Apple Event

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Which one would you go for?
Which one would you go for?

It’s been all but confirmed that Apple is holding its fall iPhone event on Wednesday, September 12th. The rumored 8-inch iPad mini is also expected to be announced next month, although it’s been unclear if Apple will ship the device at the same time as the new iPhone.

According to a new report this morning, Sharp will begin shipping larger 4-inch iPhone displays throughout Apple’s supply chain this month as production for the September launch ramps up. Production of the iPad mini’s smaller display is also expected to begin in August leading up to Apple’s event in September.

Reuters quotes Sharp CEO Takashi Okuda saying that “shipments will start in August” in reference to the new iPhone’s larger screen. “He declined to give a more specific date for shipments beyond this month,” according to Reuters. Sharp is one of the three display partners expected to make screens for the new iPad. LG and Japan Display are also on the roster.

Sources earlier told Reuters that the panels will be 4 inches corner to corner — 30 percent bigger than current iPhones.

This lines up with other reports from just about every publication, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Bloomberg. The new iPhone’s screen is also expected to be thinner by taking advantage of embedded touch sensors in the display itself. Leaked photos of what is allegedly the next iPhone support the notion of a larger and thinner display.

On the iPad mini front, an analyst at NPD DisplaySearch says that production of the smaller tablet’s display is expected to also begin this month. CNET quotes DisplaySearch saying, “”We expect panel production to start in August, with production ramping up to high volumes (more than a million units per month) in the fourth quarter.” Keeping in line with the rumor mill, DisplaySearch also believes the iPad mini will feature a 7.85 display, although the display’s resolution was not mentioned in the report. Some rumors have said that Apple will ship the iPad mini with the non-Retina display found in the iPhone 3GS in order to keep the cost below $300.

The Wall Street Journal earlier said that iPad mini production would not begin until September.

Apple is also expected to unveil a new 4-inch iPod touch at its September media event, and we’re sure there will be some other surprises. Stay tuned!

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