New reports claim that the iPhone6 will not have the long rumored sapphire-glass screen.
Analysts from market researcher Trendforce said they have yet to see the necessary orders for sapphire glass wending their way through the supply chain in time to meet an expected September launch for a 4.7-inch iPhone 6, CNET reported.
Sapphire is considered the third-hardest material, and it creates glass that is extremely scratch resistant and difficult to break.
Sapphire glass proponents say it is tougher than the Gorilla Glass currently used for iPhone screens, though Corning would beg to differ, report said.
Because of its hardness, though, the synthetic sapphire for the glass is difficult and expensive to produce and cut into the right shapes which are a big challenge when it comes to mass production.
Sapphire is already used to make the iPhone's camera lens and the cover of the Touch ID sensor found on the iPhone 5S, but those are relatively small areas, the report added.
