Could Apple be using Japan Display’s new 5.5-inch Quad HD panel in the iPhone 6?

Signboard of Japan Display Inc at its factory in Mobara

Apple is currently putting the finishing touches on its next-generation iPhone. And if the flurry of rumors and so-called insider reports are to be believed, the handset is going to feature an Ultra Retina display that will come in two sizes: 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch, among other improvements.

With that in mind, you can understand why this new 5.5-inch panel from Japan Display—a long time Apple supplier—is so interesting to us. Unveiled this week, the panel measures 5.5-inches and is of the Quad HD (aka WQHD) variety, with a resolution of 1,440 x 2,560 and a ppi of 538…

Here’s CNET with the report:

“Japan Display could be providing a hint of iPhone attractions to come. The company announced on Thursday that it has developed a 5.5-inch-wide Quad HD, aka, WQHD, display with a resolution of 1,440x 2,560 vertical pixels as a display format for “leading-edge smartphones.”

The Japanese company — a major supplier of iPhone displays — said it will begin shipping the 5.5-inch LCD in April.”

And here’s a photo of the display:

japan display

Perhaps not coincidentally, Japanese news outlet Nikkei reported this week that Apple is going to be launching a new iPhone this year with both 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch displays. It named Japan Display as a supplier, and said panel resolution would be “significantly higher” than current models.

We still know very little about the new iPhone, as details outside of the display have been fairly scarce and inconsistent. It’s believed to be slimmer than the current-gen model, with a refreshed design and A8 processor, and other reports have called for an 8MP rear camera2GB of RAM and more.

Some reports have suggested that Apple could launch the handset as early as this summer, but all signs still point to a standard fall release.