Larger iPhone 5s Screen Size Rumors set to Further Delay Release Date

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iPhone 5s LCD Screen Size

iPhone 5s screen size rumors are alive and well this week! Rumors suggest that a last minute design change in Apple’s iPhone 5s screen size will delay the release date by one to two months. This news would suggest Apple’s new model will be available in December 2013, just in time for Christmas (again).

Undisclosed semiconductor sources earlier this month reported that the Apple iPhone 5 release date was on track for late October or September with no mention of changes from the current iPhone 5’s 3.5-inch LCD display. The new iPhone 5s screen rumor suggests a 4.3-inch screen size, a 23% increase from the last model.

This contradicts comments from Jeffries Peter Misek that Apple was preparing to manufacture the iPhone 5s later this month with expectations of an October release date. Apple’s Tim Cook earlier this year commented that there has been an increasingly growing demand for a larger screen size, but knocked the idea down by suggesting it would come at the cost of lower resolutions and other quality concerns.

Honestly, the rumor should be taken with a grain of salt given Apple’s history. It’s hard to think that with only months till the iPhone 5s is unveiled that Apple would undertake such a drastic design change and jeopardize a holiday release. I’m more inclined to think that if the larger screen size rumors are true that Apple has had the increased screen size design all along and neglected to release the information in order to continue their viral marketing through the public’s curiosity.

At the same time, Apple can’t ignore their competitors’ success with models such as the Galaxy Note 2, S3 and S4 – all with significantly larger screens and MSRP price points.

I think Apple has (or has already had) a tough decision to make in regards to their customer base demands versus the profitability per handset. It’s no doubt that an increased screen size exponentially increases the manufacturing cost of the device. Apple’s iPhone 5 had a similar or higher MSRP compared to large display competitors’ phones and has relied on their brand name and customer loyalty to “ignore” competitors’ choices to go with large displays in the past. However, Samsung’s device sales prove that users can and will jump ship for such a feature.

It will be very interesting to see if Apple’s new flagship iPhone 5s will adopt the large display concept, and, if not, how their loyal customer base will react with stiff competition in the market.