The electronics giant is getting ready for massive production of sapphire displays.
Speculation has been running rampant about Apple's plans for mobile devices with a sapphire screen and it is finally appear to be firming up on Thursday.
Apple uses sapphire for the ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S |
The iPhone maker recently placed a large order with GT Advanced Technologies for furnaces and chambers used in making sapphire displays. According to 9to5Mac, GT Advanced has already received 518 furnace and chamber systems, which would let it build 103 million to 116 million 5-inch displays per year. (Another 420 machines are still on order, which would nearly double that production output.) Moreover, GT Advanced also has ordered Intego Sirius Sapphire Display Inspection Tool components, which would work to make sure that the displays meet high-quality standards.
Apple late last year signed a contract with GT Advanced to produce sapphire-based materials at Apple's new facility in Arizona. Apple has already used sapphire for the surface of the rear camera lens for the iPhone 5 and the ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S.
A future iPhone with a display made out of the material could render it scratch-resistant and nearly unbreakable.
To put this in perspective, Check out the Video