Apple's 5.5-inch 'phablet' iPhone won't debut this year

Apple’s 5.5-inch “phablet” iPhone won’t be debuting this September after all, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a note obtained by AppleInsider.

Previous repor t s had pegged two new phones — one 4.7-inch model and one 5.5-inch model — for launch in September, but Kuo says that Apple is having issues with the iPhone 6’s touch panel, as well as colour unevenness on the metal casing.

“These problems will likely be even more complicated with a larger size,” he said. Ap p l e I n s i d e r ’ s Ne i l Hughes notes that Kuo has a “respectable track record” when it comes to Apple’s plans, though his word is still no guarantee.

Kuo also said that he doesn’t expect that the iPhone’s new, extra-durable sapphire glass front panel will “easily pass the drop test near term” for the 5.5-inch phone.

If the phablet model does launch this year, Kuo believes it won’t happen until after midfourth quarter, later than the 4.7-inch iPhone 6.