Apple iPhone 6: 5.5 inch model release date will be later than 4.7 inch version

Apple will delay the launch of its larger 5.5 inch iPhone 6, to avoid competition with the 4.7 inch version, according to the company's suppliers.

The tech giant reportedly wants to avoid the situation caused by releasing the iPhone 5s and 5c simultaneously last year.

Higher than expected demand for the 5s model caused huge supply problems and months of delays.

According to tech news site DigiTimes, rumoured delays in manufacturing parts for the larger sized iPhone have not been a factor in the decision to stagger the two launches.

Meanwhile, Apple's production run for the forthcoming iPhone release is thought to be their biggest ever, and will begin later this month. Suppliers have been asked to prepare to manufacture up to 80m units between the two models to cope with demand.

Apple's Taiwanese manufacturing parters Foxconn have reportedly taken on 100,000 extra staff to meet launch deadlines. Another 10,000 workers have been taken on at Pegatron, another key company in Apple's production chain.

Last year's initial manufacturing run of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c was significantly lower at around 50-60 million.

According to Apple blog Macrumors.com, the company could see up to a 20% jump in demand from upgraders and the new larger screens luring people to switch from Android phones.

The iPhone 6 is expected to feature a near-indestructible sapphire crystal screen , a thinner, lighter body and an improved camera.

The new camera is thought to feature a 13-megapixel sensor manufactured by Sony - an improvement on the current 8-megapixel camera used in the iPhone 5s.

Suppliers are expected to start manufacturing the 4.7 inch iPhone 6 later this month, with the 5.5 inch model following in August or September.

-Mirror