Tech-lovers cannot wait to get their hands on Apple's next iPhone, which we can presume will be called the iPhone 6. According to new rumors, however, production of the smartphone's main features will not begin until the second quarter of 2014, making its release later than some expected.

Release Date

DigiTimes reports that the iPhone 6 will feature fingerprint sensors produced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). The website cites "industry sources," and claims that production "at its 12-inch fab using a 65nm process" will not begin until 2014's second quarter.

"SMC is also expected to handle the backend wafer level-chip scale packaging (WL-CSP) process in house, instead of subcontracting the packaging process to IC backend service firms as done previously, the sources revealed," DigiTimes reports.

As a result, previous rumors pointing at a May release seem less likely. Peter Misek, a Jefferies analyst, believes that Apple will launch the iPhone 6 in June 2014. According to the analyst, the smartphone's improved display, including enhanced colors, will hinder the device's release.

"Mr. Misek also noted that the supply chain is primed for an iPhone 5S and pivoting to the iPhone 6 will take at least two or three quarters," Financial Post reports.

Screen

Rumor has it that the next iPhone's screen will be so large that it will make the smartphone Apple's first "phablet" -- a combination of phone and tablet.

Bloggers' predictions of the iPhone 6's screen range from AppAdvice's 4.5-inch antiglare display, to the more popular rumor of a 5-inch screen, all the way to a 5.7-inch screen.

According to Gotta Be Mobile, the iPhone 6 will have 1090p full HD resolution and Retina+ Sharp IGZO display,

Size

Lately, bloggers say that the smartphone will be so thin that it will be called the iPhone 6 Air.

Fuse Chicken sets the iPhone 6 Air at just 4.5 millimeters wide. Fabrizio Bianchi, Italian designer, and Martin Hajek, believe that a larger-screened and thinner iPhone 6 can be achieved by stretching the screen to the entire length and width of the phone.

AppAdvice believes that the iPhone 6 will be 6 millimeters wide. It also predicts that the iPhone 6 Air will feature a 20 megapixel camera equipped with dual LED flash and stabilizer, as well as a long-awaited SD card slot.

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