Sharp Now Producing 'Adequate Volumes' of iPhone 5 Display

Reuters reports that Sharp has publicly stated that it is now producing "adequate volumes" of the display for the iPhone 5, bolstering Apple's efforts to catch up with high demand for the device.

Sharp Corp is making "adequate volumes" of displays it is known to supply for Apple Inc's new iPhone5, a company executive said, indicating that a possible bottleneck in supplies of screens may have eased.

Analysts had blamed a shortfall in supplies of display for leaving Apple with too few iPhones to meet burgeoning demand at its launch this month.

sharp logo
Deutsche Securities analyst Yasuo Nakane estimates that Japan Display and LG Display are capable of producing roughly eight million displays per month each, while Sharp's capacity is pegged at six million displays. With Sharp reportedly having not been ready for the initial batch of iPhone 5 units, over 25% of display production capacity appears to have been offline until just two weeks ago.

Sharp's full production of the iPhone 5 display comes as existing shortages in Apple's first round of launch markets are being compounded by today's expansion to 22 new countries and several more carriers in existing markets.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...

Top Rated Comments

JGowan Avatar
174 months ago
Apple needs to break free as far from Samsung as possible. I believe this to be a very positive thing as Samsung needs to stand under their own merits, free from profits due to Apple's success. Not only for screens but ram and any other component Apple needs to make its products. Everything needs to come from other suppliers. I know that Samsung does a good job, but I'm sure that other companies can grow in order to supply great parts in the volumes that Apple needs.

Any money Apple eventually gets from the courts ($1.04B or triple damages on that number) is nothing compared to the thumping Samsung will get with Apple showing Samsung completely to the door. Which, I think, is exactly the thing that needs to happen.

Samsung,... Google. You boys are no longer invited to play with Apple.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Prallethrin Avatar
174 months ago
This is probably one of the most ignorant posts I have had the pleasure or reading. Apple is being stupid in breaking from one of the best Nand, LCD, and Mobile CPU producers on the planet. Your iPhones are going to be filled with 2nd/3rd tier products with higher failure rates. I guess if you like traveling multiple times to the apple store when your phone fails that is fine, but personally when I spend that much money on a phone/laptop I expect it to have the best quality parts on it. Not 2nd/3rd tier, because they feel they need to throw a fit.

If you think their suppliers they are going to be using aren't bad. Look up Hynix that is your new Nand producer, look at sharp for your lcd, and I don't even want to delve into who they are going to have make their CPUs. ROFL Global foundries was thrown around and they are atrocious.

Oh please. Samsung isn't some magic company that is the only one to be able to create "high quality" components. There are many factors involved in component sourcing, e.g. Price.

Samsung can do it cheap that's why Apple buys from them. And cost partly comes down to economy of scale. By supporting Samsung's rivals Apple is helping them "power up" in industrial capacity and with more revenue they can up their R&D as well - hire better engineers etc.

It's win-win for Apple as it gives them more suppliers to source from and competition between them will force down the price and drive innovation. It also give Apple more leverage as they can dump whoever displeases them and go to their competitor.

Oh and Sharp is quite a big player in LCDs with many patents to their name. They have been in trouble lately due to the high Yen - and low domestic demand for TVs. The iPhone 5's display is the best iPhone display yet, if not the best mobile display ever apart from the newest iPad - http://www.displaymate.com/Smartphone_ShootOut_2.htm

----------

Samsung/Sony are the best, their joint venture has made stunning results. Sharpe always have bee and always will be second rate, just like LG.

As for other components. The less said the better.

So people are happy to sacrifice quality and Apple to start using suppliers that were too *iss poor to win contracts the first time round?

Well if they're that ***** thick then let them be ripped off even more, paying the same price for a 3rd rate device.

Ha. Sorry, IPS > PVA in most cases especially in colour accuracy.

Sony has bailed on the jointed venture and has started using Sharp panels.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JGowan Avatar
174 months ago
Apple is not an Island onto itself. They cannot do everything. But they do need to stop relying on companies that steal their products, like Google and Samsung.
You said what I wanted to say in a much more concise manner. Thanks.

You're right... Apple needs partners. Trustworthy partners that can be counted on to supply and not steal!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BimmerJP Avatar
174 months ago
Good! I love sharp TV/display. I think :apple: made a good choice there :)
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
redbotsoftware Avatar
174 months ago
Apple needs to break free as far from Samsung as possible. I believe this to be a very positive thing as Samsung needs to stand under their own merits, free from profits due to Apple's success. Not only for screens but ram and any other component Apple needs to make its products. Everything needs to come from other suppliers. I know that Samsung does a good job, but I'm sure that other companies can grow in order to supply great parts in the volumes that Apple needs.

Any money Apple eventually gets from the courts ($1.04B or triple damages on that number) is nothing compared to the thumping Samsung will get with Apple showing Samsung completely to the door. Which, I think, is exactly the thing that needs to happen.

Samsung,... Google. You boys are no longer invited.

Apple is not an Island onto itself. They cannot do everything. But they do need to stop relying on companies that steal their products, like Google and Samsung.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Prallethrin Avatar
174 months ago
[/COLOR]

Apple wouldn't be where they are today without Samsung.

Same can be said about Samsung. >.>

They profited quite a bit in the relationship with Apple. They decide to sabotage it. /shrug I sure there are many other companies quite willing to take their place.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)