If the latest rumor has any legs, the next version of the iPhone could finally get a bigger touch screen. MacRumors.com reports via the Japanese web site Macotakara that both Hitachi Displays, Ltd. and Sony Mobile Display Corporation have started shipments of four inch touch screens for an unnamed future iOS device.
While the report didn"t flat out say that the touch screens would be for a future version of the iPhone, it"s not that much of a stretch to make that assumption. If these new screens are indeed for the next iPhone release it would be the first time since the launch of the iPhone that the smartphone would get a bigger screen. So far the iPhone has always used a 3.5 inch touch screen.
We have certainly seen much bigger touch screens for a variety of smartphones since the first iPhone was released back in 2007. Just two examples are the recent launches of the HTC Titan; the Windows Phone-based product has a massive 4.7 inch screen on board, and the Samsung Galaxy Note with a whopping five inch screen.
There are some who believe that the 3.5 inch screen is the best compromise, since the iPhone can be held and operated with just one hand. However, we have seen other smartphones with larger screens sell well and perhaps Apple feels its time to look into adding more space for future generations of the device.