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Apple closer to mass producing sapphire displays, report says

The iPhone maker appears to be ramping up its plans for sapphire displays in future mobile devices, according to a report from 9to5Mac.

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Desiree DeNunzio is the gift guide editor for CNET's Commerce team. When she's not writing and editing, she's either hiking through the redwoods or curled up with a good book and a lazy dog.
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Desiree DeNunzio
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Apple uses sapphire for the ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S. Apple
Speculation has been running rampant about Apple's plans for mobile devices with a sapphire screen. Those plans finally appear to be firming up, with 9to5Mac reporting Thursday that the electronics giant is getting ready for massive production of sapphire displays.

9to5Mac, with the help of analyst Matt Margolis, unveiled that the iPhone maker recently placed a large order with GT Advanced Technologies for furnaces and chambers used in making sapphire displays. According to 9to5Mac, GT Advanced has already received 518 furnace and chamber systems, which would let it build 103 million to 116 million 5-inch displays per year. (Another 420 machines are still on order, which would nearly double that production output.) GT Advanced also has ordered Intego Sirius Sapphire Display Inspection Tool components, which would work to make sure that the displays meet high-quality standards, 9to5Mac reported.

Apple late last year signed a contract with GT Advanced to produce sapphire-based materials at Apple's new facility in Arizona. Apple has already used sapphire for the surface of the rear camera lens for the iPhone 5 and the ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5S.

To be clear, when we're talking about displays made out of sapphire, we're referring to a manmade, synthetic version, not the actual gemstone. So what's all the fuss about? A future iPhone with a display made out of the material could render it scratch-resistant and nearly unbreakable. To put this in perspective, check out the video below that 9to5Mac posted earlier of a sapphire-coated iPhone display resisting scratches from a huge concrete block.