Apple: Readying larger-display iPhone models

Apple may offer two iPhones with larger displays this year, dumping the plastic exterior of last year's poorly selling 5C model, the Wall Street Journal says. The Cupertino, Calif., tech giant is developing an iPhone with a display larger than 4.5 inches measured diagonally, and a second model with a screen bigger than 5 inches, the newspaper reported Thursday. Both will have metal cases like the current iPhone 5S, rather than the plastic found on the 5C, which has not found favor with consumers, the Journal said, citing unidentified people familiar with the situation. The smaller of the two models is being readied for mass production while the larger-screen version is reportedly still in preliminary development. Apple's largest phone has a 4-inch display, putting it at a disadvantage to Samsung and other smartphone makers whose so-called phablets -- phones approaching tablets in screen size -- have sold well. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment on the reports, the Journal said.