More and more reports indicate that Apple is looking to equip future iPhones with a new kind of display. According to multiple reports, Apple is going to use OLED screens starting with the high-end 2018 iPhone 8 models, and the company is reportedly in negotiations with the major OLED screen providers who also happen to be some of its top rivals in the smartphone business. On top of that, Apple is also working on its own screen technology at a secret lab in Taiwan, studying flexible displays and micro-LED technology.
A new report out of Asia further reinforces the idea that Apple is determined to switch from LCD to OLED screens in future iPhones, suggesting that Apple’s efforts will also have a welcome side effect. Other smartphones, including Android handsets, might become better than ever as well starting next year.
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According to an iNews24 report cited by Digitimes, Apple is in talks with Samsung Display, which could provide OLED displays for future iPhones. The iPhone maker is negotiating with LG as well, which is already providing screens for iOS devices.
Apparently, Apple is interested in having multiple OLED display providers to create room for price negotiations. One reason Apple hasn’t adopted OLED displays in iPhones and other products concerns costs, as LCDs have traditionally been the cheaper option.
LG Display is expected to be the main supplier of small- to medium-size OLED panels, but Samsung’s role is supposed to grow in the near future. Samsung already has better prices than LG, and the company’s supply capacity is expected to rise following investments in 2016. A previous report did say that Samsung is very interested in selling OLED displays to Apple, which is seen as the main driver for growth when it comes to OLED panel sales.
Samsung already uses OLED displays in many of its devices, but other Android device makers will start using the technology in the near future. Digitimes further notes that Korean OLED display manufacturers are increasing yields for OLEDs and prices are dropping. As a result, other smartphone vendors are reportedly going to use OLED screens in high-end and mid-range handsets set to launch next year.
