Apple is apparently working on brand new screen technology for future generations of iPads and iPhones, a new report from South Korea reveals, with the iPad Pro supposedly set to be the first device to get it at some point next year.
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According to ETNews, Apple is currently looking to replace clear touch panel film with a new material that would contain silver nano wire (AgNW). The company has supposedly already obtained screen samples from display suppliers including LG Display, Samsung Display, Japan Display and other companies.
The AgNW film can apparently offer significant increases in touch sensitivity. Moreover, the new material would also work on flexible displays and would be cheaper to mass produce than previous ITO clear films. The publication says that Apple might use the new AgNW film together with sapphire glass for future displays, although the company obviously hasn’t confirmed anything at this point.
The report does make sense considering plenty of recent rumors that said Apple is brining its Force Touch technology to mobile devices next, beginning with this year’s iPhones. Working on a more sensitive touch display capable of better distinguishing regular touches from Force Touch gestures would make plenty of sense.
ETNews says that AgNW touch screens will be found on the iPad Pro next year, although it’s not clear whether the publication implies the rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro has been pushed back next year or whether it would be the second-generation iPad Pro that will get the new screens.
“Apple recently requested AgNW touch-panel samples and some enterprises already delivered them to Apple. It will be first applied on large-screen iPad, which will be released next year,” an unidentified source told the site.
Even if it’s used only on iPads at first, these new AgNW films would surely be found inside future iPhones, with sources speculating that many smartphone makers might also embrace the new screen technology in the future.
