Apple to begin using Samsung’s OLED displays for new iPhones in 2018
Apple will likely to use Samsung's organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays for its upcoming iPhones. The Cupertino-based tech company is reported to have further talks with Samsung's Display division over the use of Samsung's OLED for Apple's iPhones.
As reported on Korea Times, Samsung's executive said that the company's display division has recently renewed talks with Apple to supply its small-sized OLED displays for the next-generation iPhones that will be released in a few years.
The executive maintains that the next generation of iPhone using Samsung's OLED will be released in around 2018.
Samsung's executive stated that Samsung Display needs to have a long-term contract with new and trustworthy customers for OLED displays as demand for Samsung's handsets remain weak and the company's handset industry will be reshaped further.
As an effort to decrease its reliance to Samsung's handsets division, Samsung Display was also reaching out to Chinese handset vendors to use its OLED display.
According to Forbes, Apple will likely to remain using LCD screen for the next iPhone 7 that will be launched next year.
Apple currently uses LCD screens in the iPhone, and it is assumed that the LCD screen would also remain in the iPhone 7s.
The iPhone's LCD screen has several advantages over OLED, including the low manufacturing costs. Remaining LCD use on the next iPhones will keep Apple's margin as high as possible.
But Samsung's executive said that adopting OLED technology in the next iPhones will benefit Apple as its new momentum for further growth.
By adopting OLED displays, the next generations of iPhones will offer a number of advantages in technology including the reduced power requirements, wider viewing angle, brighter screen, and more vibrant colors.
In Phone Arena, a reputable Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo hinted that Apple may be exploring using OLED displays in future iPhones, but the next two generations will remain using LCD technology before Apple adopts OLED screens.
The analyst said that Apple's LCD suppliers are still investing heavily in improving the technology, which means iPhone will likely still use the technology in the near future.
Apple currently uses LCD displays supplied by LG Display. To counter Samsung's move, LG is likely to build a new display factory plant to produce small and large OLED as well as LCDs for greater flexibility to overcome any situations.
LG is said to supply cell phone maker Xiaomi with its OLED displays while Samsung supplies Google Nexus 6P with its Quad HD AMOLED panel.
Winning the contract for the next iPhone's display would be so much profitable for both South Korean companies.