When will Apple switch to OLED displays?
May 18, 2016 • Apple • iPhone • Rumours
The Rumours of Apple OLED
It’s been widely rumored that Apple is supposedly switching to OLED displays in some observable future. We’ve looked into the information to present as trustworthy opinion for you as possible. Unfortunately, the data seems to be pretty diversified. Here are some news we gathered regarding the matter.
Apple OLED screen from 2019?
According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's claim, stating that it’s not in Apple’s plans to adopt AMOLED screen for iPhones till at least 2019. What he found was- Foxconn will be building a six-generation LTPS TFT-LCD production line in Zhengzhou, China. The mass production is to start in late 2017 – early 2018. That fact almost speaks for future LCD orders for iPhones, but not the OLED ones.
Apple OLED screen as early as from 2018?
On the other hand, Japanese site Nikkei shared a report claiming that Apple plans to switch to OLED displays as early as 2018. Moreover, it states that Apple has taken trouble to notify its suppliers regarding the upcoming plans with LG already preparing extra capacities for high volume OLED production.
It’s highly assumed that Samsung electronics and LG Display are going to be the ones sharing a large amount of OLED displays production for Apple. That definitely is going to be a major problem for current Apple LCD suppliers – Sharp and Japan Display. With that in mind just imagine, Japan Display’s business depends on Apple orders as much as more than 30%.
Keep both LCD and OLED?
It is to be taken into account though that Apple has used LCD displays for over 8 years now, since the original model launch. Both that fact and the complexity of iPhone shipping issues make it highly probable that Apple might even continue to sell iPhones with LCD screens alongside models with new OLED displays.
After all, it wouldn’t be a bad idea. LCD displays have lower manufacturing costs and longer lifespan. Whilst OLED ones do provide sharper images and brighter colors. So maybe it should be up to consumers to choose whether they want their new iPhone with LCD or rather OLED? Or is that too much to expect from Apple? We shall see. Keep tuned, we’ll update as soon as new data is available.