Reflected Benefits
Reports are that Apple, which has stuck to the liquid-crystal display (LCD)-based retina displays so far, will use organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) in the iPhone. Samsung and LG, which have been making large-scale investments in OLED production lines, are highly likely to benefit from this decision. The two are the only companies in the world that mass produce OLED panels.
According to display industry sources on Jan. 2, foreign news reports said that Apple will be buying OLED display panels for future iPhones from Samsung or LG.
The report also said Apple will use OLED panels in 2018, the year Apple introduces the iPhone 8. The company has continuously used LCD-based retina displays from the iPhone 3G to the latest iPhone 6S series. As a result, some critics say that its products get behind the Samsung Galaxy series, which use active OLED display panels, in terms of display hardware specifications.
It is said that Apple is considering the advantages of OLED, which improves contrast and reduces power consumption. Currently, Apple is using OLED displays only in the Apple Watch.
Domestic display industry officials are keeping a close watch on the way the Apple rolls. A display industry official said, “When Apple uses small AMOLED display panels in future iPhones, the overall market can be greatly influenced. However, there is not enough supply of OLED panels, so it will be difficult for Apple to completely change to OLED panels.”