Apple has reportedly asked its supply chain partners to have OLED displays ready for the iPhone 7s in 2017. The company is said to be working with three manufacturers, but there’s still uncertainty over whether the displays will be ready in time.
Recent rumors have claimed Apple is planning to adopt OLED displays for iPhone in 2018, but a new report from DigiTimes suggests the company is actually pushing to deliver them a year earlier, “calling on display makers in Korea and Japan to begin expanding production for the technology.”
If its manufacturing partners — which are thought to be LG Display, Japan Display, and JOLED — can deliver enough OLED panels in 2017, then the iPhone 7s could be the first smartphone in Apple’s lineup with an OLED screen. Until now, every iPhone has used LCD panels.
“Apple has outlined its requirements in terms of expected specifications for the displays and supply needed to meet iPhone shipments, which are expected to continue surpassing the 200 million mark a year over the next few years,” the report continues.
There are concerns, however, that its partners will not be able to deliver enough units by 2017, in which case, Apple would wait to bring OLED displays to iPhone 8 instead, rather than risking supply constraints which would almost certainly have an impact on sales — particularly at launch.
Japan Display and JOLED are expected to increase their production of OLED displays next year with new facilities, but it’s thought they won’t be able to start mass production until 2018.
Apple is already using OLED displays in Apple Watch, but the company is yet to bring them to other products in its lineup. OLED displays offer a number of advantages over LCD, chief of which is their power efficiency, which is particularly important in mobile devices.
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