It’s a rumor, but it’s definitely interesting.
Citing industry sources closes to the stories South Korea’s ETNews reports Apple recently began planning 2019’s iPhone lineup and has selected OLED as its display technology of choice.
The rumor, which is in line with previous rumors, follows up on word that Apple is expected to bring two OLED variants and a low-cost LCD model, each new iPhone will boast an OLED screen.
ETNews also forecasted lean times for Apple’s existing LCD supplies including Japan Display, whose stock fell 10 percent shortly after the report went live. Sharp, another LCD supplier, saw its share prices dip 4 percent on the news.
Apple currently procures OLED panels from Samsung for its iPhone X handset. That partnership will presumably deepen in 2019 with Samsung possibly requiring additional production facilities to accommodate Apple’s iPhone strategy.
Apple is also looking to diversify its OLED supply chain by adding LG into the mix. The sole supplier of OLED screens for Apple Watch, LG was initially expected to be a secondary supplier for this year’s slate of iPhones, but continued manufacturing issues have put that role in jeopardy.
Apple is widely expected to launch three iPhone models in 2018. Anchored by a 6.1-inch LCD variant, the lineup is rumored to include two OLED models in a 5.8-inch “iPhone X 2” and larger 6.5-inch “iPhone X Plus.” Samsung reportedly kicked off production of OLED panels bound for the two top-end models this month.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and ETNews