Per the rumor mill, Samsung and LG Display have begin production on the displays that will be used in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro handsets. The iPhone 13 Pro will reportedly use a new LTPO display technology with ProMotion 120Hz support, while it’s been noted that LG Display will create the OLED screens used in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini, with Samsung creating the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max panels:
Samsung is the sole supplier of low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) OLED panels, which supports 120Hz refresh rate. Apple is planning to use LTOP TFT OLED for the two top tier models. LG Display will be supplying low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT OLED panel for the two lower tier models.
Including the iPhone 12 series and other legacy models, Samsung is expecting to supply up to 120 million to 130 million units of OLED panels to Apple this year. LG is hoping for up to 50 million units.
The report also stated that this is about one month earlier than production began on the iPhone 12 displays last year. The displays were delayed due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Apple battled supply and demand issues for months. Apple is looking to avoid similar problems this year, though it continues to battle a worldwide chip shortage.
Through Apple’s switch to LTPO units, it’s thought that the displays will allow the iPhone 13 handsets to offer 120Hz refresh rates without as much of an impact on battery life. ProMotion has been a feature of the iPad Pro lineup since 2017, but not the iPhone because of its OLED technology.
This, in turn, could offer huge benefits as to the smoothness of animations on iOS-based devices, and could allow for an improved gaming experience given the doubled refresh rate compared to a 60Hz display.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.