Apple may move to OLED screens with its next-generation iPhone 7, and could source those panels from its archrival, Samsung.
It wasn't too long ago that the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus made their debut, but the rumor mill is already churning in anticipation of the next model. The iPhone 7 has already starred in a number leaks and reports, although it's still roughly one year away.
Nevertheless, the latest leak now claims that the iPhone 7 may rock an OLED display, which would allow for several improvements. Android smartphone makers have been equipping handsets with OLED displays for quite some time now, and the technology received positive reviews. Apple recently joined the party more recently, but it didn't invite its smartphones yet - just its smartwatch.
The Apple Watch shipped with an OLED display and received high praise for its true blacks, among other highlights. It would make sense for Apple to extend the OLED courtesy to its smartphones as well, and it wouldn't be the first time the iPhone borrows features from its smartwatch. The Force Touch technology, for instance, was availble on the Apple Watch before it hit the latest iPhones. If the use of OLED panels is part of a similar strategy, the iPhone 7 may just sport a new and improved display.
Citing a report from Korean ET News, DigiTimes now claims that Apple is currently accepting sample OLED displays from Samsung, as the latter is trying to win the bid to make OLED panels for both the Apple Watch and the upcoming iPhone 7.
Apple still has plenty of time to choose its suppliers considering that the iPhone 7 will most likely not launch until Sept. 2016, but it's nonetheless necessary to start planning early on. The company has reportedly set November as the deadline to make a decision.
With an OLED panel, the iPhone 7 would be able to deliver deeper blacks and better contrast, as well as a reduced panel consumption. OLED doesn't need to light up pixels when they're black, and OLED panels also consume less battery, particularly when powering dark screens. Considering that Apple has been making efforts to improve the battery life of its devices, moving to OLED with its iPhone 7 would make sense.
It's still too early to know everything for certain, however, and not all leaks and reports turn out to be accurate. As always in such cases, take everything with a grain of salt.
