LG may be thinking of covering lost ground with the successor of its LG G5 — dubbed the LG G6. However, if initial murmurs are to be believed, then the South Korean company is encountering some issues.
The LG G5 may not have lived up to the company's (and consumer) expectations and now, it seems that LG is being compelled to change things around when it comes to the next-gen LG G6.
According to a report (translated) from a South Korean publication, LG has allegedly canned plans of including a curved OLED display in the impending LG G6. The decision to bypass the OLED screen has apparently been prompted by issues with the display's supply.
The curved OLED screen will be replaced by a flat screen LCD one, like other smartphones from the company. LG took the decision to skip the curved OLED display for the LG G6 after LG Display revealed that it did not have the capacity to fulfill the production demands and make sufficient OLED panels.
Presently, LG Display is the supplier of OLED panels for both LG electronics and Apple, which are used for both their smartwatch lineups. However, LG Display lacks the ability to ramp up production so that it can meet the demand for the next-gen LG G6.
Interestingly, LG Display has nabbed the contract to supply Apple with OLED panels for the successors of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, which will be released in 2017. While LG Display will be able to fulfil this demand in H2 2017, it will cannot transition in time to meet the demand for the LG G6, which would likely debut in H1 2017.
The LG G6 will not only be missing the curved OLED display, but will not have a full metal body — as well as a glass cover — like the predecessor LG G5. The company skipping these features is not because of supply issues, but cost.
That is not all, LG's woes continue as the super-fast charging technology it has been researching on will also not make it to the LG G6. Why? As it is not ready for public use.
The company is also rumored to be changing the design sensibilities of the LG, whether it will retain the modular design for the LG G6 is anybody's guess.
Next-gen models are traditionally enhanced versions of the predecessor, but it seems that the LG G6 is on a downward spiral. Will the exclusion of the metal body and curved OLED screen backfire for LG? It is still too soon to comment, but it does not look good for the company.
