The next generation of iPhone products are likely to adopt advanced organic light-emitting diode screens, or OLED for short. These displays are expected to come from Sharp, a Japanese company known for quality electronics such as TVs and stereo systems.
Tai Jeng-wu, president of Sharp, confirmed Apple would switch to OLED with its future devices, chances are the iPhone 8. It is the only handset that will be a true next generation seeing as the iPhone 7s will be viewed as a refresh, and in truth, that's exactly what it is.
"The iPhone has been evolving and now it is switching from LTPS (low-temperature poly-silicon) to OLED panels," Tai told students at Tatung University, his alma mater, during a ceremony.
"We don't know whether Apple's OLED iPhones will be a hit, but if Apple doesn't walk down this path and transform itself, there will be no innovation. It is a crisis but it is also an opportunity," Tai said.
This shouldn't come as a surprise as the golden days of Apple appears to be nearing its end, and with that, the company must find other ways to keep the growth moving upward.
Recently, Apple announced its first annual sales loss since the year 2001. This is due to weakening demand for its most popular gadget, and because the iPhone 7 is lacking innovative features.
For those who are wondering, OLED is better than the tech currently inside the iPhone 7, which is LTPS (low-temperature poly-silicon). It offers sharper colors, and not only that; it's more flexible. Ever seen foldable smartphones before? Many have an OLED screen. Even the Galaxy S7 edge and the now defunct Galaxy Note 7 have OLED displays.
One could say Apple is late to OLED party because it began several years ago.
We should point out that Sharp provides the LTPS displays for the iPhone, but when it comes down to OLED, the company has limited manufacturing capacity. It means, should Apple indeed decide to go OLED, the company might have to work with another company alongside Sharp.
Samsung could be a good fit for this or even LG for that matter.
Now, Tai did not state when production on the OLED screen for the future iPhone devices will begin. It won't be soon; that's for sure.
Where Will These OLED Screens Be Made?
Tai said his company, Sharp, is building new manufacturing plants in Japan. However, if Apple wants the screens to be made in the United States, then that's something the company would be able to do.
