“Sharp President Tai Jeng-wu, now an executive at parent company Hon Hai Precision has confirmed that Apple will transition to OLED displays over time. He confirmed Apple’s display shift when delivering a speech at Tatung University, his alma mater, during a ceremony in which he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple. “In his speech he noted that ‘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.'”
“The next generation flexible OLED displays will allow Apple to invent iPhone displays that are curved or iPhones that could fold. Apple of course invented an iPhone display with curved edges back in 2012,” Purcher reports. “The Nikkei Asian Review has reported in the past that Apple has tentatively planned three iPhone models for the gadget’s 10th anniversary next year. A premium 5.5-inch handset is slated to have a curved OLED screen, while the other two products will stick with existing LTPS panels.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: For Apple to be able to make the switch, it’s all about having the capacity to produce 50-75 million (or more) displays every 90 days. Not a small feat.
SEE ALSO:
No, Apple’s plans for an OLED iPhone aren’t on hold – October 18, 2016
What if Apple iPhone adopts AMOLED next year? – October 3, 2016
Apple in talks with Sharp to supply OLED screens for future iPhones – September 30, 2016
Apple supplier Sharp names Foxconn exec as CEO to spearhead revival – May 12, 2016
Apple supplier Sharp preps AMOLED displays after Foxconn acquisition – April 6, 2016
Did Apple help Foxconn buy Sharp? – March 31, 2016
Apple supplier Foxconn agrees to buy Sharp after slashing original offer – March 30, 2016
Sharp Corp. liabilities list covered worst-case scenarios; takeover talks extended – February 29, 2016
Why Foxconn’s multi-billion-dollar deal for Sharp is dead in the water – February 25, 2016
Foxconn’s $5.1 billion bid for Sharp could be good for Apple, too – February 25, 2016
Apple supplier Sharp accepts Hon Hai’s $6.2 billion takeover offer; Hon Hai says deal on hold – February 25, 2016
Foxconn fast-tracks $5.5 billion Sharp takeover bid – February 4, 2016
State-backed Japanese fund in race with Foxconn to save Sharp – January 21, 2016
Hon Hai considering $1.7 billion stake in Sharp LCD business; to ask Apple to invest a ‘few hundred million’ – September 28, 2015
Hon Hai offers to buy Sharp’s LCD business, wants Apple funds – September 21, 2015
Apple suppliers Sharp, Foxconn in talks for LCD joint venture – August 24, 2015
Beleaguered Sharp’s problems present an opportunity for mighty Apple – May 15, 2015
Apple display supplier Sharp warns on ability to stay afloat after $1.9 billion loss – May 14, 2015
Apple iPhone display supplier Sharp boosts operating profit – August 1, 2014
Sharp dedicates entire LCD plant to Apple – June 30, 2014
Hon Hai in no hurry to finalize Sharp deal – June 26, 2013
Sharp to replace chairman, president after losses – May 14, 2013
If S Jobs were still around that headline would read “FORMER display supplier Sharp confirms Apple iPhone transition to OLED displays..”
Well, no…
First, Apple cannot simply drop a major supplier of critical components. Jobs my have been theatrically emotional about many things, but he was also very practical. Second, Apple might actually be allowing selected people to begin “leaking” information to see how people react and pave the way for a smoother transition. Keeping big secrets for a major reveal can be fun, but it is not always the best approach from a business standpoint. As Apple has grown, it has become increasingly difficult to keep those big secrets, anyway.
It is possible that Apple might leapfrog OLED technology, going directly from its highly refined LED/LCD displays to quantum dot displays. Or OLED might be a short term transition phase from LCD to QD. Who knows?
A curved screen serves little practical use, unless it wraps around something like a wrist. I can’t see them folding a display. Not when 5.5″ seems like it’s big enough.
A possible formfactor is a screen that is concave. It could curve or bend enough to fit the contours of your leg as it sits in your pocket. As you hold it in one hand, it would be easier for the thumb to reach all or more areas of the screen.
Really there needs to be a problem to solve, not something silly, as in – “Look what I can do!”