“There has been a lot of market speculation that Apple will move to AMOLED displays next year, sending ripples across its entire supply chain in Asia<" Shuli Ren reports for Barron's.
"For instance, for the current display driver supply chain, Taiwan’s Vanguard is an IC foundry service provider to Novatek, which designs IC display drivers for panel maker LG Display, which in turn supplies smartphone screens to Apple," Ren reports. "If Apple moves its business to AMOLED market leader Samsung Electronics, it will have no need for Vanguard, Novatek and LG Display any more, because Samsung has a vertically integrated manufacturing process, from design to foundry to assembly."
"Bernstein Research‘s Mark Li came to Novatek and Vanguard’s defense today, although he continues to have a Neutral rating on both stocks," Ren reports. "His point is that Apple is likely to adopt AMOLED in only one of its models next year and Chinese smartphone OEMs are not likely to follow suit fast, so the Taiwanese companies have some breathing room."
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Regardless of suppliers and next year’s iPhone models, we’re more than happy to have a full year to spend with our Jet Black 256GB iPhone 7 Plus units.
SEE ALSO:
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
Do they even consider 3D touch implications? Apple incorporates the pressure sensor into the LED screens currently used. They will need engineer an solution for OLED. It’s not simply a screen swap.
Well MDN, I’ll just enjoy yet another year with my iPhone 6s.
Your loss. My iPhone 7 Plus blows away my old iPhone 6s Plus.
In what way? Do you finish your 15 minute phone calls in less than 5 minutes with your new phone?
I hope that either Apple never goes OLED or they find a way to make OLED better. I have yet to see an OLED screen I actually liked looking at.
I agree, Kevin. Apple just hit great colorspace benchmarks. While OLED looks good, not sure if it have the color consistent lifespan that LCDs have. OLED in the Apple Watch makes sense as its mostly graphical.
Apple will have to do a lot more then the 7 to get me to spend another $1000 on a phone. My 6s+ does everything I need it to do and it does it well. I also want to keep my jack for a while longer.