“All of Apple’s iPhone 8 OLED versions will be curved, sources said Sunday, amid growing speculations over the design of the US tech giant’s upcoming flagship smartphones,” Shin Ji-hye reports for The Korea Herald. “‘The OLED version of the new iPhone will all be curved as Apple ordered all plastic OLED — not glass — from Samsung Display. Samsung is capable of supplying a little less than 100 million units of curved OLED displays to Apple,’ a source familiar with the matter told The Korea Herald. ”
“Plastic OLED has been used for curved panels for devices like the Galaxy S7 Edge, while glass OLED is typically used for flat panels,” Shin reports. “‘The upcoming iPhone may use new sensing technology, which enables the phone to respond when users touch any side of the device. But, Apple may not adopt this technology,’ the source added, without elaborating further on details.”
“Although Apple has to entirely rely on Samsung for its OLED panels next year, the iPhone maker is expected to gradually reduce reliance as it moves to prevent leaks of information to its head-to-head smartphone rival,” Shin reports. “According to recent news reports, LG Display — Apple’s longtime LCD supplier — is currently working with Apple and Google to develop foldable panels for outward-folding smartphones. It reportedly aims to provide the foldable panels to Apple, Google and Microsoft in 2018.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Thanks to our extremely enjoyable 256GB Jet Black iPhone 7 Plus units, we actually can wait a bit for next year’s flagship iPhone, but just barely.
Apple had better price the OLED “iPhone Pro” appropriately because the demand is going to jump to a new level.
SEE ALSO:
Apple says OLED finally ready for iPhones, but most suppliers still aren’t – November 17, 2016
Analyst: Apple’s next-gen 5.8-inch OLED iPhone to have 5.1-5.2-inch active display area – November 17, 2016
Sharp President confirms Apple iPhone transition to OLED displays – October 31, 2016
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
Can’t see plastic screen in an iPhone, did I read that right?
If that’s what it takes to have a curved display, please wait Apple. Now, if the phone was curved similarly on both the front and back with glass on both sides . . . and had the seamless sense of style of the jet black 7 . . . that’d be the type of quality we come to expect and would provide some exciting new form befitting the “10 year” model. I’d also like to see the home button go away as the 7 clearly shows you don’t need a real button to have the feel of one. Edge to edge display also . . . in reality, these things are not going to add a great deal of functionality but so long as they have exciting form and don’t harm functionality, I’d be up for a new design.
Looks like I’m really going to have to make my 6S+ for as long as possible.
All of iPhone 8’s OLED version may be curved BUT, not all next year’s iPhones will be version 8. Some will still be called iPhone 7S and 7S Plus and will have the same LCD display.
“If that’s what it takes to have a curved display, please wait Apple”.
Haha, removing something useful like a headphone jack just to replace it with a larger Taptic Engine required for a new non mechanical home button that absolutely sucks in colder climates is a-ok, but removing something like easily broken glass and replacing with a plastic screen that is extremely more durable and will have the same display qualities is oh sad bad, oh please apple, PLEASE wait, I want to keep over paying for an easily cracked or broken screen, might as well put glass on the back again. Give me agaoodamn break already.
Curved screen excitement…hmm. If it ain’t a better screen than others already out on the market, why is it getting headlines? OLED, I get, but a little puzzled why a curved screen–that’s plastic–is to provide better performance/experience?
is it really necessary? It’s a flat rectangle object, there is only so much you can do. How is a cover supposed to wrap around it without loosing a millimeter of screen edge?
I guess if Apple get into the car market they will have spherical wheels? You know, for side ways parking. Just because they can.
What is the F’n point of having a curved display? I see absolutely no F’n value or use at all. I hope to hell this is not true.
Before I damn this project, please tell me some benefits of having a curved plastic display on an iPhone. I totally don’t get it.
Samsung has so far failed IMHO to prove any point in curved screens, from TVs to smartphones. Gee Whiz tech.