Apple's iPhones to feature OLED displays from 2018
It looks like Apple is set to bring an OLED display to its line of iPhones starting in 2018, according to a recent report.
The news comes from Japanese publication Nikkei (via MacRumors), and claims that Cupertino has already contacted suppliers in order to inform them of its plans. As such, LG Display is reportedly “planning capacity upgrades for high-volume OLED display production,” in order to meet demand for the yet-to-be-announced smartphone.
Meet the iPhone … 8?
Based on Apple’s current naming system, 2018 should see Cupertino release the “iPhone 8″ in September or October, and based on the current iPhone release cycle, this should be a major hardware update. As such, an OLED display would fit in with this cycle, offering customers a marked change in the display quality featured in Apple’s line of smartphones.
Aside from LG Display, Samsung Electronics will also take a share of OLED panel orders from Apple, the same report claims. And, as you’d expect, the move towards OLED will also have “major implications” for LCD display suppliers Sharp and Japan Display.
Should you care?
TL;DR: yes.
OLED, as a technology, offers consumer electronics owners a number of benefits over more conventional LCD panels. For one, the technology uses less power (making the device itself more battery efficient). They can also be thinner and lighter than LCD, offer wider viewing angles, higher brightness, and significantly higher contrast levels. Finally, OLED features fast response times and wonderful color reproduction.
On the other hand, Ming-Chi Kuo noted not long ago that Apple’s line of iPhones aren’t expected to adopt AMOLED for a few years. Instead, Cupertino is focusing on delivering the technology to its Apple Watch, instead, where AMOLED is needed more.
