The device the displays will be used for is unclear but the general consensus is Apple will begin using AMOLED panels in 2017 or 2018 on either an iPhone 7s or iPhone 8-branded device. Either way, iPhone users are still years away from enjoying the benefits of an AMOLED display.
AMOLED panels generally have brighter whites, more vivid colours and darker blacks than other kinds of display technology. Individual pixels of the display can be fully turned off when required to create a fully black area or just to save power.
There are still some disadvantages, such as claims of image burn-in and gradual quality degradation, but AMOLED’s greater battery life and brighter display makes it a popular choice for high-end smartphones.
Rumours of Apple eventually switching to the technology have been circulating for months but have stepped up considerably in the past few weeks. In late November, a Samsung executive was quoted as saying the company had “renewed talks” with Apple to supply panels “for the next iPhones to be released in a few years, which I believe is around 2018.” Samsung reportedly wants a “trustworthy major customer” to buy its displays as demand currently remains comparatively low.
A report yesterday from Taiwanese website Focus Taiwan claims Apple is also considering another way to get AMOLED screens onto the iPhone. It may invest in display supplier AU Optronics, injecting cash into the company so it can expand its capabilities and produce the millions of units required for Apple’s orders of new iPhones. Other partners rumoured to be working with Apple include LG and JDI.
Apple already buys OLED panels from Samsung and LG for use on the Apple Watch. It is thought the company wants to shift to using OLED more widely because its flexible nature means it will be able to experiment with more device families and form factors.
Should the rumours play out according to their current state, Apple may be intending the iPhone 8 to have a flexible, AMOLED display with a design radically different to the current iPhone 6s.
It is reportedly planning to abandon its longstanding physical home button beneath the display and incorporate all the controls into the glass, including the TouchID fingerprint scanner. The result would be an iPhone more distant from its predecessor than ever before, straying from Apple’s tested design into something entirely new.
