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Japan Display Confirms OLED Production in 2018 Amid iPhone Adoption Rumors

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Japan Display today announced that it will begin the mass production of OLED panels in 2018 (via Reuters), confirming a rumor from December that the company would do so in attempts to be the supplier of OLED panels in a future iPhone model. This would put Japan Display -- a joint venture between Sony, Toshiba, and Hitachi -- in direct competition with LG Display and Samsung in the production of the rumored OLED-supported iPhone.

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"We will take advantage of our advanced thin-film transistor technology in developing OLED screens," Akio Takimoto, chief of Japan Display's research center, told reporters on Friday.
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Japan Display, in addition to rival Sharp, already supplies the manufacturing of LCD panels for Apple's iPhone. In 2015, estimates of an iPhone supporting OLED panels -- which would be the first non-LCD model since the original iPhone -- put it off for at least the next three years, aligning with Japan Display's plans for the mass production of OLED panels.

Recent OLED rumors suggested that Apple's new Taiwanese lab could potentially focus on adopting OLED and micro-LED technology for future iPhone models. Towards the end of last year, a report also claimed that Apple is "close" to signing a final agreement with Samsung and LG Display in regards to OLED manufacturing for the so-called "iPhone 8." According to that report, both manufacturers are planning to spend $12.8 billion combined to prepare for the production of OLED in 2018's iPhone.

Article Link: Japan Display Confirms OLED Production in 2018 Amid iPhone Adoption Rumors
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2016/01/22/japan-display-oled-panels-iphone-adoption-rumors/
Seems a bit crazy that it would take so long, but they probably want to avoid what happened with GT advanced and those Sapphire displays.
 
Bring it on.

I assume OLED will bring some of the benefits of Apple Watch to iPhone, such as tap to wake and cover to sleep (possibly eliminating sleep/awake button in the process). Hopefully, 2018 will give Apple enough time to figure out how to squeeze in Touch ID under the screen.
 
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Soccertess said:
Seems a bit crazy that it would take so long, but they probably want to avoid what happened with GT advanced and those Sapphire displays.
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My guess for the length of time is the lack of suppliers. Only two at the moment developing the majority of the OLED displays. LG and Samsung. If you have one, and only one, focused on mobile sized displays its very difficult to play the competition and control the price per unit. One manufacture knows you pay what they ask if you want it. I'm guessing it will take another two years before others expand their facilities to make displays.
 
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Why two more years? OLED technology is fine.

Put it in the iPhone 7 and start production earlier this year.

Sick of all the launch day struggles of trying to get a device before a three month wait every year.

You would think Apple would look at that problem and go, "well it looks like we keep having a supply problem here, maybe we should start production earlier." Nope, never happens.
 
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You have to wonder if the whole iOS UI is going to go dark when that happens though. Supposedly OLEDs use less power for darker/black colors, unlike LCD which has to drive the whole display/backlight at all times (let me know if that's incorrect). Personally I like a dark UI so that'd be fine with me.
 
HiRez said:
You have to wonder if the whole iOS UI is going to go dark when that happens though. Supposedly OLEDs use less power for darker/black colors, unlike LCD which has to drive the whole display/backlight at all times (let me know if that's incorrect). Personally I like a dark UI so that'd be fine with me.
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That is correct. They just turn off the cell entirely to make the color black.
 
dannyyankou said:
Great. I'll upgrade to the iPhone 7 this year, then iPhone 8 in 2018.
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Really...those of us on the yearly upgrade program will upgrade even if the screens are of made plastic :p
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macnewbie91 said:
Why two more years? OLED technology is fine.

Put it in the iPhone 7 and start production earlier this year.

Sick of all the launch day struggles of trying to get a device before a three month wait every year.

You would think Apple would look at that problem and go, "well it looks like we keep having a supply problem here, maybe we should start production earlier." Nope, never happens.
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I don't think its a supply problem but more a supply management issue - assume they ship 150 Million phones on the launch quarter what happens for the next 3 quarters.

They get crucified by Wall street - those folks want constant growth every quarter or else.
 
2018! No guarantee I will even own a iPhone that year. Since I use both iPhone and Nexus I can only look so far in the future.
 
Traverse said:
Out of curiosity, how is your 4S battery holding up?
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It lasts from 7am through 6pm. On an average day I: listen to Beats 1 with bluetooth headphones, play Pokémon Shuffle, send WhatsApp messages, browse Flipboard and read my email. I'd say it is doing pretty good for an almost 5 years old phone.
 
BvizioN said:
It amazes me that a 4 year old phone is still being used by many many people! Planned obsolescence my ass!
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The experience on the latest OS is absolute rubbish on that phone. I still have an old 4S and it is dreadful. Maybe they're still on iOS 6 ... who knows?
 
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