Apple in Talks With Sharp to Supply OLED Displays for Next-Generation iPhones

[MacRumors]

Apple is said to be in talks with Japanese electronics maker Sharp to create OLED displays for next-generation iPhones, with the ultimate outcome of the deal depending on Sharp's capacity to output a large amount of displays (via Bloomberg). The Osaka-based company would be one of a handful of OLED suppliers for Apple, and the deal is said to originate from the Cupertino company's "desire to increase the number of suppliers for OLED screens" for a number of future devices.

The rumor of Apple's negotiations with Sharp followed a report on Friday that said the electronics manufacturer is set to spend $570 million on OLED panel production. Sharp will use the funds to purchase equipment for OLED production in its Osaka and Mie factories, with the ultimate goal to start production "by June 2018." According to some watching the negotiations, Apple is encouraging Sharp to enter the OLED business.

"Apple has unofficially or as a nod encouraged Sharp to go into it," said Amir Anvarzadeh, Singapore-based head of Japanese equity sales at BGC Partners Inc., in a phone interview. "Apple's general strategy is to increase the competition on the supply side, and dilute the risk exposure to one company."

"This investment is in response to what Apple is doing," said Hideki Yasuda, an analyst at Ace Research Institute in Tokyo. "Production isn't likely to begin until the second half of 2018, so the impact to profit won't be until after that."

Earlier in the year, Sharp was acquired by another Apple supplier, Foxconn, in a $6.2 billion takeover that saved the former company from a string of financial losses and $4.3 billion in debt, which Foxconn was reported as prepared to take on. The investment in OLED screen technology is said to be a "strategic plan" adopted from Foxconn as the two companies follow Apple into the future of iPhone manufacturing. Apple reportedly accounts for 27 percent of Sharp's revenue.

Next year's so-called "iPhone 8" is believed to come with an OLED display, along with an all-glass body, edge-to-edge, bezel-free display, and a Home button that's integrated into the screen. Since Sharp's OLED facilities are aiming for a mid-to-late 2018 output, the manufacturer will miss 2017's mega-cycle iPhone launch, however. Currently, the only supplier signed on to create OLED displays for the iPhone 8 is Samsung.

Article Link: Apple in Talks With Sharp to Supply OLED Displays for Next-Generation iPhones

 

[keithtae]

But they have the best LCD now!

Why switch to the best display in the market?

LCD is enough to sell to people anyway!

 

[cableguy84]

Looks like i made the right choice waiting for the 8, or whatever it will be called

 

[yanksfan114]

I think the OLED display will be one of the best upgrades to ever happen for an iPhone. I expect them to finally bump the resolution a little higher as well (more so for the 4.7" since its not even 1080p).

 

[Born Again]

This new iPhone that has yet to exist is amazing!

So edge to edge display, no chin nor home button , OLED

Wow what does that sound like?

Oh a Samsung.

 

[2457282]

Are there no rumors related to micro LED? That is what I am hoping apple does versus oled.

 

[Leo90]

I think the OLED display will be one of the best upgrades to ever happen for an iPhone. I expect them to finally bump the resolution a little higher as well (more so for the 4.7" since its not even 1080p).

But why higher than 1080p on 4.7 screen? Does it actually improve sharpness?

 

[Jsameds]

I feel bad for people on the non-S 'tick' cycle. Tock gets all the action.

 

[FFR]

Are there no rumors related to micro LED? That is what I am hoping apple does versus oled.

Me too.

 

[mejsric]

They will go BLACK iOS 11 UI, and jet black case is just a start.

 

[springsup]

Just so long as they remember what happened to GT Advanced.

 

[RedOrchestra]

Sure has taken Apple a long, long time to "add" this to their iPhones ... the technology has been around for years.

Knowing Apple, because if it's "limited availability" ... it will only be featured on the Special Anniversary Edition PLUS phone.

 

[LukasValine]

OLED is definitely the superior technology. You have to feel bad for the engineers working on lcd though. They spend so much time and energy perfecting it, and then bloop. It's gone.

 

[Iconoclysm]

I think the OLED display will be one of the best upgrades to ever happen for an iPhone. I expect them to finally bump the resolution a little higher as well (more so for the 4.7" since its not even 1080p).

OLED is not so hot, has tradeoffs that make it less appealing than even the current LCD and I expect Apple will skip it. mLED is the next step.
[doublepost=1475240714][/doublepost]

OLED is definitely the superior technology. You have to feel bad for the engineers working on lcd though. They spend so much time and energy perfecting it, and then bloop. It's gone.

No, it's really not superior but absolutely not "definitely superior".

 

[Robert.Walter]

This new iPhone that has yet to exist is amazing!

So edge to edge display, no chin nor home button , OLED

Wow what does that sound like?

Oh a Samsung.

Minus the extreme pocket-warmer functionality.
[doublepost=1475240830][/doublepost]

Sure has taken Apple a long, long time to "add" this to their iPhones ... the technology has been around for years.

Knowing Apple, because if it's "limited availability" ... it will only be featured on the Special Anniversary Edition PLUS phone.

Yes because they have done this every time before.

 

[Good User Name]

Are there no rumors related to micro LED? That is what I am hoping apple does versus oled.

Why?

 

[cableguy84]

They will go BLACK iOS 11 UI, and jet black case is just a start.

Black theme would be welcome, or custom themes throughout the OS

 

[zahuh]

Man I wish I could meet the Apple employees that suggests to their suppliers to spend half a billion to enter a new category and then the suppliers do LOL. So badass.

 

[yanksfan114]

But why higher than 1080p on 4.7 screen? Does it actually improve sharpness?

The 7 (4.7") isn't 1080p, only the 7+ display is. The regular 7 is slightly higher than 720 (I believe something weird like 750). Getting that up to full HD would definitely make content look a lot better.

 

[Sasparilla]

Time will tell, don't won't want display burn in on my iphone.

http://imgur.com/O9jY4FM

 

[yanksfan114]

OLED is not so hot, has tradeoffs that make it less appealing than even the current LCD and I expect Apple will skip it. mLED is the next step.
[doublepost=1475240714][/doublepost]

No, it's really not superior but absolutely not "definitely superior".

You're right, I actually meant any LED screen would be an upgrade over the current LCD screens. No In-Plane Switching available on LED displays though right? The viewing angles are unbelievable on iPhones.

 

[Leo90]

The 7 (4.7") isn't 1080p, only the 7+ display is. The regular 7 is slightly higher than 720 (I believe something weird like 750). Getting that up to full HD would definitely make content look a lot better.

No, it wouldn't! Increasing resolution, hence pixel density above 321ppi, it is not distinguishable to the human eye. I want better colour saturation, better viewing angles, but putting anything above 300ppi in a 4.7 inch screen is just plain stupid.

 

[2457282]

Why?

microLED could be a game changer. OLED is okay for the watch and maybe phone, but by the time you are talking about the 12" ipad or an iMac, OLED is probably not the way to go. In addition you have the burn in problem associated with OLED. Here is a good definition of the differences.

https://www.macobserver.com/analysis/primer-lcds-oleds-quantum-dots-microleds/

 

[yanksfan114]

No, it wouldn't! Increasing resolution, hence pixel density above 321ppi, it is not distinguishable to the human eye. I want better colour saturation, better viewing angles, but putting anything above 300ppi in a 4.7 inch screen is just plain stupid.

This isn't true at all. You can clearly see how the iPhone 7 is a lower resolution compared to the Plus and other high resolution Android phones. It's been one of the main weaknesses of the 7 in almost every review as well.

 

[Leo90]

This isn't true at all. You can clearly see how the iPhone 7 is a lower resolution compared to the Plus and other high resolution Android phones. It's been one of the main weaknesses of the 7 in almost every review as well.

No, you can't specially on day to day usage. Don't get trapped on silly marketing.