Apple May Invest in AMOLED Supplier AU Optronics for Future iPhones

[npmacuser5]

Apple has a good track record implementing technology when it is ready. The value proposition comes down to the individual buyer. The old bang for the buck in other words. Apple being on the high side of market pricing has more room to move then the companies selling on price only. I for one use my devices for what they can do for me not how cool they are from a tech spec point of view. Apple will make the move when the time is right.

 

[Simplicated]

Definitely some downsides to OLED. They get burn-in and die over time so your screen eventually loses brightness and dies.

This is exactly what I'm concerned with.

 

[69Mustang]

It means that it loses brightness relatively fast. It is especially problematic in display types where the light output is produced by pixels themselves (i.e. PDP and OLED), as it may lead to uniformity issues (known as dirty screen effect). In contrast - modern LCDs with LED backlight have very long lifespans and uniformity issues are not related to ageing, but are a QC issue.

You misunderstood my post. I know what shorter lifespan means. I was asking for MR to quantify shorter lifespan, as in average # of hours. The OLED wiki has the blue pixel rated at 14,000 hours but that was based on a TV panel, and the info is from 2008. Pretty sure the state of OLED has changed in 7+ years that info was relevant.

 

[H2SO4]

They are not sharper! Where does this kind of thing come from? And they don't have "brighter" colors. They have had more saturated colors, which isn't really a good thing. When Samsung finally decided to calibrate its displays, as Apple had been doing for years, the displays no longer had those unnatural "brighter" colors. You know, when flesh tones look orange?

And they aren't more efficient either. On average, an AMOLED screen is about as efficient as an LCD screen.

Until Apple begin using them, at which point I guarantee you people here will tie themselves in knots trying to justify their change of course.

 

[huntnboy04]

Then I will not be able to make fun of Samsung and their screen ghosting, last weekend at Best Buy, 4 of the 5 phones I looked at had screen ghosting.

 

[vault]

I am not a display engineer. Can someone who knows these things explain the difference between AMOLED, OLED and Micro LCD? What would drive Apple to choose each of these technologies referenced in the article?

Thanks!

There are some historical differences between OLED and AMOLED, but today all of them are AMOLEDs. Only Samsung chooses to call them that, however, probably for marketing reasons.
MicroLED is like OLED but non-organic. It uses tiny LEDs to produce a picture. Not much is known about the final properties as it's still in research stages.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

When I read this i wonder, what happed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLED

http://gizmodo.com/5418985/kodaks-slow-fade-inventor-of-oled-sells-oled-business

 

[usarioclave]

I hope the supplier drives a better deal than GT Advanced Technologies.

 

[Col4bin]

I own a Nexus 6P and a iPhone 6S for work and play. Now while I am a self-proclaimed Apple fan boy, I can honestly and objectively say and without bias, that the Nexus 6P with Samsung's WQHD Super AMOLED screen, completely destroys the iPhone's Retina HD Display—and it's not even close.

Why Apple would wait three more year's to improve their screen tech to match the quality of the current WQHD Super AMOLED is very surprising. I would assume that the next major advancement in iPhone screen design would arrive with this year's iPhone 7? If not, my guess is that the Retina HD displays are much cheaper to produce. Given Apple's exorbitant iPhone price points, they are making a lot of money off their consumers by holding back on the tech, all the while claiming that it's the "best" when in actuality, it is not.

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

I own a Nexus 6P and a iPhone 6S for work and play. Now while I am a self-proclaimed Apple fan boy, I can honestly and objectively say and without bias, that the Nexus 6P with Samsung's WQHD Super AMOLED screen, completely destroys the iPhone's Retina HD Display—and it's not even close.

Why Apple would wait three more year's to improve their screen tech to match the quality of the current WQHD Super AMOLED is very surprising. I would assume that the next major advancement in iPhone screen design would arrive with this year's iPhone 7? If not, my guess is that the Retina HD displays are much cheaper to produce. Given Apple's exorbitant iPhone price points, they are making a lot of money off their consumers by holding back on the tech, all the while claiming that it's the "best" when in actuality, it is not.

People always assume that Apple can just use any technology that other companies might be using. Just think how many Nexus AMOLED phones there are in existence or sold compared to iPhones. Comparing limited production products to an iPhone is a useless comparison. Apple needs something that can withstand the hurtles of major mass production far beyond how these other phones are produced. Apple needs things that can't be done with the production of these phones. They need them produced cheaper and MUCH FASTER while keeping the same quality control and durability or hopefully even making it better.

This is why I have no problem with Apple waiting.

 

[nordique]

Even if this is case, will we see the OMOLED screens on the iPhone7 or will we have to wait for the iPhone 8?

iPhone 7 will, with 99% certainty, still be IPS

Which is fine, as they still look great. Both technologies have their pros and cons. Apple could increase the resolution though...that is a different thing they could do for the iPhone 7.

 

[lunarworks]

Another "GT Advanced Technologies" fiasco?

GTAT promised something not already on the market that they couldn't deliver.

 

[xmichaelp]

There are some historical differences between OLED and AMOLED, but today all of them are AMOLEDs. Only Samsung chooses to call them that, however, probably for marketing reasons.
MicroLED is like OLED but non-organic. It uses tiny LEDs to produce a picture. Not much is known about the final properties as it's still in research stages.

Is OLED better or worse than AMOLED? Do all AMOLED screen have crappy pentile matrix or is it just Samsung's version of it? Are the OLED LG TVs on the market right now OLED or AMOLED?

Thanks!

 

[cocky jeremy]

Makes sense to diversify with your suppliers. I'd be wary though if I were AU after the whole GT Advanced debacle.

It was GT that over promised and didn't deliver. Apple didn't do it.

 

[dannys1]

I've never been a fan of the AMOLED displays and to be honest i'm perfectly happy to say with LCD for iPhone, it really doesn't need to improve for me in a phone device (its not like my TV where I demand the best picture I can possibly buy!)

AMOLED as come along way, when Samsung first used it, it was utter crap. I don't know how they didn't get run out of town for it, the S2, S3, and S4 all had AWFUL screens. Jagged edges, nasty constrast, saturated colours. Horrible horrible screens. I still have a S3 for development purpose and it pains me to look at it.

On top of that they couldn't have all white screens as it'd kill the battery, hence you got all that horrible white on black with Android and Samsung devices.

They appear to have largely fixed the white on black thing and battery life and these flawed displays have need a PPI much higher than an LCD to match its resolution to the eye, but they do appear to be there.

There are still lots of problems with OLED displays - hell even so far as Samsung aren't even using the technology in their own large TV's! Grant LG have the patent on the screens, but Samsung dropped making OLED TV's all together. That LG panel tech is not there yet either - whilst black is black with OLED due it to being off, it really struggles with shades of blacks and near blacks - they all just appear black...so you get harsh black blocks where there should be detail. IMHO at the moment, with a TV id rather have not totally black but see the detail properly in the dark areas. Panasonic have fixed this with the same LG panel but advanced processing they learnt about from the Plasma screens, but its a £8000 (or what $15,000?) TV so its a long way from being mass market yet.

I'd say in three years time, the technology maybe perfected, cheap enough and able to scale to a large enough amount to be usable by Apple in the iPhone and by TV manufacturers to make TV's far superior to anything on the market today. Unfortunately we're stuck waiting for technology to move quickly enough for that to happen, and id love to buy a new TV!


Just to add to this, OLED doesn't' have the brightness yet either (and may never have) it'll probably fine for mobile phones where it doesn't matter as much but for a TV they're really going to struggle to ever meet the HDR standard for OLED of 1000 nits. It seems every technology out there is fatally flawed in one way or another at the moment.

 

[MrX8503]

Makes sense to diversify with your suppliers. I'd be wary though if I were AU after the whole GT Advanced debacle.

Why should AU be wary if Apple is handing out $1B loans without fulling vetting the company they're investing in? Apple was the one that was screwed, not GTAT.
[doublepost=1452627089][/doublepost]

I am not a display engineer. Can someone who knows these things explain the difference between AMOLED, OLED and Micro LCD? What would drive Apple to choose each of these technologies referenced in the article?

Thanks!

It's OLED vs LED. There are different types of LCDs and OLEDs. The main difference between the two is that LCD requires backlighting, whereas OLED has individual self light pixels.

Because of this difference, OLED offers true blacks and super high contrast ratios. I don't know the exact science behind it, but it's also easier to manufacture a higher pixel density OLED than LCD. With no backlighting required, the display assembly is also thinner, which allows for a thinner device.

The downside to OLED is that it's more expensive, has a shorter life span, and is more susceptible to screen burn in (from my experience).

 

[Col4bin]

I own a Nexus 6P and a iPhone 6S for work and play. Now while I am a self-proclaimed Apple fan boy, I can honestly and objectively say and without bias, that the Nexus 6P with Samsung's WQHD Super AMOLED screen, completely destroys the iPhone's Retina HD Display—and it's not even close.

Why Apple would wait three more year's to improve their screen tech to match the quality of the current WQHD Super AMOLED is very surprising. I would assume that the next major advancement in iPhone screen design would arrive with this year's iPhone 7? If not, my guess is that the Retina HD displays are much cheaper to produce. Given Apple's exorbitant iPhone price points, they are making a lot of money off their consumers by holding back on the tech, all the while claiming that it's the "best" when in actuality, it is not.

People always assume that Apple can just use any technology that other companies might be using. Just think how many Nexus AMOLED phones there are in existence or sold compared to iPhones. Comparing limited production products to an iPhone is a useless comparison. Apple needs something that can withstand the hurtles of major mass production far beyond how these other phones are produced. Apple needs things that can't be done with the production of these phones. They need them produced cheaper and MUCH FASTER while keeping the same quality control and durability or hopefully even making it better.

This is why I have no problem with Apple waiting.

I agree and am fine with waiting. But don't lie and tell me it's the best screen tech available in a smart phone, then go out and charge me through the nose for the product when in fact it is inferior. That is disingenuous marketing, but hey, it's working apparently.

 

[macintoshi]

Following rumors claiming that iPhones will adopt OLED displays in less than three years, Taiwanese website Focus Taiwan cites local media reports stating that Apple is planning to invest in AMOLED display supplier AU Optronics.AU Optronics declined to comment on its potential investment deal with Apple, but the supplier's shares of the company gained 5.15% on Tuesday to close at NT$9.53 on the Taiwanese stock market amid the rumors.

AU Optronics, which has supplied LCD panels to Apple in the past, has reportedly been developing AMOLED displays for more than a decade, and last year it began shipping AMOLED panels to Huawei and other Chinese manufacturers. Apple currently uses LCD panels for iPhones, sourced primarily from Sharp and Japan Display.

Last month, it was reported that Apple has been recruiting talent from AU Optronics and Qualcomm to work at a Taiwanese factory, where the company is purportedly developing thinner, lighter and brighter displays for future Apple devices. The secretive lab may be specifically focused on OLED and Micro-LED technologies.

Samsung, LG and Japan Display have also been rumored to provide Apple with OLED displays for iPhones starting in 2018.

OLED displays typically have brighter colors and deeper blacks, and the lack of a backlight increases power efficiency, but the panels can also have shorter lifespans and higher manufacturing costs compared to LCD technology. Apple has reportedly been consulting with OLED panel makers to eliminate potential drawbacks.

Samsung is the most popular smartphone maker that uses AMOLED displays, while the Apple Watch became Apple's first AMOLED device last April.

Article Link: Apple May Invest in AMOLED Supplier AU Optronics for Future iPhones

If apple does this, then am switching after so many years: Since iPhone 4 to Apple back!

 

[acidsoul]

So will we get an iPhone with liquid metal body, OLED display with sapphire glass?

 

[appledefenceforce]

I can just imagine apple saying something like "Apple scientists have created a display with true blacks and vibrant colors, the display also saves battery life thanks to this apple creation"

Well joke on people who think like that because Apple has already used OLED in the Apple Watch and they didn't say anything like that.
[doublepost=1452668656][/doublepost]

People always assume that Apple can just use any technology that other companies might be using. Just think how many Nexus AMOLED phones there are in existence or sold compared to iPhones. Comparing limited production products to an iPhone is a useless comparison. Apple needs something that can withstand the hurtles of major mass production far beyond how these other phones are produced. Apple needs things that can't be done with the production of these phones. They need them produced cheaper and MUCH FASTER while keeping the same quality control and durability or hopefully even making it better.

This is why I have no problem with Apple waiting.

Exactly. People keep forgetting how much Apple outsells other OEMs, including Samsung. The Samsung phones that have AMOLED displays don't even make up the majority of phones Samsung sells, only their top tier models. And their top tier models do not sell as much as annual iPhone models.

 

[Robstevo]

Is OLED better or worse than AMOLED? Do all AMOLED screen have crappy pentile matrix or is it just Samsung's version of it? Are the OLED LG TVs on the market right now OLED or AMOLED?

Thanks!

Crqppy pentile matrix? 3 or 4 years ago that was maybe a problem, the pixel density is so high though now that it's impossible to see such pixels.

 

[Iconoclysm]

I can just imagine apple saying something like "Apple scientists have created a display with true blacks and vibrant colors, the display also saves battery life thanks to this apple creation"

Why not, Samsung says the same thing? DuPont created this in the late 90's.

 

[tooltalk]

Why not, Samsung says the same thing? DuPont created this in the late 90's.

and Xerox created Apple's GUI.

 

[usarioclave]

and Xerox created Apple's GUI.

Actually, that's wrong. The Xerox UI was pretty different...and Apple did get a license from Xerox at some point. Supposedly Xerox didn't sue Apple because Xerox owned Apple's insurance company, and they'd basically be suing themselves. Plus I'm pretty sure they thought the stuff was worthless.

Funny how basic untruths have a life of their own.

 

[tooltalk]

Actually, that's wrong. The Xerox UI was pretty different...and Apple did get a license from Xerox at some point. Supposedly Xerox didn't sue Apple because Xerox owned Apple's insurance company, and they'd basically be suing themselves. Plus I'm pretty sure they thought the stuff was worthless.

Funny how basic untruths have a life of their own.

I apologize for starting the Xerox thread again, but a few facts:

1) Apple never licensed Xerox's GUI. Sun Microsystem and Metaphor were the only legit licensees of Xerox's GUI.
2) Xerox SUED Apple, in part Xerox was upset that Apple was scaring away potential licensees in their lawsuit against Microsoft. Xerox's lawsuit didn't go too far -- the case was dismissed by a judge who felt the lawsuit didn't have proper legal basis. Apple subsequently lost their lawsuit against Microsoft, who had licensed Apple's GUI.

The court documents are publicly available, so please no creative writing, no liberal arts. Stop spreading BS.