Apple Weighs Premium iPad Pro Display Tech for 2028 iPhone Models

[MacRumors]

Apple may adopt tandem OLED display technology for its iPhone lineup as early as 2028 if panel supplier LG Display has its way, according to a new report from DealSite.co.kr.

LG Display is currently a leader in tandem OLED technology, ranking first in the number of published U.S. patent applications in the tandem OLED field with 348 patents.

The company is said to have been actively promoting the adoption of tandem OLED structures for future iPhones, and is specifically targeting iPhone models planned for release in 2028. However, the final decision remains with Apple.

Tandem OLED technology stacks two organic light-emitting layers, delivering improved brightness, extended lifespan, and better power efficiency compared to single-layer displays currently used in iPhones. Apple already uses this technology in its M4 iPad Pro models, where LG Display captured a 65% share of panel shipments, with Samsung picking up the rest of the orders.

The technology has already proven to be viable in mobile devices, with Chinese smartphone maker Honor equipping its Magic6 PSR Porsche with tandem OLED panels from BOE last year.

Assuming its efforts to sway Apple pay off, LG Display is preparing for potential capacity challenges, as tandem structures require stacking two emission layers which could reduce manufacturing throughput. The company is reportedly planning investments to address these production constraints.

Honor's Magic6 PSR smartphone with tandem OLED display​

A report earlier this month claimed that the tandem OLED Apple has been reviewing for iPhones involves stacking two layers for the blue sub-pixel only, while keeping red and green on a single layer. This method is apparently known in the industry as "simplified tandem."

LG Display was said to have proposed simplified tandem OLED to Apple based on confidence in its technology, and actually suggested tandem OLED for iPhones several years ago.

If Apple ultimately chooses to use tandem OLED panels for iPhones, it is likely to rely on multiple suppliers for the technology to ensure production capacity and maintain price competitiveness. That suggests Samsung and BOE may also be called upon. As with all rumors running this far into the future, Apple's plans could of course change.

Article Link: Apple Weighs Premium iPad Pro Display Tech for 2028 iPhone Models

 

[KooL BeAnZ]

Apple is going for the “Simple” option as a possibility but Charging the “Premium” price accordingly.

What happened to Apple wanting to have the best for their products?

 

[syklee26]

A nice way to jack up 100 bucks after tariff is gone and Apple has no excuse to cut / stay the price. I am nearly done with their way of milking pennies from customers

 

[BelgianChoklit]

Can't wait for the 60Hz iPhone 2028 with Tandem Oled

 

[Kylo83]

Pixel is 3000nits I hope there’s 17 pro max is higher than what we have now

 

[dominiongamma]

Pixel is 3000nits I hope there’s 17 pro max is higher than what we have now

It goes beyond 3,000 with pixel 10 I believe but I totally agree

 

[Andres Cantu]

So the mythical 2027 20th anniversary iPhone won’t have a tandem OLED display then? Seems strange that a major redesign like that wouldn’t have new display technology.

 

[derekamoss]

So the mythical 2027 20th anniversary iPhone won’t have a tandem OLED display then? Seems strange that a major redesign like that wouldn’t have new display technology.

There's a very simple reason for this...
It would make to much sense.

 

[one more]

With the current tech development pace, iPhones might well become history by 2028.

 

[ELman]

What happened to Micro LED?

 

[dabi]

Why's everything about Apple OLED adoption always years away. Remember when back in the 2010's they were known to have the highest quality IPS LCDs on the market? But today they're stuck on the same old 60 Hz LCDs on the iPads and Macbook Airs, and old OLED panels on the iPhones they've had for years, while the industry is moving forward.

 

[klasma]

What happened to Micro LED?

Not economically viable for the foreseeable future.

 

[Black_Mage]

Sounds good to me. I might be ready to get a newer iPhone by that time.

 

[Taq'aix]

Why's everything about Apple OLED adoption always years away. Remember when back in the 2010's they were known to have the highest quality IPS LCDs on the market? But today they're stuck on the same old 60 Hz LCDs on the iPads and Macbook Airs, and old OLED panels on the iPhones they've had for years, while the industry is moving forward.

This. Last week, I tried a friend’s “Chinese” phone with a digital menu QR code and was blown away by its smooth, vibrant screen, far surpassing Apple’s OLED panels, which suffer from noticeable PWM. As a long-time iPhone user since the first model, I’m seriously considering switching if the iPhone 17 doesn’t impress.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

Apple is really behind the times on display tech. No AR glass, no super bright displays, shipping 60hz on the $800 base model.

When did the best, most advanced iPhone stop being the best most advanced phone?

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

Is it a "Pro" product if it doesn't have this?

 

[tenthousandthings]

I believe LG is calling this “Hybrid Tandem OLED” — I don’t know where the idea that it is “simplified” is coming from — indeed it is more complex than a simple tandem OLED. It’s known as “Dream OLED” — it’s a technique that privileges the blue (the shortest wavelength) against the less-demanding red and green:

LG.Display Announce the First Commercially-Viable "Dream OLED" Blue PHOLED Panels - TFTCentral

Share this contentLG Display, one of the leading manufacturers of OLED technology panels, announced this week that it has become the world’s first company to successfully verify the commercialization-level performance....[click link for more]

tftcentral.co.uk

 

[svish]

Will be good to have it but hopefully this won't lead to an increase in prices. Maybe it will be one of the upgrades that the 20th anniversary iPhone could feature.

 

[IIGS User]

Can't wait for the 60Hz iPhone 2028 with Tandem Oled

One of the best comments here

Apple is really behind the times on display tech. No AR glass, no super bright displays, shipping 60hz on the $800 base model.

When did the best, most advanced iPhone stop being the best most advanced phone?

Pretty soon we will get the IPhone Etch a Sketch edition as its display will be so far behind others its new feature will be to shake it to clear the screen.

Apple keeps falling behind on phone more features like display & AI.

Apple. We love you. We’ve loved your products for years. Even when being a Mac user was something that drew a strange glance from fellow students and later coworkers because you had to have a special edition of word for your documents and their PC couldn’t read our 3.5” floppy. HEY, use one of those memory sticks and format for FAT 32, and it might work. Try it you might find out a Mac is for you.

The iPhone is incrementally falling behind and features that used to be exclusive have been successfully copied and in some cases improved by competitors.

I think right now the best product line in comparison that Apple makes is the MacBook Pro. The M series chips and architecture combined with MacOS is Fuego. My MBP M1 is still more than great for my day to day tasks and my next computer will be a 16” MBP when the M5’s come out. For how I work and for the feature set (a big portion of this is the processors, but another is MacOS) the current and upcoming MBP’s represent the best in portable computing that any company has to offer and command a deserved premium price. This is something Apple is getting right.