iPhone Unlikely to Adopt AMOLED Display in Foreseeable Future

[MacRumors]

Apple is unlikely to adopt AMOLED displays for next-generation iPhones in the foreseeable future, according to often-reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The analyst believes Apple will continue using TFT-LCD display technology for at least the next three years -- and likely beyond.

Kuo claims that Apple supplier Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn, is preparing to invest in advanced TFT-LCD production lines in China for mass production in 2018, and coupled with recent comments made by iPhone backlight supplier Minebea, the analyst believes iPhones will continue using TFT-LCD displays in the future.

Based on recent comments by Minebea, one of the main iPhone backlight unit suppliers, we believe AMOLED will not penetrate iPhone for the next three years. Moreover, Hon Hai is preparing to invest in Gen-6 LTPS TFT-LCD production lines in Zhengzhou, China for mass production in 2018, suggesting the iPhone line will likely stick with TFT-LCD technology in 2018 and thereafter. [...]

Minebea, major BLU supplier of iPhone, stated to investors on November 5 that it does not foresee risk of TFT-LCD share loss to AMOLED in high-end smartphone market in next three years & guides growth in TFT-LCD going forward. As Apple and Samsung are the only two brands that currently offer premium smartphones, we think Minebea's statements imply it does not expect iPhone to adopt AMOLED in the coming three years, given that Samsung's models are already being equipped with it.

Taiwanese website DigiTimes, citing a report in the Korea-based ET News, said in late October that Samsung may supply Apple with OLED panels for upcoming iPhone models, and past rumors have suggested an AMOLED-based iPhone could arrive in 2017 or later, but Kuo believes there is "sufficient evidence indicating otherwise."

Samsung's popular Galaxy-branded smartphones are equipped with AMOLED displays, as is the Apple Watch, but Apple has always used various LCD display technologies since the original iPhone launched over eight years ago. Geek provides a good comparison of AMOLED vs. LCD display technologies.

Article Link: iPhone Unlikely to Adopt AMOLED Display in Foreseeable Future

 

[newtestleper]

Yes!

 

[thadoggfather]

yellowgate continues woo hoo

 

[Aluminum213]

All about profit margins...

 

[Mac 128]

Good thing Jony Ive stated that the iPhone's LCD technology looks old, when talking about designing the Watch.

 

[Zirel]

NO!!!!!!!

Tim Cook will save us all with Revolutionary Micro LED displays!

 

[Bbqthis]

People need to stop taking what this guy says as gospel. He's made just as many bad calls as he has (perhaps lucky, or obvious) predictions.

 

[Luis Mazza]

Here comes the world class stupid fanboys who think this is the best move for consumers.
AMOLED is just perfect... You can't compare to LCD right now. We're are being forced to use inferior technology because Apple doesn't want to give Samsung more money.

 

[Berti10]

AMOLED is going the Future of Displays but last week I went to best buy and opened a blank page on an SG S6 and on my 6. The difference was night and day. IPS still look soooooo much better!

 

[Rogifan]

People need to stop taking what this guy says as gospel. He's made just as many bad calls as he had (perhaps lucky, or obvious) predictions.

At least MR doesn't attach a "breaking" tag to these stories. But yeah I don't know why this guy gets so much attention. He's a supply chain analyst making guesses. He doesn't have inside information from Apple.

 

[840quadra]

yellowgate continues woo hoo

Not that having blotches of pink and other issues that some of the newest AMLOED phones exhibit, is any better.

That said, I wouldn't mind the change to AMOLED (I love my Watch and Android devices with it), but I also have had no issues with any of my iOS screens.

 

[Zirel]

yellowgate continues woo hoo

Yellowgate has nothing to do with LCD or OLED technology.

 

[khaosuser]

Nooooooooooo. I was really hoping Apple adopted Super AMOLED. I'm not convinced by KGI though so hope he's off the mark on this one.

 

[Zirel]

At least MR doesn't attach a "breaking" tag to these stories. But yeah I don't know why this guy gets so much attention. He's a supply chain analyst making guesses. He doesn't have inside information from Apple.

His track record is quite good.

AMOLED is going the Future of Displays but last week I went to best buy and opened a blank page on an SG S6 and on my 6. The difference was night and day. IPS still look soooooo much better!

It's not, MicroLED is the future of displays. It has the best proprieties of LCD's and the best of AMOLED's.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Here comes the world class stupids who think this is the best move for consumers.
AMOLED is just perfect... You can't compare to LCD right now. We're are being forced to use inferior technology because Apple doesn't want to give Samsung more money.

Great way to start a discussion, calling anyone who disagrees with you stupid. Yes, you can compare - and it's best that you actually DO compare...I have both right in front of me right now and absolutely prefer IPS. As for the reasons why, the fact that you think Samsung owns this technology is enough to make me realize you aren't worth discussing with.

 

[ProjectManager101]

So much technology for texting, gps, facebook, instagram and snapchat. I mean, leisure at its best.
In 10 or 15 years this period will be remembered as "the time when technology was used to do this stupid things".

I still have my iPhone 5 and I haven't seen anything that requires me to switch to a new phone AND I work as a general manager in a multichannel network.

 

[jpgr15]

At least MR doesn't attach a "breaking" tag to these stories. But yeah I don't know why this guy gets so much attention. He's a supply chain analyst making guesses. He doesn't have inside information from Apple.

His track record is quite good.

He recently predicted Apple would carry 3D touch onto next year's models. Of course his record looks good when he's predicting things like that.

 

[MikhailT]

Apple is investing in microLEDs instead, not AMOLED for future displays. Then again, they've also invested in Sapphire as well and look at how well that turned out.

 

[Rogifan]

His track record is quite good.

He's a supply chain analyst making guesses. Yeah he'll get some of them right.

 

[Futurix]

Apple should stick with LCDs for as long as AMOLED still has horrible colour reproduction and fake number of pixels. I much prefer seeing natural colours and not oversaturated mess.

 

[Moonjumper]

It's not, MicroLED is the future of displays. It has the best proprieties of LCD's and the best of AMOLED's.

I hope so. OLED is has many advantages over LED LCD, but several disadvantages. OLED is already on the market and a potential option for iPhone 7. It'll do until MicroLED is around, maybe for the iPhone 9?

 

[JackieInCo]

I would have no problem in buying every future iPhone if they would only start using AMOLED displays. I can't believe how much better things look on my Note 4/Note Edge then my iPhone 6+. I look at my 6+ and sometimes it just looks so dull.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

CAN'T INNOVATE MORE
MY A$$

 

[HiRez]

That's a shame, current-generation AMOLED screens look excellent. As great as Apple's current LCD screens are – and they are very good – they simply cannot match the black levels of AMOLED. To me black level is one of the most important criteria for display. It's the primary reason my 9 year old Pioneer Kuro plasma still looks amazing even compared to new tvs today.

 

[naeS1Sean]

Makes me sad. I feel like Galaxy screens look so much better than iPhones.