Report reconfirms 2017 OLED iPhone to be limited by panel supplier yields

Posted:
in iPhone edited November 2016
A report late Wednesday reconfirms rumors of an OLED iPhone variant anticipated to debut in 2017, noting the advanced display technology might be limited to higher-end models as panel manufacturers currently lack the ability to handle Apple's expectedly large order volume.


Concept rendering of next-gen iPhone with edge-to-edge display.


Citing sources familiar with Apple's plans, Bloomberg reports the company intends to release an iPhone version with OLED display for the handset's 10th anniversary, but low OLED panel production yields could put a damper on those plans.

Competing smartphone makers already employ OLED panels, but those products ship in relatively low volumes. As such, OLED manufacturers face low demand and are only now ramping up production capabilities. The world's four largest OLED suppliers, Samsung Display, LG Display, Sharp, and Japan Display, lack capacity to manufacture OLED screens for all iPhones next year, the report said. With limitations potentially continuing into 2018, it is unclear when Apple will be able to field an all-OLED iPhone range.

Like previous rumors, today's report claims Apple is pushing to bring at least one OLED model to market next year. Bloomberg sources say the upcoming smartphone will boast an all-glass design with edge-to-edge display and virtual home button. Shades of a possible virtual home button first appeared in the iPhone 7's solid-state, force-sensing component.

Among the four major OLED manufacturers, Samsung is most likely to provide Apple with panels for the next iPhone. Apple's first order is for 100 million units to be delivered across one year, the report said, far less than what is needed to field both 4.7- and 5.5-inch iPhone models. The contribution could be enough for a single high-end version, as suggested in multiple reports from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Specifically, rumors suggest Apple will release a special 5.5-inch OLED iPhone alongside two LCD versions that carry forward current 4.7- and 5.5-inch form factors. Since iPhone 6, Apple has opted to equip its largest smartphone with special features like optical image stabilization and a dual-camera module. Given its penchant for differentiation, it is possible that Apple will opt to create a separate top-tier iPhone variant in 2017 instead of waiting for OLED supply to catch up with demand.

Today's report follows another Kuo prediction regarding the 10th anniversary iPhone model lineup. Earlier this week, the analyst said he expects Apple will incorporate dual-camera systems in both 5.5-inch OLED and LCD iterations.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 11
    evilutionevilution Posts: 1,399member
    Well, imagine that. An unconfirmed supply shortage from an unconfirmed supplier about an unconfirmed device.
    The repetition does bore very quickly.
    hammerd2englishmike0mike1lkruppRayz2016indyfx
  • Reply 2 of 11
    OMG!!

    WHY EVEN WRITE THIS?

    So pathetic! 
    lkruppRayz2016
  • Reply 3 of 11
    Swami BaloneySwami Baloney Posts: 19unconfirmed, member
    Do you think that now that weed is legal, productivity will nosedive in California?
    mike1
  • Reply 4 of 11
    Do you think that now that weed is legal, productivity will nosedive in California?
    Is there any proof of that happening in Colorado or Oregon or Washington?
    noivad
  • Reply 5 of 11
    williamhwilliamh Posts: 1,044member
    On to other fake news . . .  The 2018 iPhone is predicted to sell in smaller volumes than the 2017 iPhone.  The 2018 phone will be largely unchanged from the 2017 update.
  • Reply 6 of 11
    mike1mike1 Posts: 3,412member
    evilution said:
    Well, imagine that. An unconfirmed supply shortage from an unconfirmed supplier about an unconfirmed device.
    The repetition does bore very quickly.
    But this was reconfirmed. Next week it will be reconfirmed again.
    lkrupp
  • Reply 7 of 11
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    mike1 said:
    evilution said:
    Well, imagine that. An unconfirmed supply shortage from an unconfirmed supplier about an unconfirmed device.
    The repetition does bore very quickly.
    But this was reconfirmed. Next week it will be reconfirmed again.
    Is anyone here old enough to remember journalism?
  • Reply 8 of 11
    lkrupplkrupp Posts: 10,557member
    So now AI is in the fake news business.

    This stuff is like the fake news articles Facebook and Google are being criticized for not controlling and possibly affecting the way people voted. Crap like this article is taken as gospel by inattentive minds who spend the day texting, thumbing through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, whatever.
    edited November 2016
  • Reply 9 of 11
    Really sad to see AI using words "report" and "reconfirms" in the title of this piece.
    It's a rumor.
    edited November 2016
  • Reply 10 of 11
    noivadnoivad Posts: 186member
    You guys jumping all over AI for their poor phrasing of this rumor; yet no one has mentions the “press any key to unlock” on the concept device that has no keys. It has a few buttons. An edge to edge display would probably say “press TouchID area to unlock” with a virtual touchID button shown. But enjoy today’s fake outrage.
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