LG Innotek aiming at making flexible circuit boards for Apple's 'iPhone 9' - report
LG Innotek is in the process of setting up flexible printed circuit board (PCB) production, with the goal of becoming a primary supplier for the Apple iPhone, according to a report out of LG's home country, South Korea.
An "iPhone 8" concept render.
"Related facilities" should break ground later in 2017, the Korea Economic Daily said on Monday, citing sources. It's expected that mass produciton will begin sometime in 2018.
Flexible PCBs are considered essential for curved OLED panels on smartphones. Samsung has so far maintained the edge in the field, having used curved OLED on phones since 2015's Galaxy S6 Edge. Indeed this year's "iPhone 8" will allegedly use Samsung panels, despite Apple's tendency to distance itself from its main competitor.
LG Innotek components will presumably have to wait for next year's "iPhone 9." The company could end up splitting orders with Samsung, even if it does win a contract.
Rumors about that device -- likely over a year away -- have so far been scarce. It will almost certainly support 5G cellular, since Apple is already planning to test the technology.
The "iPhone 8" should feature a 5.8-inch OLED display with an embedded Touch ID sensor, replacing a physical home button with a virtual one. Other upgrades should include an "A11" processor, wireless charging, faster cable charging, and 3D facial recognition.
An "iPhone 8" concept render.
"Related facilities" should break ground later in 2017, the Korea Economic Daily said on Monday, citing sources. It's expected that mass produciton will begin sometime in 2018.
Flexible PCBs are considered essential for curved OLED panels on smartphones. Samsung has so far maintained the edge in the field, having used curved OLED on phones since 2015's Galaxy S6 Edge. Indeed this year's "iPhone 8" will allegedly use Samsung panels, despite Apple's tendency to distance itself from its main competitor.
LG Innotek components will presumably have to wait for next year's "iPhone 9." The company could end up splitting orders with Samsung, even if it does win a contract.
Rumors about that device -- likely over a year away -- have so far been scarce. It will almost certainly support 5G cellular, since Apple is already planning to test the technology.
The "iPhone 8" should feature a 5.8-inch OLED display with an embedded Touch ID sensor, replacing a physical home button with a virtual one. Other upgrades should include an "A11" processor, wireless charging, faster cable charging, and 3D facial recognition.
Comments
Samsung is a full generation ahead of LG in OLED, produce the best NVM on the market, build the best digital image sensor on the market and on the cutting edge with respect to CPU manufacturing technology.
LG has an advantage in one area. Their battery technology is superior to all others. And Samsung did fall hard on their face with respect to the exploding battery issue in the Note7. Samsung will fix their batteries before LG will be able to compete in OLED panels.
2. Best sensors? They are one of the best, but not "the best". Sony sensors are really good as well.
As for the CPU, should we recall TSMC vs Sammy CPUs debacle, when Sammy definitely did not produce "cutting edge" CPUs...TSMC did.
Just saying.
Even if this fall's OLED iPhone is called 'iPhone 8' - that would still make next years iPhones be 8S. Just threw me off is all. Lol
yet to understand the benefits to a curved display. I don't even see the point in those curved TVs; I seen one at a relatives house on the weekend and it just looked daft. They had wall mounted it and because of the curve it stuck out massively. Didn't see any visual benefit from the curve either while watching a movie. In a phone it just means you're hand will cover one of the curved edges of the screen and at the very edges you won't SEE it unless you tilt the phone, just sounds ridiculous to me.
I'd like to think there are other reasons for flexible PCB; space saving for example.