Apple may have to wait two years for OLED iPhone screens from Japan Display
Ailing LCD producer Japan Display could potentially start production of OLED panels for smartphones at one of its domestic facilities, the CEO of a consortium helping the manufacturer with a bail out suggests, one that could possibly provide screens for a future iPhone model.
The iPhone XR has an LCD screen, but Apple has moved to OLED for the higher end of the range
The beleaguered Japanese manufacturer agreed within the last month to an investment of cash from Suwa Investment, a consortium by China's Harvest Tech Investment Management and Hong Kong-based Oasis Management. Under the investment, worth up to 80 billion yen ($752 million), Suwa would become a major shareholder in the company, with Suwa CEO Winston Lee nominated as a director, subject to shareholder approval.
As part of the plan to revive the firm, Lee is anticipating making OLED panels at JDI's Hakusan plant in Ishikawa Prefecture, reports The Japan Times. By converting the LCD facility to OLED, it will allow the company to start supplying OLED panels to the market relatively quickly.
"To build a full OLED production plant in China will take three to four years before the product comes off the line," Lee advised. "To build in Hakusan, it may take only 2 to 2 [and a half]. The cost at Hakusan would be half or less. The market changes rapidly, the Chinese OLED manufacturers will eventually catch up."
Lee added "We don't have three or four years to wait for JDI's OLED to reach the market. Our major customer cannot wait that long." It is likely that Lee is referring to Apple as the "major customer," as the iPhone maker accounts for some 60% of JDI's revenue in the 2018 fiscal year.
Apple assisted JDI in building a $1.5 billion LCD panel factory in 2015, with JDI to contribute to the cost by paying Apple back over time. However, Apple's shift towards OLED panels in the iPhone meant fewer LCD panels were required, putting JDI into the perilous position.
The iPhone XR has an LCD screen, but Apple has moved to OLED for the higher end of the range
The beleaguered Japanese manufacturer agreed within the last month to an investment of cash from Suwa Investment, a consortium by China's Harvest Tech Investment Management and Hong Kong-based Oasis Management. Under the investment, worth up to 80 billion yen ($752 million), Suwa would become a major shareholder in the company, with Suwa CEO Winston Lee nominated as a director, subject to shareholder approval.
As part of the plan to revive the firm, Lee is anticipating making OLED panels at JDI's Hakusan plant in Ishikawa Prefecture, reports The Japan Times. By converting the LCD facility to OLED, it will allow the company to start supplying OLED panels to the market relatively quickly.
"To build a full OLED production plant in China will take three to four years before the product comes off the line," Lee advised. "To build in Hakusan, it may take only 2 to 2 [and a half]. The cost at Hakusan would be half or less. The market changes rapidly, the Chinese OLED manufacturers will eventually catch up."
Lee added "We don't have three or four years to wait for JDI's OLED to reach the market. Our major customer cannot wait that long." It is likely that Lee is referring to Apple as the "major customer," as the iPhone maker accounts for some 60% of JDI's revenue in the 2018 fiscal year.
Apple assisted JDI in building a $1.5 billion LCD panel factory in 2015, with JDI to contribute to the cost by paying Apple back over time. However, Apple's shift towards OLED panels in the iPhone meant fewer LCD panels were required, putting JDI into the perilous position.
Comments
I probably am. If you read my original post where I talked about the benefits of having the LED LCD display for the cheaper Xr instead of the higher priced OLED things may make sense to you.
Taken out of context as you did, things often sound confused.
Over 50% of all microLED patents are between Apple, Samsung and LG, with Apple garnering the most.
The new majority ownership of JDI says one thing - JDI will be ramping up for OLED, and you claim another - JDI/Apple microLED - that only you seem to know about... with no substantiation whatsoever. C'mon chief. Random articles about microLED patents that have nothing to do with JDI is not substantiation. It is obfuscation. Unrelated facts used to provide an appearance of legitimacy.
I'm gonna go with JDI's ownership. Considering JDI's OLED is rumored to be tested in the Apple Watch, I think that's a safe bet. https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/08/16/apple-watch-5-screen-expected-to-be-supplied-by-japan-display Funny thing. You're even in that thread spreading your microLED claims. Your microLED claims seem spurious.