'iPhone 11' OLED screens may be the same as the Samsung Galaxy S10

Posted:
in iPhone edited August 2019
The 2019 iPhones will use the same material as those used by Samsung's Galaxy smartphones, according to a report, a rumor that could be better from a supply chain point of view, but also means that Apple won't be using a custom material for its smartphone display.




The "iPhone 11" trio of devices set to be announced in early September is expected to follow the same pattern as the current-generation iPhone XS, XS Max, and iPhone XR, in two being equipped with OLED displays and one using an LCD version. According to one rumor, the OLED panel may not necessarily be one that is made just for Apple.

Sources of TheElec claim the two OLED iPhone models will use the same OLED material as the Samsung Galaxy series. The rumor states the new iPhones will use an OLED panel made from a material set known as "M9," which has been previously used for the Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10 screens.

Samsung Display, the subsidiary that produces screens, previously used a material set titled "LT2" that was dedicated just for Apple use, and was used since the iPhone X.

Samsung rotates its materials around for its displays on a two-year cycle, with the first year being used on flagship models before being brought down to lower-range devices. Rather than producing a new material for use with Apple's smartphones, it is claimed Samsung Display is instead reusing "M9" for the panels.

The move is likely to assist Samsung Display in a number of ways, including reducing the list of suppliers it uses to acquire materials, and buying more from a smaller supplier pool.

The use of similar materials may not necessarily mean the iPhones could have similar resolutions to the Galaxy models, but it is a possibility. The iPhone XS and XS Max have the same 458 pixels per inch, while the Galaxy S10 and S10+ have pixel densities of 550ppi and 522ppi respectively, and the Galaxy Note 10 and Plus have densities of 401ppi and 498ppi.

It is unclear exactly how true the rumor is. While the publication has a decent track record on supply chain stories, it isn't as good at reporting specifics on Apple product plans, making it hard to judge if this is true.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 12
    If true seems like Samsung may be trying to avoid having excess unsold stock of the L2 panels again.
  • Reply 2 of 12
    robjnrobjn Posts: 280member
    Whilst Apple currently uses Samsung as the primary  manufacturer, the OLED panels that go into iPhones are 100% designed by Apple (with use of some Samsung patents on pentile pixel arrangement).

    The panels use whatever materials Apple specify.

    Even if some input materials are shared with Samsung’s own products, the finished panels are different and unique to Apple.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 12
    AppleExposedAppleExposed Posts: 1,805unconfirmed, member
    Complete bull*hit but this rumor won't stop the iKnockoff morons from claiming "Apple uses Samsung screeens lol!!"

    Little do they know the company that manufactures orders is different than Samsung Mobile who makes the knockoffs.
    Metriacanthosauruswatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 12
    StrangeDaysStrangeDays Posts: 12,834member
    robjn said:
    Whilst Apple currently uses Samsung as the primary  manufacturer, the OLED panels that go into iPhones are 100% designed by Apple (with use of some Samsung patents on pentile pixel arrangement).

    The panels use whatever materials Apple specify.

    Even if some input materials are shared with Samsung’s own products, the finished panels are different and unique to Apple.
    Yeah as I understand it with the X the OLED was made by Samsung as a contract manufacturer to Apple’s specs, that this was required to function properly with the X’s display driver, correct color calibration, etc. Wasn’t an off-the-shelf part. 
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 5 of 12
    My theory is killing 3D Touch made Apple’s tweaks unnecessary...

    No quality difference.  No big deal...
    pujones1Metriacanthosaurus
  • Reply 6 of 12
    coolfactorcoolfactor Posts: 2,239member

    I still think high-density pixel-based screens are a true marvel of engineering. We take this complex technology for granted, when it works so extremely well.
     
    pujones1muthuk_vanalingamPanamaniakwatto_cobra
  • Reply 7 of 12
    And this is bad news becaaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuse??
  • Reply 8 of 12
    MplsPMplsP Posts: 3,911member
    If true seems like Samsung may be trying to avoid having excess unsold stock of the L2 panels again.
    Except the displays are still likely to be a custom size, with a notch, etc, even if the actual material is the same.


    watto_cobra
  • Reply 9 of 12
    MplsP said:
    If true seems like Samsung may be trying to avoid having excess unsold stock of the L2 panels again.
    Except the displays are still likely to be a custom size, with a notch, etc, even if the actual material is the same.


    Just guessin' but I'd think trimming a notch into a panel made from the M9 material would be a helluva lot less expensive than manufacturing LT2 panels.  Capacity is more easily controlled when you're making one type panel.  There's less risk of unsold panels that can't be repurposed elsewhere.  Again, just speculating here.  
  • Reply 10 of 12
    MplsPMplsP Posts: 3,911member
    MplsP said:
    If true seems like Samsung may be trying to avoid having excess unsold stock of the L2 panels again.
    Except the displays are still likely to be a custom size, with a notch, etc, even if the actual material is the same.


    Just guessin' but I'd think trimming a notch into a panel made from the M9 material would be a helluva lot less expensive than manufacturing LT2 panels.  Capacity is more easily controlled when you're making one type panel.  There's less risk of unsold panels that can't be repurposed elsewhere.  Again, just speculating here.  
    Yeah - I don’t know how manufacturing works for OLED displays and how easy/difficult it is to change the size and shape. If nothing else, they should be able to share the same production line, just with modifications. 
  • Reply 11 of 12
    tshapitshapi Posts: 369member
    MplsP said:
    If true seems like Samsung may be trying to avoid having excess unsold stock of the L2 panels again.
    Except the displays are still likely to be a custom size, with a notch, etc, even if the actual material is the same.


    Just guessin' but I'd think trimming a notch into a panel made from the M9 material would be a helluva lot less expensive than manufacturing LT2 panels.  Capacity is more easily controlled when you're making one type panel.  There's less risk of unsold panels that can't be repurposed elsewhere.  Again, just speculating here.  
    You guys are forgetting an important factor! All those wasted screens when the cut for the notch doesn’t take! Probably costs Apple a lot more money on its custom spec screen than on this m9 screen.   
  • Reply 12 of 12
    So we can expect the new phones to be cheaper, right? Right?
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