Apple really is working to bring flexible OLED displays to the iPhone, according to a new report from South Korea, but we’ll have to wait until 2018 to get them. Supply chain sources claim Apple is “serious†about making the switch from LCD screens, which have “weak points.â€
“According to an industry source, Apple is “serious†about transferring its flagship product lineup to one equipped with organic light-emitting diode (OLED), screens as those displays can solve its existing weak points such as color saturation, accuracy, and brightness,†reports Business Korea.
Major Korean display manufacturers are reportedly persuading Apple to adopt flexible screens on its future iPhone models, with one industry source claiming that the Cupertino company is in fact “serious†about doing it.
Not only would OLED screens make future iPhones more power-efficient, but also offer better color saturation, accuracy and brightness.
“The source added that if Apple releases an iPhone with an OLED-based flexible screen, it will create a huge market, as Apple has not yet used the technology in its flagship models,†reads the report, adding that these OLED panels should go into limited production in 2016.
Interestingly enough, Apple already uses flexible OLED technology. Its Apple Watch uses a flexible OLED panel built exclusively by LG Display, filing as the fist Apple product to deploy OLED technology.
Another advantage to flexible displays could be better Force Touch, which is rumored to be making its way to the iPhone this year. Presumably, that requires some flexibility, and if you’ve ever pressed too hard on an LCD display before you’ll know they can go funny under pressure.
But according to Business Korea’s report, we’ll need to wait until 2018 for an iPhone with a flexible OLED screen. That would suggest they’ll come with the iPhone 8, but it seems highly unlikely now that Apple will make us wait that long for an iPhone with Force Touch.
