Apple is working with its major manufacturing partner Foxconn to produce OLED-based screens for its future devices including iPhone, and wearables. Previously, it was revealed that Foxconn is going to spend $2.6 billion over a span of two years in a new display manufacturing company, but at that time, the details about the exact objective of the investment were not available. But this new report from GforGame, citing a leading Japanese newspaper Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, says that Foxconn will be supplying OLED display panels through its new plant for Apple’s future smartphones and wearable.
Foxconn is reportedly working with an Apple’s existing supplier InnoLux, which is a touch panel manufacturing company, to put together an ecosystem to yield sixth-gen low temperature poly-silicon films, with mass production starting in 2016.
Foxconn is going to use its newly funded display factory to produce OLED panels exclusively for producing components for Apple.
Foxconn is reportedly responsible for research, manufacturing, technology and equipment for the OLED displays. The current goal is to enter these OLED display panels into limited production in 2016. The report specifically mentions OLED displays for smartphones and wearables.
None of the Apple’s smartphones and wearables currently use an OLED display. All the Apple devices to date, including iPhone, use LCD IPS display. The only Apple gadget that features an LG manufactured OLED display, is the upcoming Apple Watch. Apple hired OLED experts in the past and has also patented OLED embedded sensors, which shows company’s interest in the technology.
A switch from IPS LCD to OLED display on all the Apple devices will not only help in power saving, but also the overall thickness of display assembly will be reduced, image quality and color reproduction will also be improved.