Almost every industry expert has said that Apple would eventually move from LCD to OLED panels. However, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was not expecting the jump to occur before 2018 or 2019. Now a new report coming out of Asia claims that Apple could switch to OLED display as early as next year with the iPhone 7S. Chinese publication Nikkei has learned from its sources that an iPhone with OLED display would arrive 1-2 years earlier than previously anticipated.
Apple looking for ways to boost sales
The report adds that Apple is well ahead of the schedule. In December, the tech giant reached out to Samsung and LG Display to get a timeline on boosting OLED display production. Apple also asked them whether they could increase production to levels high enough to start shipping an OLED iPhone in 2017. The deal with Samsung and LG is estimated to be worth more than $12 billion.
Nikkei says Apple has sped up the OLED adoption to reinvigorate the iPhone sales. Wall Street believes that the iPhone sales have peaked, and may see a decline this year. Last December, Bloomberg reported that Apple had set up a secret lab in Taiwan to develop new display technologies. The lab employs more than 50 engineers and experts.
OLED screen to boost iPhone 7S’ battery life
The OLED displays are thinner and brighter than the LCD panels that Apple uses in its current iPhones. It offers deeper black level, which Apple has put to good use in its Apple Watch. OLED screens are also more power efficient. They may help improve the battery life of the iPhone 7S. Recent rumors suggest that the iPhone 7S may also feature voice recognition technology and cutting-edge long-range wireless charging capabilities.
Meanwhile, Apple fans are looking forward to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus that would arrive in September 2016. Apple is also rumored to launch an iPhone Pro with a dual-camera system using technology from LinX Imaging. The Pro version will cost even more than the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.
