Apple usurps entire LCD LED supply line to ensure thinner bezels on the iPhone 2018

by Daniel Petrov / Jul 10, 2018, 7:58 AM

CAD-based render of the LCD iPhone 2018 (right) vs X bezels

Way back in September, even before the iPhone X had hit the shelves, we first heard about a potential 6"+ iPhone with LCD display, coming our way this year. Previously, even famed Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, had tipped that Apple will pull its OLED iPhone schedule forward a year, and all 2018 models would be equipped with such panels, out of Face ID, notch, and "all-screen" design considerations.

Apple, however, reportedly scrapped plans for a smaller, 5.28" iPhone for this year, and replaced it with a 6.1" LCD model, as it rightfully concluded that people have moved on to larger displays with a minimum amount of frame width around them. Still, this expected 6" iPhone 2018 is reportedly going to land as the gateway model to the Face ID experience this year, at a $700 price, cheaper than the eventual 5.8" iPhone X heir, and its rumored 6.46" X Plus sidekick, both of which are said to come with OLED displays.

So far so good, Apple is allegedly going to use JDI's semi-flexible Full Active LCD display panel to go around the notch on the 2018 iPhone, yet the problem with the bezel width remains, as there just isn't a way to supply that extra backlighting layer that LCDs require without some thickening of the base compared to OLEDs. Enter Japan's Nichia, which has allegedly been chosen as the backlighting supplier for Apple's 6-incher. It has managed to move from 0.4t to 0.3t LEDs for the backlighting, ensuring bezels in the realm of 2-2.5mm, instead of the 4-4.5mm possible on current LCD phones. Nichia's production is reportedly been booked by Apple almost entirely to ramp up into mass quantities come September when the 2018 iPhone is to be revealed.

Apple usually works with display suppliers to tailor the size, resolution, and color fidelity to its own desired specifications. Thus, the only characteristics left over by the time JDI starts shipping for Apple may be the Full Active ones - flexibility, durability, minimum bezels, and what it calls PixelEyes, encompassing technologies like in-cell touch and deeper black levels than what conventional LCDs are capable of. Any of those can be tweaked by Apple further for its own needs, and, even though the iPhone 2018 may land with slightly thicker bezels than its OLED counterparts, it should have a bezel to behold, at least for LCD phone standards.

source: Digitimes via 9to5Mac & Ben Geskin (Twitter)

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16 Comments

1. RebelwithoutaClue unregistered

Usurps is a pretty weird choice of words since it implies illegal behaviour or force. Also the entire LCD supply line or just from one manufacturer?

posted on Jul 10, 2018, 8:14 AM 3

3. cmdacos

Posts: 3889; Member since: Nov 01, 2016

Too hard to follow especially when the title references LED but the article is on LCD...

posted on Jul 10, 2018, 9:58 AM 0

2. Jrod99

Posts: 703; Member since: Jan 15, 2016

Enough talk and rumors. Get it released. I’m ready for a upgrade. 6.5 for me. This will be another 3 year phone for me. Maybe 4.

posted on Jul 10, 2018, 8:51 AM 1

4. JimmieCrakCorn

Posts: 143; Member since: Nov 20, 2017

Five years from now the world's landfills will be full to the brim with ugly unwanted notched smartphones. Making and possessing these notched phone abominations should be a felony crime punishable with a guaranteed 10 yrs prison sentence.

posted on Jul 10, 2018, 10:33 AM 1

8. Vokilam

Posts: 1111; Member since: Mar 15, 2018

In my opinion based on abservation, People hold on to their iPhones a lot longer than android devices. I still see iPhone 4/4s even. Not to mention ton of 5/5s and everything after. They do have better resale value - not as much as in the past. But still, a used iOS device will probably be resold vs than just thrown away. So Incase you didn’t get my point - androids fill landfills a lot earlier in its life than iPhones. And there are plenty of ugly android devices to counter your point even further.

posted on Jul 10, 2018, 1:23 PM 1

10. JimmieCrakCorn

@Vokilam. iPhones and iWatches are for weak limp-risted millennial soy boys. And stop wearing those fphaagy low-rise high-crotched super-tight skinny jeans, fool !! Nobody wants to see your narrow flat az and scrawny chicken legs. Grow the hell up and learn to be a real man dammit!

posted on Jul 10, 2018, 4:02 PM 1

11. Heisenberg

Posts: 367; Member since: Feb 11, 2015

Why hold on to old Android phone when there are new phones to choice from made by different OEMs? Those iPhones have smaller design languages and the users might like small phones. Same can't be said about Android phones.

posted on Jul 10, 2018, 4:10 PM 1

15. JimmieCrakCorn

@Hindenberg Users who like small phones are worthless little sissies with tiny hands. Use a phablet like a real man!

posted on Jul 11, 2018, 7:41 AM 0

16. JimmieCrakCorn

Testing 123...

posted on Jul 11, 2018, 7:42 AM 0

6. sirohunter

Posts: 192; Member since: Sep 23, 2017

After having the X with OLED screen I won't be having any other smartphone without an oled screen.

posted on Jul 10, 2018, 11:31 AM 2

7. syed_itsa

Posts: 49; Member since: Feb 05, 2015

Apple is going for money

posted on Jul 10, 2018, 11:57 AM 0

12. aegislash

Posts: 1454; Member since: Jan 27, 2015

6.5 inch iPhone X Plus is gonna look great alongside my Note8. I cannot wait.

posted on Jul 10, 2018, 4:18 PM 0

13. CEDEOTB

Posts: 365; Member since: Nov 21, 2016

Could they atleast make the notch smaller on the 6.5" variant. It doesn't have to be so wide on a large phone.

posted on Jul 10, 2018, 4:33 PM 0

14. ijuanp03

Posts: 507; Member since: Dec 30, 2014

Apple now catching up with thinner bezels. The iPhone X has huge bezels compared to Oppo Find X. Even the "chin" on the Find X is thinner than the chin and cheeks of the iPhone X.