Apple may take OLED panel production in own hands to reduce reliance on Samsung

by Milen Yanachkov / Jul 24, 2017, 7:03 AM

Apple may take OLED panel production in own hands to reduce reliance on Samsung

Although Samsung has been widely suggested to be the sole supplier of OLED displays for the upcoming iPhone 8, Apple is actively working toward reducing its reliance on supply from the Korea-based tech giant.

According to a new report by Korean publication ET News, Apple has procured a number of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) machines that are used in OLED manufacturing with the intention to set up its own panel line in Taiwan. Although previous reports suggest that Apple's partnership with Samsung may continue throughout 2018, when Apple is expected to introduce three iPhone models featuring OLED displays, the Cupertino-based company is taking a decisive step toward diversifying supply beyond its Korean tech rival.

This year's iPhone lineup is expected to feature a major redesign with an OLED display, as well as two LCD S-models to refresh last year's 7 and 7 Plus, but starting 2018, Apple is expected to shift toward OLED-only manufacturing. This would mean that Apple would need a much greater supply of panels to sustain its iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch lineups.

As far as actual manufacturing of the raw components for the panels, Apple is likely not going to dabble in this, but would rather opt to license the equipment to other manufacturers for the purposes of building Apple devices, 9to5Mac notes.

The Cupertino-based tech giant is also reportedly in talks with LG Display to set up a new manufacturing facility dedicated to supplying its lines, but ET News' report claims that Apple has yet to validate LG's OLED panels. LG is currently supplying Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi and Google with OLED panels.

source: DigiTimes via 9to5Mac

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24 Comments

1. S8PlusIsBoss

Posts: 32; Member since: Apr 22, 2017

Please Apple

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 7:47 AM 0

4. Techlover2018

Posts: 80; Member since: Jul 14, 2017

Not going to happen soon.

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 9:14 AM 1

7. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

Not at all. :)

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 9:21 AM 1

11. sgodsell

Posts: 7433; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

So LG would give the OLED manufacturing capabilities away to Apple so that LG can make less money in the long run. Does anyone at iPhonearena think these things through?

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 9:58 AM 0

20. MySchizoBuddy

Posts: 159; Member since: Aug 23, 2011

Apple will help/invest in LG for a manufacturing line, that will only supply to Apple. LG currently doesn't have the money to do it alone. Does anyone of Android fanboys think at all?

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 1:25 PM 1

21. gigicoaste

Posts: 457; Member since: Feb 21, 2016

Like.. for real? I'm not a fanboy.. but to claim that LG doesn't have money to invest in there development, all alone, it's more than.. a bit exaggerated! Are you aware that Google invested 880 millions for Pixel displays? Also that LG, alone is investing 1.75 billions (yes with B) in the flexible oled panels? How you end up with such assumption? It looks like for many users which visits PA pages, some brands are known only for phone devices.. I always wonder why Apple is not trying to become at least 50% independent!?

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 3:20 PM 1

2. Khyron

Posts: 398; Member since: Sep 28, 2015

They will bring oled pamels this year Innovation at his best Poor android oems

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 8:06 AM 1

6. maple_mak

Posts: 953; Member since: Dec 18, 2013

I hope you were sarcastic.

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 9:18 AM 0

17. RebelwithoutaClue unregistered

Pretty sure he was since he has this in his profile: I LOVE TECH CREATIVITY GAMING ANDROID

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 12:36 PM 0

3. markobarko

Posts: 176; Member since: Oct 09, 2016

And this is how apple is catching up on the display department with Samsung. Why not ;)

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 8:14 AM 0

5. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

This is old news. Sharp was bought out by Foxconn which is a direct partner with Apple. Foxconn already said it would take 2 years for them to be ready to produce enough panels for Apple. Once that is done, Apple will still be buying 3rd party, but won;t be using other OEM's unless Foxconn has issues, which means Apple getting on its knees and begging Samsung again. Every time Apple "think" they going to drop Samsung, it simply never happens. I don't care how much people complain about touchwiz, Samsung hardware is on point, because if it wasn't all the OEM's on the planet wouldn't be buying their components.

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 9:15 AM 1

8. trojan_horse

Posts: 5868; Member since: May 06, 2016

So eager to see how Apple's new OLED display project turns out.

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 9:23 AM 1

9. fyah_king unregistered

It will be the best ever according to the sheep. It's coirsge they say to go with oled.

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 9:56 AM 0

10. fyah_king unregistered

"courage"

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 9:57 AM 0

14. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Yes I would like to see it too. But Foxconn is a 3rd party and Apple with all its money needs to get away from using them and having their own. But see that woudl decrease profits by a huge margin.

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 10:54 AM 0

12. trqster

Posts: 176; Member since: May 17, 2013

Apple might be coming late to the OLED game but i'm pretty sure they'll crush it as usual. Apple way.

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 10:14 AM 0

15. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

Question. Samsung's Super AMOLED panel has been the best since the S3. It has been unbeaten since the S5. Apple is not designing the OLED panels they will have in the future. Foxconn bought Sharp, and Sharp has their own OLED panels. I am sure with Foxconn having Sharp's patents on displays, Apple with the help of Foxconn will improve them. But as a newby, apple is not going to beat Samsung displays, because Samsung has already put in $Billions to improve the tech over the years to the point, they have beat LG, Sony, Sharp and everyone else and have 95% of the OLED display market. Apple wont be included in this market because they don't make displays. Foxconn will come in, and considering the fact apple sells 200M+ phones right now, Foxconn could jump in and get 1/3 of the market.

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 11:01 AM 1

13. iDroidPhony

Posts: 59; Member since: Sep 21, 2016

Good luck, Apple!

posted on Jul 24, 2017, 10:31 AM 0

16. chbanks512

Posts: 78; Member since: Mar 07, 2017

Those Q2 earnings from Samsung apparently getting under their skin a bit. Once again (for like the 3rd time), trying to break away from Samsung. Won't be surprised if, once again, they go right back to Samsung for their help. Just facee it, Apple and Samsung are a married couple that can't leave each other even though they hate each other.