Report: Apple to help AU Optronics become an AMOLED supplier for future iPhones

Posted: 12 Jan 2016, 11:03, by Alan F.

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Report: Apple to help AU Optronics become an AMOLED supplier for future iPhones

A report out of Taiwan that was published today, suggests that Apple will make an investment in AU Optronics to help the panel producer manufacture AMOLED displays for future iPhone models. Back in November, there was speculation that Samsung was going to be supplying Apple with AMOLED panels. LG's Display arm was also reportedly involved in similar talks as well.

AU Optronics would require an investment from Apple to help it develop the kind of infrastructure needed to deliver large numbers of AMOLED screens. While AU Optronics already ships AMOLED screens to Chinese smartphone manufacturers like Huawei, producing the displays for Apple would require a huge jump in production.

To make sure that it has enough components in case of an unforeseen event, Apple usually resorts to using multiple suppliers for key iPhone parts. For example, the tech titan relies on both Samsung and TSMC to produce the A9 chipset employed on the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus. AU Optronics could end up delivering AMOLED screens along with Samsung and LG Display.

While some expect iPhones to sport AMOLED screens by 2018, connected KGI Secuities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects this to take place in 2019. AU Optronics declined to comment about today's report.

source: FocusTaiwan via AppleInsider

20 Comments

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posted on 12 Jan 2016, 12:18 7

1. tedkord (Posts: 13819; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

Doing business with Apple can be dicey. Hope it works out better for this company than it did for GT Advanced.

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 12:27 1

4. Sidewinder (Posts: 513; Member since: 15 Jan 2015)

I guess GT advanced was overconfident and thought they could handle the supply demands of apple but the low yields back lashed against them and they couldn't meet the demands sending them to bankruptcy. So it is partly their fault too. Doing business with Apple is a double edged sword. The business can be very rewarding if everything goes according to plan but there is a flipside to the whole business if they can't deliver what apple demands.

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 13:43

17. Unordinary (unregistered)

Hence called "Business"; something Teddy doesn't really understand apparently.

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 14:36 1

20. tedkord (Posts: 13819; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

I understand completely, apparently better than you. Not surprising, really.

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 12:34

6. nctx77 (Posts: 2373; Member since: 03 Sep 2013)

Basically, GT advance couldn't keep up with the volumns of The iPhone. That means Apple is selling a boat load of phones. If that's an issue, it's an issue you want to have!

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 13:03 4

11. tedkord (Posts: 13819; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

No, they couldn't produce on spec product. Their process wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Pun intended.

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 12:23 5

2. Commentator (Posts: 3722; Member since: 16 Aug 2011)

Good if true, will ensure Samsung keeps improving their own AMOLEDs over time. Keeps the best getting better.

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 14:34 1

19. Well-Manicured-Man (Posts: 397; Member since: 16 Jun 2015)

I also hope that this is true. The best Amoled screens seem to beat the best LED screens nowadays. Wouldn't mind Apple using Amoled.

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 12:27

3. torr310 (Posts: 1071; Member since: 27 Oct 2011)

That move is the check and balance for the market. That way Apple won't put their supply at risk by purchasing from their competitors.

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 12:34 1

5. vuyonc (Posts: 1062; Member since: 24 Feb 2014)

Sort of off-topic: What is JDI's situation with OLED mass production? I never hear of any of their OLED displays used in smartphones.

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 12:37 5

7. GreenMan (Posts: 1795; Member since: 09 Nov 2015)

Alrighty then...

Well, Considering AMOLED is vastly superior than IPS Technology in some aspects, I wonder what it'll be ended up called by Apple? Keep in mind their existing IPS Display is called 'Retina display'...

So, will it be BINOCULAR DISPLAY? MICROSCOPIC DISPLAY? Or... How about HUBBLE DISPLAY? Err... HAWK'S RETINA DISPLAY...???

Just a little curiosity from my end, that's all...

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 12:52 6

9. BobLawblaw (unregistered)

iMOLED

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 12:59

10. Iodine (Posts: 1395; Member since: 19 Jun 2014)

The screen is in Apple Watch is called "Retina display" sometimes refered to it as "flexible", because mealability allows for Force Touch. Anyway, it's called " flexible" because it's flexible, not because it's oled.

So the answer is: Retina display

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 13:18 1

15. Wiencon (Posts: 2018; Member since: 06 Aug 2014)

Doesn't retina stand for resolution only?

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 13:30 6

16. tedkord (Posts: 13819; Member since: 17 Jun 2009)

It really stands for nothing. It's just a marketing term.

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 18:17

21. JMartin22 (Posts: 2008; Member since: 30 Apr 2013)

If they can solve the longevity issues with AMOLED, I think it makes a good permanent replacement for LCD technology on mobile. It's just annoying when your phone's maximum brightness takes a permanent nose dive after 5 months of operating it with moderate usage, literally every moment OLED displays are turned on, they're decaying and burning out.

Maybe another 2 years is enough time to get peak brightness up and to maintain it, whilst reducing the burn-in aspect over time as well.

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 19:11

23. ibend (Posts: 6615; Member since: 30 Sep 2014)

finally they found some cheap AMOLED supplier, good things for their fans...
hope AUO didnt bankrupt or something like that

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 20:08 1

25. hanabi (Posts: 177; Member since: 08 Oct 2015)

Haha true isheeps dont care about quality

posted on 12 Jan 2016, 20:26

26. sissy246 (Posts: 3886; Member since: 04 Mar 2015)

But I thought their screens are the best.
Once again they are coping Samsung and others, oh but it's fine for them to copy other but others can't copy things from them.

posted on 13 Jan 2016, 06:46

29. obedchuni (Posts: 230; Member since: 16 Jun 2014)

well where is techieXP son of a samsung and google, also my friend galaxy s5 has started to get black spot and I don't know why but I am sure that AMOLED won't last long than LCD display, I think that JM Martin is right in this regards, the display get constantly burned out...so I guess techieXP you should tell your father to invest in AMOLED and samsung fans will buy new phones year after year.