Samsung and LG to face competition for iPhone OLED panel supply, Sharp and Japan Display entering the race

by Plamen Dimitrov

Jan 12, 2018, 7:46 AM

Samsung and LG to face competition for iPhone OLED panel supply, Sharp and Japan Display entering the race

Samsung's display division may have been the sole OLED panel supplier for Apple in 2017, yet there are strong indications that things are about to change this year. Recently, it became clear that LG Display could be taking a piece of the iPhone pie in 2018, but if a new report is anything to go by, other manufacturers also harbor ambitions of providing panels for future Apple smartphones.

According to information from DigiTimes, Japan Display (JDI) and Sharp will try to compete with Samsung and LG for Cupertino's business. Foxconn-owned Sharp will likely start producing OLED panels ahead of JDI, with sources suggesting that production will commence as early as H2 2018. Apparently, Sharp will also use the OLED screens on some of its 2018 smartphone models.

The media outlet also states that the increased production of OLED screens by Asian manufacturers will "definitely" lead to oversupply in the coming years. Usually, prices drop when supply exceeds demand. That would be great news for Apple, as the display panel on the iPhone X -- the company's first OLED handset -- is its single most expensive component.

source: DigiTimes

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88 Comments

1. darkkjedii

Posts: 31772; Member since: Feb 05, 2011

Samsung will be the main supplier, just watch. There are so many Samsung components in it, the iPhone is damn near a Galaxy, without the killer features.

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 7:55 AM 13

15. CreeDiddy

Posts: 2284; Member since: Nov 04, 2011

jedii...you are stretching just a tad bit. Last I checked Samsung is Android and Apple is iOS. Apple "designs and engineers" all of the parts within an iPhone and iPad along with providing custom designed gpu and cpu. Grocery stores don't manufacturer their products they sell. Right? So does that make the grocery store the manufacturer?

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 9:55 AM 2

31. makatijules

Posts: 835; Member since: Dec 11, 2017

Apple does not design and engineer all the parts in its phone Samsung has made the display in the X and also it's battery. Samsung had provided Apple with SoC, RAM, Internal Flash and more. Samsung does not need Apple so if A0e wants to use inferior parts, let them. LG makes terrible displays. Apple to cheap to make its own stuff, have to suck up to others. If you want it done right, do it yourself. Samsung does!

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 5:55 PM 4

54. whatev

Posts: 2444; Member since: Oct 28, 2015

Apple could buy Samsung, lg and others if they wanted to, those brands are cheap, not Apple

posted on Jan 13, 2018, 3:38 AM 0

56. Anonymous.

Posts: 424; Member since: Jun 15, 2016

"Apple could buy Samsung" Don't kid yourself.

posted on Jan 13, 2018, 4:18 AM 5

16. Furkan

Posts: 552; Member since: Feb 25, 2017

lol Samsung is behind Apple. (mobile)

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 10:40 AM 0

17. maherk

Posts: 7065; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

That's why you bought a Note 8 that suffered from burn-in in less than 2 weeks? Oh wait, it was after 3 weeks, right?

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 11:59 AM 3

52. Sammy_DEVIL737

Posts: 1529; Member since: Nov 28, 2016

Now see him hiding in his cave again...

posted on Jan 13, 2018, 1:40 AM 1

66. ScottsoNJ56

Posts: 158; Member since: Oct 01, 2017

The iPhone was 3 weeks. The Note was 2 weeks

posted on Jan 13, 2018, 9:28 AM 0

2. Hollowmost

Posts: 425; Member since: Oct 10, 2017

Samsung make the best oled displays. Next is microled ...

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 7:58 AM 3

6. piyath

Posts: 2445; Member since: Mar 23, 2012

In your dreams....lol JDI and sharp are no slouch by any mean. They have the most advanced equipment and knowledge to make impressive OLED panels, you wait and see Samsung fanboy. Japanese always have been talented than Koreans....lol

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 8:38 AM 4

7. maherk

Posts: 7065; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

And yet, Apple can't even make their own OLED panels, that's sad, isn't it you Apple zombie? And wait, weren't you calling the iPhone X's screen as the best a while ago?

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 8:50 AM 9

10. sgodsell

Posts: 7622; Member since: Mar 16, 2013

They only say it's the best because they calibrate the display. But the Apple zealots don't realize that these OLED displays that have been used on other smartphones for years give you options to change the type of coloring on the display. So you can make it vibrant or more re looking. As always the Apple hype and propaganda wagon from Apple and it's zealots.

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 9:18 AM 9

67. ScottsoNJ56

Posts: 158; Member since: Oct 01, 2017

Why should they? They are getting rich having someone else make it

posted on Jan 13, 2018, 9:29 AM 0

32. makatijules

Posts: 835; Member since: Dec 11, 2017

So why aren't Sony tvs outselling Samsung? Japanese use to be top, they had the top selling consoles, not anymore. They had the top selling music player, not anymore. If Sharp was so great, then why did it sell its display division to Foxxcon . Oh did you forget that fact? Sharp doesn't make displays anymore. https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2016/03/30/foxconn-snags-sharp-positions-for-more-apple-business/ As far as JDI? Japan display App e used as a tandem with LG, because neither can produced enough. Samsung cn produce 200M for Apple and still manage to have enough to make for their own phones. Just the facts. You lose as all fanboys usually do. Samsung doesn't need Apple. Samsung th3 leading tv seller for 12 years. Samsung has had the best displays on phones since the S3 and no one has beaten them yet. I never said they can't be beaten. But they spent the most money making OLED the winner. They will bring th3 next level being the first with stunning MicroLED tv

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 6:05 PM 2

19. Shamoy

Posts: 112; Member since: Dec 28, 2013

Samsung doesn't lead MicroLED, Sony does.

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 2:21 PM 0

3. Iodine

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 19, 2014

Competition is good, Apple can push their specifications up and decrease prices. Consumer benefits in the end.

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 8:16 AM 0

4. maherk

Posts: 7065; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Decrease prices? Who, Apple? Lmao

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 8:33 AM 17

8. Iodine

Posts: 1515; Member since: Jun 19, 2014

Do you really think they are going to keep OLED equiped iPhones at X dollars for long ? What tech doesn’t come down in price over time.

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 9:01 AM 0

9. maherk

Posts: 7065; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Apple products ;)

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 9:05 AM 15

57. Anonymous.

Posts: 424; Member since: Jun 15, 2016

LMAO. LMAO!

posted on Jan 13, 2018, 4:20 AM 1

5. piyath

Posts: 2445; Member since: Mar 23, 2012

This means Samsung will lose their OLED display throne pretty soon.....lolzz They'll have to find another way to earn money after all. Competition is always a good thing, isn't it guy??? YES!

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 8:36 AM 2

13. Hollowmost

Posts: 425; Member since: Oct 10, 2017

Samsung made 4 billion $ in 2017 and will make 11 million $ in 2018 by selling oled panels to Apple. What are you doing with your life ?

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 9:51 AM 4

38. iushnt

Posts: 3180; Member since: Feb 06, 2013

Get your facts checked

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 7:31 PM 0

11. Ciro1900

Posts: 591; Member since: Dec 17, 2017

Xamxung only have crapmoled pentline poor in subpixels, the true Oled RGB 4k Coming soon by japan display

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 9:19 AM 0

12. maherk

Posts: 7065; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

Cnour, come on, it's clearly you. Did you get your account banned again?

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 9:22 AM 12

14. kiko007

Posts: 7525; Member since: Feb 17, 2016

Good. The less you rely on one component maker (Samsung) moving forward, the better.

posted on Jan 12, 2018, 9:54 AM 1

22. mootu

Posts: 1541; Member since: Mar 16, 2017

I can see Apple switching to Sharp manufactured OLED sometime in the future. Foxconn has been Apples manufacturer of choice since the begining, Foxconn fully owns Sharp and they will be just bankrolling money into their own coffers by investing heavily in this. Foxconn have the money to make this happen. It makes sense for both Apple and Foxconn to go this route.