iPhone with 6.5-inch OLED screen could debut this year, LG Display to start shipping panels for Apple in H2 2018
LG Display might not have produced a single OLED panel for Apple in 2017, but it looks like things are about to change this year. A new report from South Korea suggests that Apple is planning to diversify its OLED suppliers for the next iPhones.
Sources of The Investor state that LG Display is close to inking an OLED supply deal with Cupertino and is expected to start panel shipments in the second half of 2018. This information is unofficial, but the display maker did previously confirm that it was in talks with Tim Cook & Co. over a possible agreement.
According to the latest information, LG Display will only produce about 15-16 million panels in 2018. If this turns out to be accurate, it would mean that Samsung Display would still produce the majority of OLED panels for the upcoming iPhones, as Apple typically sells more than 200 million handsets per year.
5.8/6-inch and 6.5-inch OLED iPhones incoming?
The report also mentions the possible screen sizes of the upcoming iPhones. Apparently, Samsung Display will primarily produce 5.8- or 6-inch screens while LG Display will concentrate on dishing out 6.5-inch panels.
This could translate to two iPhone 9 variants (or whatever they might end up being called) - one that will have a similar size to the current iPhone X, and a Plus model that might end up being huge. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 has a 6.3-inch screen.
The story about the two 2018 iPhone variants does align with the forecasts of KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, but, again, it is advisable that you take this information with a big grain of salt.
Invalid image group.
source: The Investor via Telefoon Abonnement (translated)
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: