Apple to Launch iPhone with OLED Display in 2017: Nikkei

Following up on earlier reports of Apple switching to OLED displays, Nikkei’s sources say the company is planning to make the switch as early as 2017. That’s a year earlier than originally expected (via AppleInsider).

Apple has allegedly contacted LG and Samsung, informing them about its plan to launch an iPhone equipped with an OLED display in 2017, and has discussed the possibility of ramping up OLED production for next year’s launch.

Moving to OLED displays brings multiple advantages, such as reducing the thickness of the handset and brighter colours, but there seems to be an issue with limited initial supply. For this reason, OLED displays will be limited to the high-end iPhone model (iPhone 7[s] Plus), the sources suggest.

Earlier reports had already revealed that Apple has shown interest in using curved OLED displays with future iPhones, but Nikkei says Apple’s earlier-than-expected move toward implementing the OLED display technology has put those plans on hold – at least for now – as the company currently just aims to switch technology.

You may recall that sources speaking with various news outlets and well-connected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested Apple would not switch to OLED displays until 2018. Samsung and LG are expected to provide the majority of the OLED display panels.