April 19, 2024

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[ET NEWS] Samsung Display, the display-making unit of Samsung Electronics, is expected to start production of OLED panels for the upcoming iPhone later this month, industry sources told ET News on June 7.

“Apple recently approved the prototype panels. Samsung is making orders for parts and materials,” an industry source said on condition of anonymity.

More than 10 million screens will be shipped every month. This year alone, Apple has reportedly ordered 80 million screens. 

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According to sources, the screen will use flexible OLED to cover the entire front body of the device, as against the Samsung Galaxy S8’s display area ratio at 83.6 percent, along with more aggressive curvature.

The iPhone will not feature a curved screen due to low functionality, sources said.

Apple plans to launch one OLED model among the three variants of the upcoming iPhone, tentatively called the iPhone 8 that is rumored to come out in September. The company aims to launch OLED models only from next year.

With the imminent debut of the first OLED iPhone, parts makers are also beefing up related production.

Market research firm IHS Markit predicts the market for flexible OLED could double from this year’s US$9.26 billion to US$20.98 billion by 2020.

Industry watchers say Apple could seek to diversify the panel supplier, but, considering Samsung’s more than 95 percent dominance, the Korean firm and its local suppliers are expected to maintain their status for some time.

By Yun Keon-il (benyun@etnews.com) (jylee@heraldcorp.com)
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