WSJ: Apple to consider advanced LCD panels from Japan Display for some future iPhone models

With Apple launching the first iPhone to feature an OLED panel later this year with the iPhone X, next year all three 2018 iPhone models are expected to ship with an OLED screen on board. Despite this game plan, a report in today's Wall Street Journal says that Apple is contemplating using some advanced LCD screens made by Japan Display for certain models being manufactured in the future.

The LCD panels, called "Full Active" by Japan Display, are expected to make up 70% of the company's business in the smartphone and smart device sector for the year that ends in March 2019. So far, interest in the "Full Active" advanced LCD panels has come from Xiaomi for its new phone with an edge-to-edge display known as the Mi MIX 2. The bezels surrounding the "Full Active" LCD screens are as small as .5mm compared to several mm on older LCD displays. Bezels on current OLED panels weigh in at about 1mm.

Even though sequel models to the 2017 Apple iPhone 8 and Apple iPhone 8 Plus, (the iPhone 8s and iPhone 8s Plus respectively) are supposed to come with OLED displays in 2018, Japan Display says that its new LCD screens can provide the advantages of an OLED panel at a lower price. Samsung currently produces the OLED displays that will be used on the iPhone X. These panels are priced at $110 for each unit, about twice the price of an LCD screen.

Japan Display will begin mass producing its OLED screens in April 2019. Apple might turn to Japan Display's LCD screens for older iPhone models that it could still be producing in the near future, such as an updated version of the Apple iPhone SE.

source: WSJ