iPhone 14 Pro Max display supply stunner reveals Dynamic Island cutout challenges

LG is on probation as an Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max display supplier, reports Korean media, as it ran into troubles while piercing the holes for the new Dynamic Island cutout on the Pro models, claim The Elec's sources.

It also couldn't master the thin-film encapsulation of the latest LTPO display technology with high refresh rate that the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro sport. This is why Apple is now running its panels through a validation phase yet again with a few of the mask components changed for a more precise manufacturing.  If LG fails again, Samsung will have to pick up the slack for at least a month longer as LG goes through another two-week testing and validation efforts with Apple.

AT&T iPhone 14 Pro Max can be had for just $99, or $1000 off

Get the iPhone 14 Pro Max on AT&T for $1000 off when trading in an eligible smartphone, on a qualifying installment and a qualifying Unlimited plan (basically every unlimited plan other than the Unlimited Value Plus plan).

$99

$1099

Expired

Save with Verizon's iPhone 14 Pro Max One Unlimited iPhone plan offer

Verizon has a new and exclusive One Unlimited for iPhone plan bundle with the 14 Pro Max and will give you $1000 towards its purchase for any iPhone 11 Pro and up, even with cracked screen damage. Get Apple One (Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and iCloud+) in one plan, with Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband to boot. Switchers get $200 extra in the form of a Verizon gift card.

$99

$1099

Expired

For the iPhone 14 Pro series, Samsung uses its precise HIAA (Hole-in-Active-Area) method, according to industry insiders, as it is currently the most advanced OLED hole-punching technology so far. HIAA employs laser drilling between the OLED deposition and thin-film encapsulation (TFE) production steps. The process is more challenging to do with Samsung's flexible OLED displays that use plastic instead of glass substrate, as on the iPhone 14 Pro models, as the hole's circumference has to be sealed separately against oxygen and moisture to prevent LED deterioration.

The Philoptics and Wonik IPS machines shipment increase is not because of some change in Apple's initial sales forecast for its Pro models but rather because none of its other display suppliers can make LTPO panels with Dynamic Island cutouts as Samsung can at the moment.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max screen is the "brightest" in a phone, as it employs Samsung's latest M12 OLED display generation technology that made a cameo on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and brings about brighter panels with less power consumption.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

5G, 512GB Storage, Unlocked, Multiple Colors, Up to $900 Enhanced Trade-In Credit, $250 Instant Samsung Credit Included, Free Storage Upgrade from 256GB

$899 ⁹⁹

$1919 ⁹⁹

Expired

It is not clear if LG's RS-L LTPO OLED manufacturing technology that it reportedly uses for the iPhone 14 Pro Max can reach such brightness heights as is, or if LG has had to enhance it to match Samsung's know-how, but, given that Samsung is allegedly tasked to make nearly 20 million more iPhone 14 series screens, the Pro models may be getting Samsung displays for the whole of the initial batch sales to early adopters.