New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Next-Generation iPhone to Use Thinner In-Cell Technology for Multi-Touch Display?

Friday April 20, 2012 7:58 am PDT by Eric Slivka
Taiwan's Central News Agency reports on comments from DisplaySearch analyst David Hsieh, who believes that Apple is planning to use new "in-cell" display technology from Japanese manufacturers in the next-generation iPhone. The move would benefit suppliers such as Sony, Sharp, and Toshiba, which currently lead the industry in the technology.
Compared with on-cell technology, touch panels that use in-cell technology can be made thinner because the touch sensors are actually placed inside the color filters rather than on top of them, he explained.

At present, Taiwan's TPK Holding Co. and Wintek Corp., which supply touch panels to Apple, use mainly on-cell technology in their products, according to the two companies.
The occasionally-reliable Digitimes is reporting similar claims based on "sources in Apple's supply chain", indicating that improvements in yield rates for the in-cell panels have made it feasible for Apple to use the technology in its products. According to the report, Sharp and Toshiba will be ramping up their production of in-cell panels this quarter.

Tag: digitimes.com
[ 90 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
HarryKeogh
88 months ago
Cool, I guess.

I qualify my "cool" just because whenever I use my iPhone the last thing I ever think is "Man, I wish this thing was thinner."

My 40-year-old eyes are just hoping the 4" screen rumors are true (and I'm pretty sure they are).
Rating: 16 Votes
Avatar
ikeywah
88 months ago
Go Japan!

I'm glad that all 3 companies innovating or leading this technology are Japanese.
Japan needs the support in recent times.
Rating: 15 Votes
Avatar
gregwyattjr
88 months ago
I'm so friggin excited to get this new iPhone.
Rating: 14 Votes
Avatar
HiVolt
88 months ago
I just hope they dont keep making them thinner for the sake of thinness.

If the LCD is thinner, i just hope they put a larger battery.
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
ChrisTX
88 months ago

I am afraid that the iPhone 5 will probably won't be available in May.


When has it ever been available in May?
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
jclardy
88 months ago
This plus slightly larger screen plus liquid metal casing would be a pretty sweet upgrade.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
dashiel
88 months ago

Cool, I guess.

I qualify my "cool" just because whenever I use my iPhone the last thing I ever think is "Man, I wish this thing was thinner."

My 40-year-old eyes are just hoping the 4" screen rumors are true (and I'm pretty sure they are).


While the thinness of the device is cool, what I think is really cool is the thing you “touch” is going to get closer to your finger. Seems perhaps a minor detail, but increasing the illusion of tactile response is far more interesting to me than throwing in a quad core processor. This along with reducing the response time is going to be amazing.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
happywaffle
88 months ago
"Occasionally-reliable." Ha.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
duffman9000
88 months ago

Well, for me a handheld device suffers if it's too thin to hold comfortably, safely. Like the iPod touch for example. Thats just way too thin for my liking. not to mention Apple keeps using very slippery materials with very little grip.


Every time someone asks for a thinner iPhone I direct them to use an iPod touch. I swear that thing was designed to slip from your hands.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
wrkactjob
88 months ago
I want to be able to slip my iPhone into the pocket of my shirt and not even feel its there.

One day!
Rating: 4 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]