Sketchy Report Claims LG to Provide Flexible OLED Displays for Apple's iWatch

According to a report [Google Translate of cached version] from Korean publication Digital Daily that was published and then pulled (via G 4 Games), Apple has inked a deal with LG to provide flexible, plastic OLED displays for the company's iWatch product. LG is allegedly the sole supplier of the 1.52-inch panels for Apple's rumored smart watch device.

continuous

Image from Apple's "bracelet" with wraparound display patent

LG is said to be starting mass production of these flexible panels starting in July 2014 with an initial target volume of 2 million units, and Apple chose these panels because they are thin, light, and provide adequate brightness with minimal power consumption, insiders claim. LG introduced the display technology in early 2013 and incorporated the panel in its curved LG G Flex smartphone, which was unveiled in October of last year.

Besides a flexible display, other rumors have suggest the iWatch will be launched in the second half of 2014 with wireless charging as a possible feature. OLED has been a commonly rumored technology for the iWatch, but other sources have pointed to different display sizes for the device, including the possibility of separate sizes in the 1.3-inch and 1.6-inch ranges for men and women.

Apple is said to be continuing to work through issues with battery life, display technology, and manufacturing on the iWatch, with the device said to feature biosensors and mapping features and run a "full" version of iOS.

The reason for the removal of today's report about the claimed deal with LG is unclear, and with no rumor track record for Digital Daily it is difficult to assess the reliability of the claims.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Popular Stories

apple store down feature

Here's Why the Apple Store is Going Down

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:01 pm PST by
Apple's online store is going down for a few hours on a rolling country-by-country basis right now, but do not get your hopes up for new products. Apple takes its online store down for a few hours ahead of Black Friday every year to tease/prepare for its annual gift card offer with the purchase of select products. The store already went down and came back online in Australia and New Zealand, ...
iPhone Pocket Short

iPhone Pocket is Now Completely Sold Out Worldwide

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:16 am PST by
Apple recently teamed up with Japanese fashion brand ISSEY MIYAKE to create the iPhone Pocket, a limited-edition knitted accessory designed to carry an iPhone. However, it is now completely sold out in all countries where it was released. iPhone Pocket became available to order on Apple's online store starting Friday, November 14, in the United States, France, China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, ...
New Intel Logo

Apple and Intel Rumored to Partner on Mac Chips Again in a New Way

Friday November 28, 2025 7:33 am PST by
While all Macs are now powered by Apple's custom-designed chips, a new rumor claims that Apple may rekindle its partnership with Intel, albeit in a new and limited way. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today said Intel is expected to begin shipping Apple's lowest-end M-series chip as early as mid-2027. Kuo said Apple plans to utilize Intel's 18A process, which is the "earliest...
streaming black friday 2025

Best Black Friday Streaming Deals - Save Big on Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and More

Thursday November 27, 2025 1:14 pm PST by
We've been focusing on deals on physical products over the past few weeks, but Black Friday is also a great time of year to purchase a streaming membership. Some of the biggest services have great discounts for new and select returning members this week, including Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When...
iphone air camera

iPhone Air Flop Sparks Industry Retreat From Ultra-Thin Phones

Thursday November 27, 2025 3:14 am PST by
Apple's disappointing iPhone Air sales are causing major Chinese mobile vendors to scrap or freeze their own ultra-thin phone projects, according to reports coming out of Asia. Since the ‌iPhone Air‌ launched in September, there have been reports of poor sales and manufacturing cuts, while Apple's supply chain has scaled back shipments and production. Apple supplier Foxconn has...
iphone black friday gold

The Best Black Friday iPhone Deals Still Available

Friday November 28, 2025 6:24 am PST by
Cellular carriers have always offered big savings on the newest iPhone models during the holidays, and Black Friday 2025 sales have kicked off at AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more. Right now we're tracking notable offers on the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air. For even more savings, keep an eye on older models during the holiday shopping season. Note: MacRumors is...
Apple Foldable Thumb

Foldable iPhone to Debut These Three Breakthrough Features

Tuesday November 25, 2025 7:09 am PST by
Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models in fall 2026, and it's shaping up to include three standout features that could set it apart from the competition. The book-style foldable will reportedly feature an industry-first 24-megapixel under-display camera built into the inner display, according to a recent JP Morgan equity research report. That...

Top Rated Comments

3282868 Avatar
155 months ago
Nice. Now produce a paper thin, OLED "newspaper" that changes with headlines and can be rolled up, and I'm sold.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
downpour Avatar
155 months ago
I'm probably not going to buy one of these, but I'm looking forward to seeing a new Apple product that looks futuristic and groundbreaking again.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KdParker Avatar
155 months ago
Looking forward to the design possibilties that could come from flexible display. :)

Hopefully we will not have to wait until 2016 and beyond.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IJ Reilly Avatar
155 months ago
Why wouldn't it be? iMac, iBook, iPod, iPhone, iPad, iTunes, iWork, iLife, iMovie, iBook, iCal, iTV (never mind the fact that the last two + the iBook were later renamed) - do you doubt that the first letter of the name will be 'i'? And Apple has rarely made up the main word of the product... Mac came from Macintosh and Cal from Calendar, so neither of those were really made up - just shortened. Pod is the only word they really made up (or at least seems unrelated to the product.) So "Watch" seems like a reasonable guess. "Time" or a unit of time (the "iSec"?) might also be reasonable, or possibly a reference to the fact it goes on your wrist. iWrist or iWear? iWatch seems most probable to me - everything else seems awkward.
Hmm, I didn't say any of that. But what I will say is that MR can't seem to decide editorially whether the iWatch name is just a placeholder (in which case it should always be in quotes, which it is only sometimes), or the actual name for the product. They went through the same exercise with the iPad, which MR was certain was going to be called the "iSlate" despite the obvious problems with that name that so many pointed out. (This is true, you could look it up.)

Similarly, iWatch is unlikely to be the product's real name. First, it is closely associated with ancient, single-purpose technology. Strike one. Second, it associated with a growing class of "smart watches," most of which are geeky and not very compelling functionally. Strike two. Third, it limits the imaginations of potential buyers of the product and developers alike about what the product can do. Strike three, you're out.

But it must be called the iWatch, because MR says so. And they are always right on the money.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JaySoul Avatar
155 months ago
Ooooh this is actually intriguing!

A flexible display mixing iOS and FuelBand-like technology sounds dope.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
taptic Avatar
155 months ago
Gosh... really slim pickings these days if that's the only other supplier Apple could go to.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)