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iPhone Unlikely to Adopt AMOLED Display in Foreseeable Future

Tuesday November 10, 2015 7:34 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is unlikely to adopt AMOLED displays for next-generation iPhones in the foreseeable future, according to often-reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The analyst believes Apple will continue using TFT-LCD display technology for at least the next three years -- and likely beyond.

iPhone-trio
Kuo claims that Apple supplier Hon Hai Precision Industry, better known as Foxconn, is preparing to invest in advanced TFT-LCD production lines in China for mass production in 2018, and coupled with recent comments made by iPhone backlight supplier Minebea, the analyst believes iPhones will continue using TFT-LCD displays in the future.
Based on recent comments by Minebea, one of the main iPhone backlight unit suppliers, we believe AMOLED will not penetrate iPhone for the next three years. Moreover, Hon Hai is preparing to invest in Gen-6 LTPS TFT-LCD production lines in Zhengzhou, China for mass production in 2018, suggesting the iPhone line will likely stick with TFT-LCD technology in 2018 and thereafter. […]

Minebea, major BLU supplier of iPhone, stated to investors on November 5 that it does not foresee risk of TFT-LCD share loss to AMOLED in high-end smartphone market in next three years & guides growth in TFT-LCD going forward. As Apple and Samsung are the only two brands that currently offer premium smartphones, we think Minebea’s statements imply it does not expect iPhone to adopt AMOLED in the coming three years, given that Samsung’s models are already being equipped with it.
Taiwanese website DigiTimes, citing a report in the Korea-based ET News, said in late October that Samsung may supply Apple with OLED panels for upcoming iPhone models, and past rumors have suggested an AMOLED-based iPhone could arrive in 2017 or later, but Kuo believes there is "sufficient evidence indicating otherwise."

Samsung's popular Galaxy-branded smartphones are equipped with AMOLED displays, as is the Apple Watch, but Apple has always used various LCD display technologies since the original iPhone launched over eight years ago. Geek provides a good comparison of AMOLED vs. LCD display technologies.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tags: Samsung, KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo, AMOLED
[ 219 comments ]


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Bbqthis
46 months ago
People need to stop taking what this guy says as gospel. He's made just as many bad calls as he has (perhaps lucky, or obvious) predictions.
Rating: 21 Votes
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Mac 128
46 months ago
Good thing Jony Ive stated that the iPhone's LCD technology looks old, when talking about designing the Watch.
Rating: 15 Votes
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Aluminum213
46 months ago
All about profit margins...
Rating: 15 Votes
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Piggie
46 months ago

Apple should stick with LCDs for as long as AMOLED still has horrible colour reproduction and fake number of pixels. I much prefer seeing natural colours and not oversaturated mess.


Strange. I've never heard people here comment on how the Apple Watch is, in your words, "an oversaturated mess, with a fake number of pixels."
Rating: 10 Votes
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naeS1Sean
46 months ago
Makes me sad. I feel like Galaxy screens look so much better than iPhones.
Rating: 10 Votes
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840quadra
46 months ago

yellowgate continues woo hoo

Not that having blotches of pink and other issues that some of the newest AMLOED phones exhibit, is any better.

That said, I wouldn't mind the change to AMOLED (I love my Watch and Android devices with it), but I also have had no issues with any of my iOS screens.
Rating: 7 Votes
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Berti10
46 months ago
AMOLED is going the Future of Displays but last week I went to best buy and opened a blank page on an SG S6 and on my 6. The difference was night and day. IPS still look soooooo much better!
Rating: 7 Votes
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Zirel
46 months ago

At least MR doesn't attach a "breaking" tag to these stories. But yeah I don't know why this guy gets so much attention. He's a supply chain analyst making guesses. He doesn't have inside information from Apple.


His track record is quite good.

AMOLED is going the Future of Displays but last week I went to best buy and opened a blank page on an SG S6 and on my 6. The difference was night and day. IPS still look soooooo much better!


It's not, MicroLED is the future of displays. It has the best proprieties of LCD's and the best of AMOLED's.
Rating: 6 Votes
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JackieInCo
46 months ago

Apple should stick with LCDs for as long as AMOLED still has horrible colour reproduction and fake number of pixels. I much prefer seeing natural colours and not oversaturated mess.

I've never seen an Apple Watch so I don't know how they look but you are saying they have horrible color reproduction and fake number of pixels? Glad I didn't buy on then.
Rating: 6 Votes
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Luis Mazza
46 months ago
Here comes the world class stupid fanboys who think this is the best move for consumers.
AMOLED is just perfect... You can't compare to LCD right now. We're are being forced to use inferior technology because Apple doesn't want to give Samsung more money.
Rating: 6 Votes

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