Samsung has a virtual monopoly in the smartphone OLED market which is one of the reasons why it’s believed to be the main supplier of OLED displays for Apple’s iPhone 8 that’s due this year. A new report suggests that Apple is pushing LG to enter the smartphone OLED supply business so that it can diversify its supply chain and reduce its reliance on Samsung for the 2018 iPhone.
Apple has never used an OLED panel for an iPhone and it’s expected to make the shift to OLED display technology this year with the iPhone 8. If it does decide to make the switch it will be unlikely for the company to switch back to LCD panels completely.
A report out of Korea claims that Apple is encouraging LG to enter this market and compete with Samsung. This will enable Apple to diversify its OLED supply chain and reduce its reliance on Samsung.
The report claims that LG Display officials are thinking about a deal but there appear to be concerns about LG’s inexperience in mass production of small and medium-sized OLED panels.
LG is now expected to decide by June this year whether or not it’s going to give into Apple’s proposition and start mass production small and medium-sized OLED displays. It already supplies OLED display for the Apple Watch but that device doesn’t sell nearly as many units as the iPhone.
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