April 26, 2024

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[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Display, the display arm of tech giant Samsung Electronics, will soon provide 70 million curved organic light-emitting diode panels for California-based Apple’s premium version of the upcoming iPhone 8, according to news reports on April 4.

The US tech colossus recently placed an order for the OLED panels for the premium iPhone, which will likely feature a 5.2-inch wraparound screen, according to Japan-based news outlet Nikkei Asian Review.

The deal size is similar to previous estimate by David Hsieh, senior director of research firm IHS Markit, who also anticipated that could ramp up production to as much as 95 million, depending on demand. 

Related:
Samsung Display starts expansion of OLED production lines
Samsung Display working on 3-D Touch for OLED iPhone


The other two iPhone models, expected to be launched in September along with the premium 5.2-inch iPhone, will feature 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch liquid-crystal displays without curved screens, the publication reported.

Samsung, which boasts the most advanced OLED display technology for smartphones, is said to be the sole display supplier of the OLED iPhone while LG Display and Japan Display are the main LCD suppliers for the US smartphone maker.

Taiwan-based market researcher Trendforce previously forecast in its recent report that sales of the three variants of the iPhone 8 would reach more than 10 million units and the OLED iPhone 8 would account for 40 percent, while market research firm Yuanta Investment Consulting estimated Apple would ship 55 million OLED smartphones.

Trendforce also forecast the size of the OLED screen will come in at 5.8 inches, the same as the Galaxy S8, while the two LCD screen models will be 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch.

In addition, the premium OLED model will get a design makeover by ditching the physical home button and replacing it with a software-based virtual button.

Samsung Display showcased the next-generation pressure-sensitive, or 3-D Touch using OLED display to select partners at a VIP meeting during the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona in February.

The 3-D Touch-support OLED screen, which allows users to open menus and navigate the phone by detecting different levels of pressure, is said to be used in the upcoming iPhone 8.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)