Apple could be ditching Samsung as the supplier of its OLED displays, as Cupertino may be exploring foldable screens for future iPhones.
Following news that Apple has patents to create an iPhone that folds down the middle like a book, sources familiar with the display industry have claimed Apple is exploring working with China’s largest display maker BOE to create a flexible OLED screen.
BOE is apparently gearing up to create Apple-exclusive foldable OLED displays, according to ETNews.
Samsung is the provider of the OLED displays found in the iPhone X, which can be classed as foldable given how they curve into the back of the phone.
However, this monopoly could be disrupted if Apple either diversifies its OLED supply chain or abandons arch-rival Samsung altogether.
But we’re not likely to see this happen in time for the next iPhone unless Apple has found a way to supercharge its supply chain. And Cupertino likes to ensure its iPhones are pristine and flaw-free, so it will likely want to put BOE to the test before signing the company up as its new display maker.
It’s also worth noting that a lot of tech firms have harped on about gadgets with foldable screens, and filed plenty of patents to go with them. But we’ve yet to see a proper mass market device with a truly flexible display.
So this display industry gossip could be just that. Yet if Apple can nail foldable displays before any of its rivals can, then Cupertino could be back to the forefront of phone and tech innovation, which it has arguably been lagging in, even with the face scanning tech of Face ID.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
