Forget iPhone 8 2017 Release – All iPhone 2018 Upgrades Will Have OLED Display?

By Erik Pineda
The iPhone 8 as visualized by concept designer Benjamin Geskin
The iPhone 8 as visualized by concept designer Benjamin Geskin Benjamin Geskin via iDropNEWS

Apple intends to use OLED on all iPhone models by 2018, indicating the tech giant's OLED-laced iPhone 8 release this 2017 is just the start of the eventual switch from LCD to "advanced organic light-emitting diode displays." However, LCD will remain in Apple's supply chain until 2019, new reports said.

That's because the iPhone 7S series that Apple is expected to start shipping September will remain in the market two years after introduction, Japanese publication Nikkei reported. The 7S models, however, will be the last iPhone with LCD panel as the same report claimed Apple will go full OLED as early as next year, hinting of a plan to advance the adoption of the material.

Earlier reports have indicated OLED will be on all iPhone models beginning 2019 but the Nikkei story suggested otherwise. "Apple is planning to use advanced organic light-emitting diode displays in all new iPhone models launched from the second half of 2018," the publication said, pointing to industry insiders as source of its information.

And if the claim will prove correct, the 5.8-inch iPhone 8 will be joined by two new redesigned handsets, also boasting of OLED panel. 9to5Mac said Apple's 2018 iPhone lineup will include a supersized 6.46-inch edition and a 5.28-inch form factor, the latter presumably will be the replacement for the regular 4.7-inch model. Tentatively, the upgrades will be known as iPhone 9.

If the Nikkei report is to be believed, the new handsets will be launched in the second half of 2018.

The publication said majority of Apple's OLED requirements will be delivered by Samsung Display starting this year though LG Display is tipped to become part of the project in by next year. For Apple's LCD orders, Japan Display and Sharp will be the company's partner.

Meanwhile for the iPhone 8, Apple watcher John Gruber has affirmed wireless charging is indeed part of the next iPhone unboxing but the feature upgrade will not be immediately enjoyed by users. As reported earlier, the charging pad to facilitate wire-free recharging is a separate purchase accessory that Apple will offer and Gruber said the pad will not debut with the 2017 iPhones.

Per MacRumors, Apple will only start selling the wireless charging pad for the new iPhones until the next big update for iOS 11. According to Gruber, the accessory will only hit the market following the release of iOS 11.1 update. There was no clear explanation offered why the charger availability will be delayed.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo has predicted in a recent note that Apple will finally include wireless charging in the next iPhone release. But Kuo said the feature will not be the long-range charging envisioned by many Apple fans. Instead, it will be same feature already seen in numerous Android flagship models.

Also, Kuo has indicated that due to production issues and supply constraints, the actual availability of the iPhone 8 will not happen until October or November 2017. But the iPhone 8 will be introduced as planned with the iPhone 7S series in September, the analyst said.

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