Apple is set to transition to organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays for all iPhone models starting in 2025, completely phasing out liquid crystal displays (LCDs), as reported by Japan’s Nikkei newspaper, which cited anonymous sources.
The shift towards OLED technology is gaining traction among smartphone and television manufacturers due to its ability to produce more vibrant colors and enhanced contrast ratios, making it particularly suitable for high-definition content.
This strategic change will effectively exclude Japanese companies Sharp Corp and Japan Display from Apple’s supply chain for mobile devices, according to the report from Nikkei.
Recent developments indicate that Apple has already begun placing orders for OLED panels intended for the next iteration of the iPhone SE. These orders are being fulfilled by China’s BOE Technology and South Korea’s LG Display.
A decade ago, Sharp and Japan Display collectively held a significant 70 percent share of the market for iPhone displays. However, their recent contributions have been limited; they have only provided LCDs for the latest iPhone SE model and do not currently manufacture OLED screens at scale suitable for smartphones.
Apple first integrated OLED technology into its product lineup with the launch of the iPhone X in 2017. Since then, it has adopted OLED screens across its premium smartphone offerings. Furthermore, Apple introduced OLED displays in its latest generation of iPad Pro models released in May.
In response to inquiries from Reuters regarding this development, representatives from Sharp, Japan Display, and LG Display declined to provide comments. Apple also did not respond immediately when asked about these changes.
