Apple is bringing OLED display to the highly anticipated iPhone 8. That huge feat marks the beginning of another innovation because from then on, all iPhones will have OLED displays.
A new supply chain report claimed that the tech giant will use OLED for iPhones by 2019, according to a translated report from The Bell (via MacRumors). Around 60 million iPhone 8 units (to be released later this year) will have OLED display and that number will only double for the succeeding years.
Apple is also launching the iPhone 7S and 7S Plus this year, but those models will only have LCD panels. The OLED's debut on the iPhone 8 is justified, given that its release will mark the smartphone's 10-year anniversary. Mass production for OLED panels will begin in April or May.
OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays are superior over LCDs and LEDs. First and foremost, OLEDs are known for being thinner, lighter and more flexible than the crystalline LED and LCD, according to HowStuffWorks.
LEDs are also brighter and don't need glass used by LCDs and LEDs. A glass layer absorbs light, so the smartphone's screen tends to display less vibrant images.
OLEDs generate light on their own so they do not require backlighting and as a result, consume less battery power. The panel's capability of producing its own light also results in a wider viewing range. In addition, OLED panels are easy to produce and their nearly plastic structure allows mass and large-sized production.
Like many things, OLEDs have drawbacks, too. OLED smartphones and devices are easily damaged by water. OLED panels have a short life expectancy, with red and green films lasting for 46,000 to 230,000 hours and blue films only at 14,000 hours.
It should also be noted that the manufacturing process for OLED screens is pricey right now, which may force tech giants to make their new smartphones more expensive than usual. Expect the iPhone 8's price tag to hurt your wallet. There are speculations that it will go beyond $1,000.
The iPhone 8 will have three models: a 5.8-inch variant with organic light-emitting diode display and two with liquid crystal displays, according to the Nikkei Asian Review. The phone's Function area will remove the physical home button and replace it with an in-display Touch ID.
For identification, the sensor will reportedly rely on ultrasound than the user's fingerprint. Expect the iPhone to have smaller top and bottom bezels. Only 5.15 inches will be usable (intended for the Function area) out of its 5.8-inch display.
