Apple wants to develop more screen technology in-house in the future – and rely less on suppliers like Samsung Display or LG Display, who do good business with the group. The strategy could be implemented as early as 2024, according to US media reports from this week. Accordingly, mobile devices such as the iPhone and Apple Watch should make the beginning.
Apple sets the tone
Of course, Apple will not set up in-house production in the future either. Instead, contract manufacturers should do this job – as with almost all other products of the group. But instead of purchasing full panels with customizations, as is currently the case, development could become significantly more independent and Apple then make detailed production specifications that go well beyond the current ones to Samsung or LG. Apple has been working on the transition to display supply since 2018, it said. The step is similar to switching from Intel chips to Apple Silicon for the Mac or trying to develop your own 5G radio modems for iPhone and Co. at a cost of billions.
As a first step, it is apparently planned to switch from the OLED technology currently used in the iPhone and Apple Watch to micro-LED-based displays. The first candidate for this is apparently the computer clock. With the micro-LED technology, the display could be more compact and enlarged again. In addition, observers believe that brightness and color reproduction as well as viewing angle independence would improve.
BOE is becoming more important
Who will produce the new screens has not yet been leaked. It is conceivable that this will be taken over by a previous partner such as Japan Display, BOE or Sharp, who seem more willing to become contract manufacturers than Samsung and LG. Alternatively, Apple could also try to get end assemblers like Foxconn to set up display production according to Apple’s specifications.
The Chinese display specialist BOE, whose relationship with Apple has not always been easy, is building is currently setting up a new large factory in Vietnam, according to local media. This could be set up according to Apple’s specifications, allegedly up to 400 million US dollars in investment funds will flow. The Vietnam location also has the advantage that it would reduce Apple’s dependence on China. Spicy: BOE is already supplying Samsung.
(bsc)
