According to a rumor that’s sketchier than a rapid drawing done with an Apple Pencil, Apple is “serious” about equipping its 2018-era iPhones with OLED-based curved screens.
The South Korean news reports suggests that major Korean display-makers are currently showing off the cutting-edge displays to execs at Apple, and has found Apple to be enthusiastic about the prospect.
At the moment, Apple uses flexible OLEDs for the Apple Watch, with LG Display and Samsung Samsung Display supplying the necessary panels.
LG Display is reportedly planning to turn one of its LCD factory lines in Gumi into one capable of mass-producing OLED displays from 2017. From there, “It is very likely that the first flexible iPhone may be introduced in 2018,” says a supposed source.
There are already multiple companies who make curved OLED smartphones, including Samsung’s Galaxy Round, Galaxy Note Edge, and Galaxy S6 Edge, as well as the LG G Flex 2. Given that the iPhone already outsells all these devices it’s not clear whether Cupertino would follow them down the curved/flexible display path, although it’s an interesting idea.
Still, even if Apple does debut an OLED iPhone with a flexible screen in 2018, we’ve still got a long time before the arrival of the iPhone 8 to see if this rumor develops. Although Apple’s no doubt entertaining a lot of possibilities for its 2018-era iPhones, I highly doubt whether the company has officially committed to anything just yet.
Apple’s got plenty of patents for a bezel-less curved iPhone, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned from following Apple patents, it’s that not all of them turn into anything.
Would you be interested in a Galaxy S6 Edge-style iPhone? Leave your comments below.
Source: Business Korea
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
11 responses to “Sketchy rumor claims iPhone 8 could rock curved OLED display”
very, very old one..
In no way do I think that this will ever see the light of day. Firstly because it makes the user experience worse, not better. Secondly it’s butt ugly.
Why? Why would anybody want that. I’ve used the Galaxy Edge and found its “edge” to be a useless distracting gimmick. I hope Apple doesn’t go down that road.
Ugh, I hate how the Samsung 6 edge feels in the hand. I know, I know, it’s Apple, they’ll find a way to do it right but I just don’t see the need.
I thought the Edge was really cool until I held it and played with it in-store. Not only does it feel odd in your hand, but the distortion the “edge” feature creates is incredibly distracting. Framing photos feels weird and watching video is terrible. The gimmick is definitely not worth it.
FUgly ….never happen …..simply for it’s sheer fugliness
Yuck,
Seriously, ye got no other concept images? And this is iOS 6
But it is true, the 2018 iPhones r prepping for OLED screens but my confusion is, wh’t ab’t their ‘micro-LED’ display tech?
iPhone 9 Will be donut shaped
I call BS as curved screens are terrible. No one wants to look through curved glass. At least no one with eyes.
How would one put it in a case if the sides must be exposed. Not that they don’t call me butter fingers for nothing.