iPhone 8’s new display could hold back launch sales

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iPhone leak
iPhone 8's OLED display is reportedly causing Apple headaches.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

iPhone 8 production has reportedly hit another roadblock, with the problem this time being the OLED panels Apple is using for its next-gen handsets.

The use of OLED panels, instead of the LCD screens used on current iPhones, has been heavily rumored as one of the biggest selling points of the new iPhone for quite some time. A report earlier this year claimed that Apple will snap up 14 percent of all OLED panels produced in 2017 for the iPhone 8.

It’s not clear exactly what the problem is, but Samsung Display — which is providing Apple with its OLED displays, based on its expertise in this area — will allegedly only have 3-4 million OLED iPhone devices ready for shipping for launch day.

“Judging from the current supply of OLED panels, it will be difficult for Apple to ship up to 50-60 million OLED-based new iPhones in 2017,” a report from DigiTimes claims, citing sources in the manufacturing supply chain.

Even if the report is correct, however, there will still be new iPhones this fall. New reports claim that Apple will release three new iPhones this year: with a new 4.7- and 5.5-inch pair of “s” model handsets that will retain LCD displays like their predecessors, and a premium iPhone 8 OLED model.

If that’s the case, Apple may be able to announce a later launch date for the iPhone 8, in the same way products like HomePod have had launch dates announced that are months down the line.

Not the first time

This isn’t the first time the iPhone 8 has reportedly run into production problems. Earlier this year, it was reported that manufacturers hit roadblocks relating to the handsets’ display, wireless charging and printed circuit boards.

Fortunately, those problems appear to have been solved — although it seems that there may be a few more hurdles for Apple to leap before its long-awaited iPhone 8 arrives in stores.

Want more info about the upcoming phones? Read this: Everything we think we know about the iPhone 8.

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