Future iPhone displays could all be made by LG. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple could make a significant investment in LG Display’s new OLED production facility to ensure exclusive supply for future iPhones, according to a new report.
The company is said to be considering a 2 trillion to 3 trillion won (approx. $1.75 billion to $2.62 billion) deal, and a final decision is expected later this month.
The iPhone 7 is continuing to be a massive money maker for Apple. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Excitement for the forthcoming iPhone 8 may be continuing to build, but the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are still holding strong in the sales department.
According to new figures released by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, the two current generation iPhone models were the top two smartphones in the U.S., in terms of sales, for the three months ending in May.
We could be waiting a long time for iPhone 8. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple supplier Largan says it will ship its new 3D sensors in time for iPhone 8, while another supply chain vendor confirms waterproof wireless charging technology.
Largan’s sensors are capable of carrying out facial and iris recognition and provide an alternative to fingerprint scanning. They could be the solution Apple turns to if it is unable to embed a Touch ID scanner beneath the iPhone 8’s display.
iPhone 8 could arrive on time after all. Photo: Martin Hajek
Samsung will manufacture 80 million AMOLED displays for the iPhone 8 during the second half of 2017, according to a new report.
Sources in Apple’s supply chain claim that other manufacturers have also begun mass-producing components for the company’s next-generation handsets — though iPhone 8 may not hit peak production until mid-September.
Essential is looking to disrupt the Android market. Photo: Andy Rubin
Essential inc, the new tech company founded by the godfather of Android, Andy Rubin, is set to unveil its first product at the end of this month.
A new Twitter account created by the company teased the announcement today with its first ever tweet to hype what many anticipate to be a new Android smartphone. Rubin shot followers a teaser in March, but now Essential is busting out its own glimpses of the smartphone that may include a 360-degree camera.
Two new iPhone SE models for 2020? Photo: Sam Mills/Cult of Mac
Despite the demand for larger, sharper smartphone displays, iPhone SE has beaten out all other smartphones to top the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).
Just two of Apple’s devices placed in the top five, and with a score of 87 out of 100, iPhone SE took the number one spot ahead of iPhone 7 Plus and the Galaxy S7 series.
Samsung’s new Bixby assistant finally found its voice in South Korea today, over a week after making its debut on the Galaxy S8. Unlike its rivals, Bixby has the ability to rap, and Samsung uses that to take a cheeky, secret stab at Siri.
Samsung plans to copy Apple's automotive play. Photo: Bloomberg
Apple’s not the only smartphone-maker with ambitions to take over the self-driving car market.
Samsung is the latest tech company to receive permission to test their self-driving vehicles on public roads, after the South Korean government granted the company approval to start hitting the streets this week.
The RED iPhone 7 hasn't given sales a boost. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Growth in the smartphone industry isn’t dead yet, according to the latest report from the International Data Corporation which found smartphone shipments grew more than expected last quarter.
IDC predicted shipments would rise 3.6%, but the industry actually saw 4.3% growth in Q1 2017. Unfortunately for Apple, most of the increase in shipments were triggered by a couple of Chinese companies.
The new Galaxy Note will go on sale early again this year. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Samsung already made life difficult for Apple’s next-generation iPhone with its stellar Galaxy S8 series, but it won’t stop there.
The South Korean company confirms it plans to release another flagship smartphone in the second half of 2017 that will give iPhone 8 an even tougher challenge.
The new iPhone 8 could be great. It could also be delayed. Photo: Martin Hajek
Apple is reportedly facing multiple supplier problems with the iPhone 8, as manufacturers hit roadblocks relating to the handsets’ display, wireless charging and printed circuit boards.
Galaxy S8 is expensive to buy and to build. Photo: Samsung
iPhone 7’s aluminum unibody and features like 3D Touch make it an expensive smartphone to build, but there’s one device that’s more expensive. A lot more expensive.
That’s Samsung’s swanky new Galaxy S8, which is by far the priciest smartphone available based on the bill of materials.
A sacrifice worth making? Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Recently “leaked” schematics for Apple’s next-generation iPhone reveal the company could be returning to a sharper, squarer form factor similar to that of the iPhone 5. They also hinted at a big change for Touch ID.
With Apple expected to eliminate the Home button from this year’s iPhone, its fingerprint scanner could be relocated to its back — like on many Androids. This would free up space on the front of the phone for a larger display, while maintaining the secure and super-fast biometric sensor we all love.
But is a rear-facing fingerprint scanner a smart move, or should it remain on the front of the iPhone? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over the iPhone 8’s Touch ID button.
Samsung has a winner in the Galaxy S8. Photo: Samsung
The first reviews of the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ have dropped a day ahead of their official launch in many markets, and there’s one thing to take away from them: Samsung just knocked it out of the park with its best smartphones to date.
Despite the problems the company encountered with the Galaxy Note 7 last fall, it has managed to produce two new devices that don’t disappoint. From gorgeous design and impressive cameras to the best display on the market, the Galaxy S8 series has it all.
It might not perfect, but the changes and improvements Samsung has made show Apple what a smartphone should be in 2017, and make it even more difficult for the iPhone to catch up.
iPhone 5's straight edges could be making a comeback. Photo: Sonny Dickson
A new photo of what is believed to be iPhone 8 schematics reveals a surprising new design direction.
Apple appears to have done away with the smooth curves we’ve come to expect from its smartphones in recent years, opting instead for sharper edges and flat sides. This image suggests the next iPhone will be much like the iPhone 5, only bigger.
TouchWiz has been greatly improved for the Galaxy S8. Photo: Samsung
The Galaxy S8 might be packing a brand new Qualcomm processor, and it might outpace the iPhone 7 easily in benchmark tests. But when it comes to real-world performance, Apple’s 7-month-old smartphone proves it’s still king.
Shame about the controls. Photo: GuruAidTechSupport
The Galaxy S8 is packing more power than most of us will ever need in our pockets. It’s so fast that it has the ability to play GameCube games inside an emulator at full speed.
The Galaxy S8 could suffer because of excitement about the iPhone 8. Photo: Samsung
According to Trendforce data, Samsung beat Apple in smartphone sales in the first quarter of 2017.
But before high-end Galaxy owners start celebrating, the numbers aren’t quite as simple as that: Samsung was only able to beat Apple due to its low end budget devices such as the J-series handsets making up the numbers. Apple, on the other hand, stuck to its premium pricing model — while iPhone 7 excitement was tapered by the long-awaited iPhone 8.
The Surface Pro 4 is starting to catch on. Photo: Microsoft
For the first time ever, Microsoft has beaten the iPad in J.D. Power’s latest tablet satisfaction rankings that found the Surface has a higher number of younger customers than its competitors.
Apple has dominated J.D. Power’s rankings over the last few years, but according to the popular ranking service, Microsoft’s offerings were just a little bit better thanks to best-in-class design, productivity and accessory use.
Apple is already driving an OLED boom. Photo: iDropNews
The next iPhone Apple unveils may not prove as expensive as some have speculated, according to a new research note from investment firm UBS.
Early rumors for the iPhone 8 claimed it will cost upward of $1,000. However, UBS analyst Steve Milunovich says the real price tag will most likely be a lot less than that. And fans might have Samsung to thank.