Although the Apple company seems determined to implement a flexible OLED screen in the iPhone 8, those from Japan Display hope to be able to convince it to use flexible LCD screens in the future. The Japanese have created a technique based on which they can manufacture flexible LCD screens with the factories they already have in operation, without making the transition to OLED production.
Although the LCD screens will not be as flexible as the OLED ones, despite the fact that they will be made of plastic instead of glass, they will be able to be bent to look like those of the Samsung Galaxy series. Apple wants to offer an iPhone 8 with a curved screen towards both edges of the case, just like the Samsung terminals, they will offer a series of new functions.
Japan Display would have to make huge investments to produce flexible OLED screens for Apple, but it wants to avoid that and continue LCD production. Apple has embraced the idea of its partner and is investigating the possible use of flexible LCD screens in the iPhone terminals that would reach global markets in 2018 or the following years.
Future iPhones could have flexible LCD screens
Apart from Apple, other smartphone manufacturers are considering the use of flexible LCD screens for future products launched on the market. Apple and Huawei are the main clients of those from Japan Display, so we can assume that at least these two companies could integrate such screens in their own products from 2018.
Apart from the production of flexible LCD screens, those from Japan Display are also trying to obtain financing worth 662 million dollars to build factories to produce OLED screens. The production of these types of screens should start in the spring of next year, but it remains to be seen if the plans will be fulfilled.
"Japan Display officials said some smartphone makers, which they declined to name, have agreed to adopt the bendable LCD in the next few years. "Mass production is planned from 2018, and we wouldn't do that without demand from our clients," said Mr. Aruga. Japan Display's major clients, according to its financial statements, include Apple and Huawei Technologies Co. People familiar with the matter have said Apple is looking at the displays for possible future iPhone models."
Considering that Apple will make the transition to OLED screens starting with iPhone 8, the use of flexible LCDs could suggest that Apple wants to launch more than 2 premium models annually. Of course, there is always the possibility that these screens will not be as good as Apple would like, so nothing is 100% certain now.
