The rumor about Apple's move to use Samsung-made OLED panels for iPhones has been around for so long but is still not within reach.
An executive at Samsung Display claims that Samsung-made OLED panels might be used by Apple for iPhones in the future.
According to GSM Arena, Samsung Display has recently talked to Apple in supplying small-sized OLED displays for the next iPhones to be released in the future, which is believed to be around 2018.
Samsung's move is part of a larger strategic plan to diversify its portfolio and client base, which is mostly limited to Samsung Display-manufactured OLED displays that have been used in all Galaxy flagship smartphones. With the weak demand for handsets - Samsung Display needs to look at long-term contracts with trustworthy major customers for OLED displays.
This will be a huge move for Samsung if they start to ship OLEDs for new Apple iPhones.
But LCD panels are undoubtedly easier and cheaper to manufacture and many believe that Apple will continue to improve and use them to keep profit margins up. The same thing with LG Display, they also hope to continue dealing with Apple for its iPhone panels.
If the current market trends keep up, Apple will be forced to move away from using LCD. Then it will most-likely bring a major clash for dominance in the display realm between LG and Samsung.
Samsung held talks with Apple about supplying OLED screens for its iPhones. If Samsung Display will get a go-signal for the order of the production of OLED-screens for Apple's iPhones, the release of this product will be most likely performed at the L5 plants in South Korea.
Apple news said Samsung is currently the only supplier of OLED displays for the Apple Watch, while competitors Japan Display, LG Display and Sharp, divide contracts for the production of LCD panels for smartphones and Apple tablets.
The production of large-size OLED screens require more resources and may cost higher than that of LCD panels.
