14 DAY TRIAL // Apple will launch three different iPhone models this year, one of which will use an LCD panel and sell at a lower price, in an attempt of the company to offer a more affordable alternative to its premium devices.
And while Apple was originally expected to equally split production of the 2018 iPhone between OLED and LCD versions, it looks like the latter is gaining ground and is now accounting for more than half of the panels ordered for the upcoming device lineup.
A report from the WSJ reveals that Apple has high expectations from the LCD iPhone, anticipating strong sales and thus adjusting production to meet the expected high demand.
This certainly makes sense given that this particular model would retain features like Face ID and edge-to-edge display, yet the production of LCD panels could also include devices that were part of the previous generations, like iPhone 7 and iPhone 8. Apple still sells these, and there's a chance that the company would keep them around for approximately one more year as more affordable alternatives to its new-generation devices.
LCD to make the cut next year too
In addition to a cheaper LCD iPhone with a 6.1-inch screen, Apple will also introduce an iPhone X successor and a bigger sibling dubbed iPhone X Plus, both of which would feature an OLED display manufactured by Samsung.
Recent rumors have indicated that despite earlier speculation, Apple won't switch to OLED entirely starting with the 2019 lineup, instead keeping LCD around for one more generation. LCD panels can help Apple reduce the final price of its iPhones, as the OLED screen used on the iPhone X is one of the most expensive parts of the device.
Samsung, who makes the iPhone X display, will remain the exclusive screen supplier for 2018, despite Apple investing in partnerships with other companies like LG. Samsung is the only one that can meet Apple's existing demand, and Cupertino is more or less forced to stick with it for at least one more iPhone generation.