'Apple Watch Series 5' screen expected to be supplied by Japan Display

Ming-Chi Kuo is predicting that the "Apple Watch Series 5" is just around the corner, and will use some of the first OLED screens from Japan Display.

Little has been said about the "Apple Watch Series 5" so far. Ming-Chi Kuo has said that around 20 percent of the screens for the new unit will come from Japan Display, fresh off of its recovery from reinvestment. It was first rumored in April that Japan Display would get these orders.

It isn't clear if Kuo's report to Chinese media is a reiteration of the April rumor, or sourced from new information exiting the supply chain. Kuo also believes that the percentage will increase over time, escalating to very nearly the entire supply in two years.

Kuo has previously predicted that there would be a ceramic Apple Watch in 2019. Ceramic wasn't available for the Apple Watch Series 4. This may have been because of poor sales, production issues, or simply because Apple no longer felt it was necessary.

Japan Display combined the display arms of Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba to better compete with Samsung and LG Display. Heavy investment in LCD production and a late shift to OLED damaged the company's prospects, leading to the bailout discussions.

Japan Display had been suffering for a few years because of declining LCD panel orders. After a year of discussions, the company raised sufficient funds to launch an 80 billion yen (about $738 million) bailout. About $100 million of that bailout is thought to come from Apple.

Even without OLED orders, Apple is JDI's most important customer. Orders for iPhone LCD panel orders account for about 60% of JDI's revenue for the 2018 fiscal year.

20 Comments

JinTech 1054 comments · 9 Years

About 5 years ago

It’s amazing how little we know about the Apple Watch Series 5. I’m happy to upgrade from a Series 4 if there are some new health sensors but otherwise I’m pretty happy with my 4.

gutengel 363 comments · 7 Years

Where are the Apple Watch rumours!? So far it appears we aren't getting any new watch this year...

svanstrom 685 comments · 7 Years

JinTech said:

It’s amazing how little we know about the Apple Watch Series 5. I’m happy to upgrade from a Series 4 if there are some new health sensors but otherwise I’m pretty happy with my 4.

I'm starting to feel unhappy with my stainless steel series 0; but by the time the ECG feature actually got released here, and my preferred store didn't have it in stock etc… by all that I felt that I might as well wait for the series 5.

But the lack of rumours is starting to make me feel like I'm waiting for something that won't come at the same time as the new iPhones. :'(

Here's a thought…

What if Apple is moving to sort of an S-style approach to their watches? Last year we got the new tech, and this year they'll only add a ceramic version?

Soli 9981 comments · 9 Years

svanstrom said:

Here's a thought…

What if Apple is moving to sort of an S-style approach to their watches? Last year we got the new tech, and this year they'll only add a ceramic version?

I wouldn't say it's out of the question, but I do wonder how that would help increase sales. The 'S' series always seemed more like a way to keep the same casing design for 2 years instead of just one. Internally those devices are very different. Even the internal screw locations for a similar component can change dramatically YoY.