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Samsung Display and LG Display have reportedly started producing OLED panels for the "iPhone 13," with Samsung said to be creating 120Hz ProMotion displays for the Pro models.
Ahead of the fall launch of new iPhone models, members of Apple's supply chain are ramping up production in order to meet the expected high levels of orders within the next few months. In the case of displays, it seems that ramping up has started earlier than first thought.
Samsung Display and LG Display are returning as display panel producers for the "iPhone 13," and have started production of the needed OLED panels, according to The Elec. The timing is approximately one month earlier than Apple's production schedules for the iPhone 12, though schedules at that time were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sources of the report claim Samsung commenced production halfway through May, while LG started its manufacturing of the components later in the month. It is thought Samsung is about a week earlier than LG for the organic material deposition process, while for the finishing module process, Samsung's apparently 10 days ahead of LG.
Of the displays, Samsung is said to be the only supplier of low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) OLED panels to Apple. Rumored to be used in the Pro models, the LPTO displays will support 120Hz refresh rates, enabling the long-rumored ProMotion feature.
For the non-Pro models, Apple will continue to use low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT OLED panels, supplied by LG Display.
In terms of shipment numbers, Samsung is thought to be producing 80 million units of the display for the new iPhone, with between 120 million and 130 million total OLED panels anticipated to ship to Apple in 2021. For LG, it is apparently aiming for 30 million units for the "iPhone 13," and a total of 50 million overall for the year.
On May 26, supply chain reports claimed Apple chip partner TSMC had started its own production for the System-on-Chip that will be used in the next iPhone range, tentatively titled the "A15."
Other rumors about the "iPhone 13" include claims it will be slightly thicker than previous models, use a smaller notch for the TrueDepth camera array at the front, and have a larger rear camera bump.
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William Gallagher
Christine McKee
AppleInsider Staff
Chip Loder
13 Comments
What’s the latest on the camera?
Usually Apple makes a design improvement one year and then performance improvements they next. So I am expecting this to be the 12S with a slightly bigger battery and the faster display but not the smaller notch. That will come in 2022. Hopefully we get touchId option back this year. The Pandemic will be over in the United States by the fall but not in many countries.