What They Say
The Elec has reported that Apple and Samsung Display have cancelled a plan (Apple aims to adopt tandem OLEDs in its next iPad Pro tablets) for Samsung to provide OLEDs for Apple’s 10.86″ 2022 iPads. The paper reports that the problem was that Apple wanted a tandem (dual stack) architecture that Samsung could not supply – at least not at the price that Apple wanted to pay. Apple’s desire for the tandem structure was based on the concern that consumers keep their tablets longer than smartphones (where Apple uses single stack OLEDs).
LG Display is supplying tandem OLEDs for automotive applications, but seems unlikely to replace Samsung as a supplier because of its limited capacity at the moment.
The paper said that there were two other models planned for 2023 or 2024 – one at least at 12.9″ and using LTPO. The 10.86″ version was expected to use an LTPS backplane. It also said that Samsung Display is struggling with yields for the 10.86″ version.
What We Think
A tandem structure imposes more cost, but without a lot of capital expenditure it would also significantly reduce capacity. The tandem structure improves brightness and lifetime, but so would better blue materials. If I was Samsung Display, I would be nervous about developing the facilities to produce tandem panels if I thought that a better blue might be on the way. On the other hand a better blue has been on the way for 20+ years! (BR)
