It has been estimated that Apple will purchase between 250 and 270 million flat panels for iPhone devices in 2018. Digitimes made the claim, citing unnamed sources from the Taiwan panel industry. Breaking the figure down into individual categories, 110-130 of these panels will apparently be OLED. 70-80 million of these will be 5.9 inches, the size of the iPhone X. According to the article, Digitimes’ sources confirmed that the remaining 40-50 million will be ‘6.5″ OLED panels for the production of a less expensive model’.
The company will also purchase 60-70 million 6.1″ LTPS LCD panels, believed to be for the rumoured but as-yet unannounced iPhone revision due later in 2018, along with another 60-70 million in various sizes for the iPhone SE, iPhone 7 and iPhone 8. As usual, Samsung will be Apple’s primary supplier of OLED panels in 2018, with LG making attempts to take share from Samsung during the second half of the year, according to IHS Markit. Meanwhile, Japan Display, Sharp and LG will supply Apple with LCD panels, according to Digitimes’ sources.
Analyst Comment
Regarding the 6.5″ OLED panel order, we quoted Digitimes verbatim, but we wonder if its source may have gotten their wires crossed saying the panels were for a “less expensive model”, unless perhaps the panels were LCD rather than OLED. Information coming from Forbes indicates that the 6.5″ iPhone will be OLED—and the most expensive iPhone yet, retailing at $1,400 (Apple to Release the Biggest, Most Expensive iPhone This Year?). Could that really be “less expensive” than the new 5.9″ model? We don’t think so! (AF)
