Apple Wants Sharp to Supply OLED Screens for 2017 iPhone

[Maura]

Bloomberg Markets reports that Apple is currently in talks with Sharp to manufacture organic LED (OLED) displays for next year’s iPhones. Bloomberg’s source says that Apple is talking to Sharp because it wants to add to its current pool of suppliers for OLED screens. The source added that any such agreement between Sharp and Apple would depend on Sharp’s output capacity.

This news comes hot on the heels of Sharp announcing that it is to invest 57.4 billion yen ($566 million) to develop OLED production facilities in Mie and Osaka, but this would not have any effect on next year’s iPhones as output from these new facilities is not expected to start until June 2018. However, the promise of a big ongoing order from Apple has certainly played some part in Sharp's plans.

“Apple has unofficially or as a nod encouraged Sharp to go into it,” said BGC Partners head of Japanese equity sales, Amir Anvarzadeh. “Apple’s general strategy is to increase the competition on the supply side, and dilute the risk exposure to one company.”

Source: The LED Screen on Your Next iPhone May Be Supplied by Sharp

 

[KevinJS]

I wonder how difficult production will be if some of the rumours are true.

Built in home button and FaceTime camera, probably curved, and extending over both sides to give volume, camera and mute buttons as well as notifications etc.