LG Display expected to provide OLEDs for iWatch
Samsung Display not interested in supplying, wishing to retain ‘Samsung flavor’ of curved displays
LG Display is expected to further expand its ties with Apple Inc. by supplying parts for the Cupertino-based iPhone maker’s wearable iWatch, industry watchers said.
“LG Display has been in talks over flexible organic light-emitting diode panels for quite a while and it looks like it will be sealing the deal with Apple,” one expert said on condition of anonymity.
However, given Apple’s tendency for vendor diversification, the Korean panel-maker is unlikely to be the sole supplier. Previous reports have indicated that Taiwan’s RiTDisplay is also a strong candidate for supplying the parts.
“Instead of relying on one supplier for its iWatch, which will be unveiled next year, Apple will have two vendors to be safe. The key provider will be RiTDisplay and LG Display will be the second,” Seoul-based HMC Investment Securities’ analyst Kim Young-woo said. “Japan Display might also be a candidate, but so far its capacity seems lacking.”
LG Display, which is to supply parts for LG Electronics’ latest curved smartphone, has already started to mass-produce flexible OLED panels, according to reports.
Their 4.5-generation line is up to 6,000 substrates a month, meaning the company is capable of producing up to around 400,000 6-inch panels.
LG Display spokespeople said they couldn’t confirm the report.
Meanwhile, Samsung Display ― LG Display’s largest rival ― appeared to be far from interested in an Apple tie-up.
“I do not expect Samsung Display to supply Apple with a smart watch OLED,” said one market source close to the matter. “Strategically, Samsung is using OLED to give a special ‘Samsung flavor’ to its devices, so opening up to other customers does not make sense.”
Apple reportedly recently visited Samsung Display, but the discussion was not productive.
The rivalry may also work the other way around, as another expert noted: “Samsung will be excluded because Apple won’t want to leak its smart watch-related information to its rival Samsung. Samsung’s wearable gadget Galaxy Gear is already out in the market.”
In terms of flexible OLED, both LG and Samsung are capable of mass production.
Apple’s iWatch, however, has yet to be unveiled despite mounting rumors of an imminent release that began to circulate the markets last year. In May, Taiwanese media reported that Apple was doing tests with RiTDisplay for the iWatch. Two months later, they reported that Apple began production of the iWatch to be unveiled in September.
Now, many believe the gadget will be introduced by the end of this year.
Some, including Kim of HMC, believe Apple won’t be ready due to overheating issues that have yet to be remedied.
A number of Apple’s iPhone models have faced claims of overheating that could turn into a bigger issue when the same technology is applied to devices that are worn directly on the body.
Although the iWatch won’t be a flagship model, it’s clear that competition in the field is heating up, with other players such as Sony and Google also in the game.
http://www.koreaherald.com
LG Display is expected to further expand its ties with Apple Inc. by supplying parts for the Cupertino-based iPhone maker’s wearable iWatch, industry watchers said.
“LG Display has been in talks over flexible organic light-emitting diode panels for quite a while and it looks like it will be sealing the deal with Apple,” one expert said on condition of anonymity.
However, given Apple’s tendency for vendor diversification, the Korean panel-maker is unlikely to be the sole supplier. Previous reports have indicated that Taiwan’s RiTDisplay is also a strong candidate for supplying the parts.
“Instead of relying on one supplier for its iWatch, which will be unveiled next year, Apple will have two vendors to be safe. The key provider will be RiTDisplay and LG Display will be the second,” Seoul-based HMC Investment Securities’ analyst Kim Young-woo said. “Japan Display might also be a candidate, but so far its capacity seems lacking.”
LG Display, which is to supply parts for LG Electronics’ latest curved smartphone, has already started to mass-produce flexible OLED panels, according to reports.
Their 4.5-generation line is up to 6,000 substrates a month, meaning the company is capable of producing up to around 400,000 6-inch panels.
LG Display spokespeople said they couldn’t confirm the report.
Meanwhile, Samsung Display ― LG Display’s largest rival ― appeared to be far from interested in an Apple tie-up.
“I do not expect Samsung Display to supply Apple with a smart watch OLED,” said one market source close to the matter. “Strategically, Samsung is using OLED to give a special ‘Samsung flavor’ to its devices, so opening up to other customers does not make sense.”
Apple reportedly recently visited Samsung Display, but the discussion was not productive.
The rivalry may also work the other way around, as another expert noted: “Samsung will be excluded because Apple won’t want to leak its smart watch-related information to its rival Samsung. Samsung’s wearable gadget Galaxy Gear is already out in the market.”
In terms of flexible OLED, both LG and Samsung are capable of mass production.
Apple’s iWatch, however, has yet to be unveiled despite mounting rumors of an imminent release that began to circulate the markets last year. In May, Taiwanese media reported that Apple was doing tests with RiTDisplay for the iWatch. Two months later, they reported that Apple began production of the iWatch to be unveiled in September.
Now, many believe the gadget will be introduced by the end of this year.
Some, including Kim of HMC, believe Apple won’t be ready due to overheating issues that have yet to be remedied.
A number of Apple’s iPhone models have faced claims of overheating that could turn into a bigger issue when the same technology is applied to devices that are worn directly on the body.
Although the iWatch won’t be a flagship model, it’s clear that competition in the field is heating up, with other players such as Sony and Google also in the game.
http://www.koreaherald.com
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