Apple made a huge step last year with the launch of the iPhone X. Aside from the flagship phone's impressive design and groundbreaking features such as the Face ID technology, the iPhone X is also the first handset from the company to sport an OLED screen. The Cupertino-basd tech firm's use of OLED technology is expected to continue into 2018, as Apple unveils the iPhone X2 in the coming months. Per the latest reports, Apple will seal a huge deal with Samsung to supply the OLED components for the iPhone X2.
According to Tech Radar, Apple will be heavily relying on Samsung this year as the company is still struggling to find a new supplier of top-quality OLED panels. Knowing that Samsung is Apple's closest rival when it comes to smartphones, it can be expected the latter will look for other partners to stop feeding its own competitor.
It is also worth mentioning that Apple's demand for OLED screens will double this 2018, as the tech firm will release not only one, but two OLED-based iPhone models. Aside from the iPhone X2, which serves as the successor to last year's 5.8-inch premium handset, Apple is also set to launch the 6.5-inch variant of the iPhone X.
Taking all these factors into consideration, Apple will really need Samsung this time more than ever. Although, the company has reportedly signed a $3-billion investment deal with LG for the OLED supply. This can be viewed as Apple's way of being not too dependent on Samsung, but LG is said to be having problems of its own in meeting the huge demand for OLED panels. Furthermore, Samsung's OLED technology remains sub-par to none, which is why Apple could still choose the tech firm as a partner over LG.
Meanwhile, Taiwan-based tech news outlet Economic Daily News has reported that the mass production of the iPhone X2 and iPhone X Plus OLED display will commence in May. It has been a long time since Samsung juiced up its production chambers with the release of iPhone X last year, although there will be a few changes in the process this time around in order to avoid delays. Samsung is expected to begin producing the OLED panels early May, and the output will be doubled in June.
The iPhone X2, the iPhone X Plus, and the 6.1-inch iPhone LCD model are tipped to be announced at the Apple keynote event this September.
