A recent report by The Elec claims that Apple will launch the new iPhone 13 models with an LTPO OLED display. Siting UBI Research note, it is claimed that Samsung will manufacture the low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) display for OLED screens in Apple’s next-generation smartphone. Currently, the company uses the aforementioned display technology in Apple Watch Series 5, and 6 for always-on display.
The current iPhone 12 line-up is shipped with OLED display panels which are manufactured by Samsung, LG, and Apple’s other supply chain partners. An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display technology emits light in response to electric current, thus it works without a backlight to offer deeper blacks, and a higher contrast ratio. Therefore, with LPTO OLED technology, Apple will be able to offer 120Hz refresh rate in the upcoming iPhone models.
In partnership with Samsung, Apple will offer new LTPO OLED display in iPhone 13 with 120Hz refresh rate
Before the launch of the iPhone 12 series, it was widely speculated that Apple would ship the high-end models with a 120Hz refresh rate. However, the company did not introduce the 120Hz in the current flagship iPhone series because it did not have the required hardware to support the feature at the time. The rumored 120Hz ProMotion display consumes more energy and needs a bigger battery. But with the alleged LPTO OLED display technology, the Cupertino tech giant would be able to do so. The report explains,
Apple is planning to use LTPO TFT OLED panels for the higher-tier models in its iPhone series launching later this year. Samsung Display will be the exclusive vendor for LTPO TFT OLED panels. LG Display, which also supplies OLED panels to Cupertino, will be providing LTPS TFT OLED panels.
UBI Research said Samsung Display has secured 30,000 Gen 6 substrates per month capacity for LTPO TFT OLED panels on its Apple-dedicated production line last year. Production capacity drops when LTPS is converted to LTPO from the added oxide process step.
Several reports corroborate the recent claims of new display technology but contradict on which models it will be provided in. Tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that all four models of the new iPhone 13 series will be equipped with an LPTO display, a smaller notch, and a larger battery. The Elec’s previous report said that only iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max models will come with new display technology in 2021.
