Apple and LG may be working together to develop the next-big-thing for Apple. Both the companies are said to be partnering for developing a foldable display for the iPhone. While there are also reports of LG setting up a team for printing rigid-flexible printed circuit board (RFPCB).
As the reports of RFPCB from LG are pouring in, there is also word that LG will start manufacturing these panels in 2020. The Bell has reported that Apple is confiding in LG instead of Samsung due to concerns of technology leaks.
LG foldable display for Apple iPhone
To recall, LG and Apple have had good relations because of the LCD partnership between the two. Samsung is the current manufacturer of OLED panels for the Apple iPhone X. Now Apple is seen moving to LG with foldable panels.
Firstly, this is the first time we’re hearing about Apple planning for a product a few years in advance. Apple usually starts working out the components and prototypes a year before the actual product is developed.
We can expect this foldable display to be an OLED panel. It is so because LG has recently started manufacturing OLED panels at their E5 plant in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province. A new plant named the E6 is also under development and will be at manufacturing capacity by 2019. It is in the E6 that LG may manufacture the foldable display panels for Apple.
Apple foldable phone won’t be the first
That is right, if Apple is to start with foldable displays in 2020, Samsung may already have manufactured a foldable smartphone. In fact, one of the foldable smartphones from Samsung is already set to release next year.
It is also reported that LG has developed a foldable display already and has been testing and upgrading it for durability and yield rate. This may also indicate that Apple will take this technology and fine-tune it to fit their futuristic iPhone.