Tim Hardwick
Next year's iPhone 16 could have a more energy-efficient display thanks to a new set of OLED materials that Samsung is reportedly developing specifically for Apple.
The material set includes various components for OLED screens, such as cover layers (CPLs) that control the optical characteristics of the screen. Each component is produced by a specialized manufacturer and supplied to Samsung, which then uses them to create the final OLED panel.
A different composition of materials in the kit may change the characteristics of the OLED panel, such as lifespan, brightness, color accuracy or production efficiency.
Back in April, The Elec reported that Samsung was using its kit “M12” materials for this year's iPhone 15 models, and has also developed a new set of OLED materials, dubbed “M14”, specifically for Apple's 2024 iPhones. The exact reason for the development was not known at the time, but a new report from a Korean-language publication suggests it may have to do with the improved energy efficiency of OLED panels.
Citing Korean Ubi Research analyst Daejeon Yoon, The Elec now reports that Samsung's OLED roadmap is centered on replacing blue fluorescent materials with blue phosphorescence, which could reduce the overall power consumption of the OLED panel.
According to Yoon, Samsung initially intended to use a more energy-efficient material in OLED panels designed for various foldable phones in 2024, but it is not easy to develop and Samsung could instead reserve it for the Apple M14 material set .
“After the release of iPhone next year, M14 will be applied to the iPhone 17 in 2025, and the application period for the Apple iPhone OLED will increase to two years,” Yun is quoted as saying.
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 According to several sources, the Pro Max will have a larger display size. iPhone 16 The Pro will have a 6.27-inch display (rounded to 6.3), while the iPhone 16 The Pro Max is expected to have a 6.85-inch display (rounded to 6.9).
The previous September report suggested iPhone 16 OLED panels can use microlens technology to maintain or increase the brightness of displays, potentially reducing their power consumption.
Meanwhile, an earlier report published in May claimed that Apple intends to mass produce more advanced microLED displays to reduce its dependence on Samsung and strengthen its own control over supply, laying the groundwork for its ultimate goal to provide next-generation technology for the iPhone.
Tags: OLED, The Elec[ 40 comments ]
