Samsung Display has received the go-ahead from Apple to commence production of OLED panels for Apple’s inaugural foldable iPhone. The company has started operations in its Vietnam facility to meet an initial order of about three million panels expected to be delivered this year. This production marks a significant milestone, as Apple requires a yield rate of at least 70% for approval, and Samsung Display has exceeded this with final yields surpassing 80%.
Under a three-year exclusive agreement, Samsung Display will be the sole supplier of these OLED panels for Apple’s foldable device, with no other manufacturers involved during this period. The production process involves adding driver circuits, flexible printed circuit boards, and protective components, all taking place at Samsung’s facility in Vietnam, which has ample capacity to accommodate the current order size.
The panels will incorporate Color Filter on Encapsulation (CoE) technology, eliminating the polarizer and applying a color filter directly on the encapsulation layer. They will also utilize Samsung’s latest M16 OLED material, promising enhancements in brightness, color accuracy, lifespan, and power efficiency.
The anticipated foldable iPhone is expected to feature a 7.8-inch main display and a 5.5-inch cover display, equipped with Touch ID, an A20 chip, and Apple’s C2 modem, with prices starting at approximately $2,000.
