Sharp President Tai Jeng-wu claims that Apple will switch to OLED screens for future iPhone models, Nikkei Asian Review reports. Tai—who is also an executive at Apple supplier and manufacturing partner FoxConn—told a group of students at Tatung University, “The iPhone has been evolving and now it is switching from LTPS (low-temperature poly-silicon) to OLED panels. We don’t know whether Apple’s OLED iPhones will be a hit, but if Apple doesn’t walk down this path and transform itself, there will be no innovation. It is a crisis, but it is also an opportunity.”
Tai walked back his comments a bit when questioned by reporters, admitting he doesn’t know exactly when Apple will begin installing OLED displays in the iPhone, but the company has been rumored to be moving to OLED screens for next year’s iPhone. Samsung is expected to be the main supplier of the displays, but LG has also been mentioned as a possible partner. Tai touted Sharp’s growing OLED capabilities and hinted at expansion if Apple were to request the displays. “We are now building a new [OLED] facility in Japan. We can make [OLED panels] in the U.S. too,” Tai said. “If our key customer demands us to manufacture in the U.S., is it possible for us not to do so?”