Report: Samsung and LG to supply AMOLED panels for new iPhones
AMOLED, OLED, EL, SAMOLED, YOUM, POLED: whatever abbreviation one chooses to give organic display technology, they all describe the same basic results: deep inky blacks, vibrant colors, and near infinite contrast. Samsung has made a name for its Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series in part, because of the Super AMOLED panels the devices make use of. Even LG has gotten into the game with its G Flex series, and smartwatches. Now however, it seems that both companies are going to be working hard to put out panels for…Apple.
According to a new report published today by Korean site etNews, the contracts have been finalized and are simply awaiting signatures to officiate. The possibly pending production won’t come cheap however, and will apparently require Samsung and LG to invest a total of $12.8 billion over the next 2 or 3 years, some of which Apple itself may help finance.
LG’s lines
The source goes on to state that LG Display, which already has experience in supplying displays for Apple, “has had relatively smooth contract discussions” and is simply awaiting a signature to solidify the deal. Furthermore, LG may now begin to “reduce…investments for facilities by changing current LCD lines to flexible OLED lines.”
LG Display may begin by first supplying 30,000 panels per month on a Generation 6 board. Upon reaching a stable production yeild, the Korean OEM will then increase supply of anywhere between 45,000 to 60,000 sheets per month. Given the relatively small numbers being discussed – for reference iPhones sell tens of millions – , it is stated that:
Because flexible OLEDs that are produced from Gen 4.5 (E3) Line in Paju do not have any experience in 6th Generation, LG Display is planning to start small and gradually expand its size. From 1 sheet of Gen. 6 glass substrate, 288 5-inch cellphone panels can be produced. If LG Display increases production capability up to 60,000 sheets in the future, it will be able to mass-produce 200 million 5-inch OLED panels per year.
Samsung’s story
On the other side of the competitive aisle, Samsung is quoted at receiving 30% more allocation than LG Display because of its current production facilities that already allow for high yields. Specifically, Samsung is quoted with a figure of around 90,000 sheets each month, for a 2 or 3 year period.
EtNews goes on to state that,
Negotiation between Samsung and Apple is not going too smoothly. It is heard that both businesses’ stances are considerably tense on unit cost of products, technical cooperation, advance investments, and others. Because unit cost that Apple is requesting is excessively low while level of technical cooperation is high, there can be a chance where somehow Samsung’s major know-hows can flow into Apple.
Cost is cited as a major factor here, noting that:
Samsung Display was able to collect considerable amount of operating profit as it was supplying Smartphone OLEDs to China. Smartphone OLED is a major profitable product that has higher profit rate than LCD. However as Apple is requesting one-digit percent margin, negotiation is not progressing too smoothly.
Other problems listed include Apple’s well-publicized “hands on” approach to product development, something that Samsung is allegedly concerned with as it may ultimately allow competitors to reap the benefits in terms of production know-how.
The piece then ends with a quote from an unspecified person within the industry:
Although Samsung Display and LG Display are planning to start supply their OLEDs to Apple starting from 2018, they can start supplying OLEDs as early as 2017…Although Apple is requesting large amount of supplies from the start, they are carefully going over size of investments for facilities because panel manufacturers can be financially burdened since there will be more supplies than demands in the future.
The situation room
While the idea of Apple adopting AMOLED display panels has been floating around the rumor mills for seemingly ages now, this is arguably one of the most solid assertions that such a transitioning phase has begun. Just weeks ag
AMOLED is also a potentially big source of money for both Samsung and LG, two companies that have fallen on harder times given the intense, keen competition from smartphone and tablet manufacturers in China and India. Both companies have seen their market share erode over the past two years, and both have taken more dramatic steps to try and find a profitable picture beyond end-user product sales.
LG recently reorganized itself to allow its display division greater speed and agility. Samsung’s CEO even went all out and basically warned of a path to ruin less the company makes major changes now. In addition to this, on another tangent, a rumor has broken out suggesting neither company will make the jump to 4K displays in their 2016 flagships and Samsung in particular, allegedly opting to release a Galaxy S7 that has very little visual differences going on compares with this year’s model.
Meanwhile, AMOLED was recently reported with having its most profitable quarter yet, and Samsung taking a lion’s share of the profits, with 95.8% of the market. HTC has used an AMOLED panel in its One A9, OnePlus uses them for the X one, Apple uses them in the Apple Watch units, LG uses them in its LG G Watch R and Urbane series as well as the – possibly discontinued – G Flex series. Even Samsung has made it a proper priority to place these panels in plenty of its non pinnacle of premium products.
Pwned by OLED?
Despite the claims of OLED panels offering superior battery life thanks to individual pixel backlighting and thus blacks require none whatsoever, the results are oddly polarizing. While some absolutely love AMOLED and refuse to buy anything that’s not making use of it, others have a decidedly different perspective, calling it oversaturated, cartoonish, or undesirable.
HTC One A9 (unlocked, international) has a Color profile setting with four different options.
While Samsung has featured “Screen Mode” settings for years now, even HTC and Google have gotten in on the action. Perhaps dye to the requirements of finding the correct menu selection setting however, most users still seem to be unaware the “hyper” realistic color schemes can be reduced.
In a recent poll on Google Plus, Android Authority community users were asked which they preferred, AMOLED or LCD. As of the time of publishing, 1,341 users had participated and the results were split with 86% favoring the former, and just 14% liking the latter.
It is almost a given that Apple users will take to AMOLED should this news pan out, especially considering that many already cite the use of laminated glass as giving the devices fantastic color reproduction as is due to the lack of air between the glass and display.
And about Android?
Bringing this piece back to Android, two potential points are worth mentioning:
- By the time Apple finally does manage to implement AMOLED displays into its iPhones – many state it wouldn’t happen until at least 2017 – Android OEMs may very well be widely using the panels. Currently Samsung, LG, OnePlus, Huawei, HTC, and Motorola have released products in the past year that make use of them, and potentially more in the year to come.
- In the event OEMs aren’t using AMOLED by the time Apple does, it is highly possible they may switch over due to the general public’s inevitable “wake up call” to the technology.
An increase in AMOLED use may in turn have other effects on Google’s mobile OS. For example it would be conceivable that Google could formally introduce Night Mode to capitalize on the technology’s use of black colors to save power. Likewise, it might follow that “Active Notification” options become more standard for Android.
Moto X: Active Display and Active Notifications | Image Credit: Android Police
Increased competition in the AMOLED market might also ultimately spur Samsung and LG to create new types of screens and further advance the progression of bendable, foldable, and wearable displays.
LCD prices would possibly fall if demand shifts to AMOLED, which might increase the quality of panels seen on lower-end smartphones, devices that typically avoid things such as IPS LCD due to the extra costs involved. It is worth mentioning that Quantum Dot, Pixel Eyes, and IGZO are all competitors to AMOLED, and that – as ASUS often does – it’s also possible to include color profile adjustment settings on LCD displays as well.
On the other hand, should Apple start buying large quantities of AMOLED panels in bulk, it might drive up the price for the technology considerably, a cost that might be passed onto the customer. It might also mean that OEMs go for inferior AMOLED panels to save money.
It is actually worth posing the question: why did Motorola drop AMOLED from the Moto X Style (Pure Edition) when both the original Moto X and the Moto X (2014) made use of it. Could it be due to pricing/cost related issues? Notice the Moto X Force (Droid Turbo 2) makes use of an AMOLED panel, yet costs considerably more.
Wrap Up
The idea of Apple transitioning to AMOLED panels is nothing new, but the news of a possible contracted agreement to begin the process is a very big development. It is highly unlikely Apple itself would make a press release of the venture given the tendencies it has to keep non-internal component related business dealings as low key as possible. Consider that the company, to this day, still does not mention Gorilla Glass, nor does it make a point to mention the companies who supply the components for its products. The list includes Samsung, LG, Sony, Sharp, and many more, yet all the mainstream public hears about is Apple’s A9 Soc or Apple’s camera.
We are eager to hear your take on this matter. Does Apple’s potentially making use of AMOLED have a collective benefit in the business, or will it make things worse? Is Apple eager to make use of the power saving features, or does it just want to “copy” Android OEMs? Would an AMOLED iPhone potentially spell trouble for LCD Android devices in terms of the mainstream consumer’s decision making process?
Please leave your comments below and let us know!
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Samsung says its new Tizen TVs will be harder to hack
Samsung has announced that its next generation of Tizen smart TVs will be a lot harder to crack than before. The firm has created Gaia, a security product for its 2016 range that promises to do for TV what Knox did for its smartphones. Some of the features promised include locking your credit card information with a smartphone-style pin, encrypting the data it sends out and a built-in anti-malware system. In addition, the TVs will ship with physical encryption chips to make it that much harder for others to access your microphone or, in some models, webcam.
Samsung’s betting big on the internet of things to help recover some of its lost profits, and wants the TV to sit at the heart of this strategy. It believes that people will want to activate their lights, heating and garage doors all from the comfort of their couch without having to take their eyes off The Big Bang Theory. If smart TVs get a reputation for being easy to hack, then Samsung’s models are hardly likely to be big sellers.
The security of smart TVs is becoming more of an issue across the industry after firms like Vizio were caught with hilariously lax policies. Earlier this year, security researchers discovered that the company’s smart TVs didn’t bother to validate that the servers it pumped private information to were secure. Since those units famously track your viewing habits, even when not watching live broadcasts, it was pretty easy for nefarious types to gain access to your home. Hopefully other firms will lock down their TVs in a similar fashion in order to avoid ruining the lives of more of their users in 2016.
Source: Samsung
Samsung to show off its secret lab’s projects at CES 2016
Samsung is finally showcasing projects out of its secret laboratory called Creative Lab for the first time at CES next week. One of the three projects it’s launching is Welt: a smart belt that helps you maintain your waistline by counting steps and monitoring the time you spend sitting down, as well as your eating habits. Next is rink, which is a hand-motion controller for games and experiences on virtual reality headsets. Instead of designing it to look like a typical pair of gloves, its creator decided to make them as straps worn around your hands, as you can see in the image above.
The final project, and perhaps the most unusual, is TipTalk. It’s a watch strap that can be attached to smartwatches like the Gear S2, though it does much, much more than hold your accessory in place. See, while wearing it, you can listen to music or take calls without headphones on just by pressing a finger against your ear.
These are but three of the many projects the company’s engineers are working on under the Creative Lab banner. C-Lab, to be exact, is Samsung’s in-house incubator. The Korean manufacturer took a leaf out of several American tech companies’ book and gave around 350 of its engineers time off to develop their own ideas. Besides the three listed here, Bloomberg revealed some of its other projects in November, including a shoe insert that monitors posture and a device that helps you learn the violin.
Source: Samsung
Yeah, there’s another rumor about Apple and an OLED iPhone
It’s the rumor that simply won’t die: Apple will use OLED screens in a future round of iPhones. The latest report comes via Reuters citing unnamed sources from South Korea’s Electronic Times (Korean). Also cited was last month’s report from Nikkei that stated Apple’s intent for the gorgeous screen tech is to add it to the 2018 iPhone.
Apparently the two companies making OLED displays, LG and Samsung, are close to a deal with Cupertino and they’re planning to spend over $12 billion to increase production capacity. Hmm, that lines up with previous info from LG about new manufacturing lines. Reuters notes that Apple “will likely” offer some cash to offset LG and Samsung’s investment, too. Keep in mind that Apple’s already using OLED, it’s just in a much smaller form: the Apple Watch.
Via: Reuters
Source: Electronic Times (Korean)
AT&T debuts NumberSync on the Samsung Gear S2
When the Samsung Gear S2 debuted, it was met with a fair mix of criticism and praise. Most of its criticism stemmed from its use of Samsung’s homegrown OS, Tizen, instead of Android wear. Much of the praise came from 3G connectivity being available, as it’s one of the only smart watches capable of make and receiving calls independent of your phone.
AT&T and Samsung recently took it a step further when they announced a new service called NumberSync. NumberSync allows you to send and receive text messages as well as make and receive phone calls on your Gear S2 using the same phone number as your Android phone.
The calls and text messages are sent independently of the Bluetooth connection and instead use AT&T’s cellular network. You can even leave your phone at home as long as you bring your Gear S2 with you. Both devices will share a common voicemail inbox.
NumberSync is available today with a software upgrade for the Gear S2 and for a limited time you can purchase the Gear S2 for $99 on a two-year contract. What do you think? Can you see yourself rocking the Gear S2? Let us know in the comments below.
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Apple is ‘Close’ to OLED Screen Deal With LG and Samsung for Future iPhones
Apple is close to signing a final agreement with LG Display and Samsung to provide OLED screens for next-generation iPhones, according to a new report from ET News [Google Translate] (via Reuters). The OLED panels are rumored to be included with iPhones starting in 2018.
The two Korean companies plan to spend around $12.8 billion (15 trillion won) combined to build up OLED production capacity over the next two to three years. ET News also adds that Apple is likely to provide some funding to both LG and Samsung to help with their investments. Additionally, LG plans on converting existing LCD production lines into OLED production lines to reduce costs. Samsung, on the other hand, will produce 30 percent fewer orders than LG.
Last month, Nikkei reported that Apple plans to switch iPhones over to OLED displays starting in 2018, with both LG and Samsung sharing a large portion of OLED panel production. LG was already planning capacity upgrades for high-volume OLED screen production that would be required for iPhone demand. Earlier this month, it was reported that Japan Display was also planning mass production of OLED displays for iPhones starting in 2018.
OLED displays can provide sharper images and brighter colors compared to LCD displays. However, OLED displays tend to have shorter lifespans and come with higher manufacturing costs. Apple has been reportedly “consulting with display makers” on how to minimize potential drawbacks.
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Samsung’s Galaxy S7 might actually launch with three size options, some with curved screens
Remember when we thought Samsung would offer two versions of the Galaxy S7? And that Samsung was going to trim down some models to avoid confusion with the Edge and normal variants? Nope, that’d be too simple for Samsung. Buckle up, we’re probably going to see four different variants of the Galaxy S7.
As of right now, there are three different screen sizes for the Galaxy S7. There will be a 5.1-inch, 5.5-inch, and 6-inch version of the device, and there will be varying screen options depending on the size you want. Technically, the report about Samsung not making the smaller device with a curved screen was correct, so the smallest, 5.1-inch phone will only have a flat screen. The medium sized 5.5-inch screen will only be available in a curved variant, but the largest 6-inch device will have both a flat and curved option.
So let’s recap:
- 5.1-inch, non-curved display
- 5.5-inch, curved display
- 6-inch, non-curved display
- 6-inch, curved display
When in doubt, just make as many devices as possible and hope something sticks. Let’s just hope the actual hardware inside each of these phones doesn’t wildly differ depending on what size screen they have. Samsung has been known to do that, only putting the absolute highest-end hardware in their biggest devices, but maybe they’ll accommodate people that want smaller phones this time around.
source: GSM Arena
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s Galaxy S7 might actually launch with three size options, some with curved screens
Samsung files a patent for a new ‘smart ring’ accessory
Samsung could use a new innovative product in its mobile division, which has been struggling over the past few quarters. Earlier today, a patent application was submitted to the US Patent and Trademark Office indicating that the Korean tech giant is up to something new.
The patent filing from Samsung revealed a new project the company is working on that includes development for a ‘smart ring’ accessory. Based on the patent, the smart ring could perform a variety of functions associated with your smartphone, tablet, TV, appliances and home automation products. It’s currently unknown exactly what functions the ring can perform but trusted sources have indicated that the device could act as a little control center for all your Samsung products.
The smart ring should go under the category of wearables because after all, it’s a wearable for your finger. Microsoft, Google and Apple already have patents of their own for similar ring devices, so it only makes sense for Samsung to get involved as well. Maybe 2016 will be the year the first smart ring gets introduced. Only time will tell.
Source: Patently Mobile
Via: SamMobile
Come comment on this article: Samsung files a patent for a new ‘smart ring’ accessory
Every 2016 Samsung Smart TV will be IoT ready
At CES 2016 Samsung will unveil that every 2016 Smart TV they make will be Internet of Things (IoT) enabled and connect with the SmartThings platform.
Also, all of Samsung’s 2016 SUHD TVs will apply IoT hub technology. This means the TV will be able to be used as the controller for all other IoT devices. Think of it like being the basestation. They will be able to connect and control more than 200 SmartThings compatible devices like lights, cameras, thermostats and more.
Hyun Suk Kim, President of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics said:
“The 2016 line-up of Smart TVs will offer consumers new possibilities and cement Samsung’s market leading position, as the first company to launch IoT ready TVs.”
The SmartThings platform is what will mainly power all of this. It is what allows users to control IoT devices from their smartphone or TVs. Rather than having many different apps, you only need one app to rule them all.
Source: Samsung
Come comment on this article: Every 2016 Samsung Smart TV will be IoT ready
Today’s best-selling unlocked Android phones at Best Buy (December 29)
The $99 Moto G (Gen 2) still leads the pack
So you got yourself some money over the holidays and now you’re looking to spend some. Why not start the new year out right with a new phone?
Purchasing a new smartphone can be quite the expensive endeavor. Moreover, it can also be a bit of a headache as you try to consider which phone, which carrier, and which rate plan is right. We’re here to help you with at least one of those segments: the phone. And, more specifically, we’re going to help nail down one place to check for your handset needs.
Why unlocked?
The benefit of an unlocked smartphone, for those who aren’t aware, is that it can be used on a variety of wireless service providers. Going this route ensures you don’t have to worry about contracts or long-term obligations. Want to hop from T-Mobile to AT&T or vice-versa? That’s no problem when you’re using an unlocked GSM phone.
We’ve gathered up the 10 best-selling unlocked Android devices from Best Buy so you can get a sense for what’s available. Indeed, you’ll see a nice mix of big-name vendors and devices from other, scrappy players. Note that we’ve omitted color variations; you might find other colors available.
So, the next time you need to replace your existing phone, consider scooping up one of these. It’s often a heck of a lot cheaper than going through your carrier in the long run.
- Motoroloa Moto G 2nd Generation 8GB – $99.99 SAVE $50
- Samsung Galaxy S6 32GB – $449.99 SAVE $150
- BLU Studio X 8GB- $99.99 SAVE $50
- Sony Xperia C4 16GB- $249.99 SAVE $50
- Motorola Moto G 3rd Generation 8GB – $179.99
- Huawei P8 Lite 16GB- $199.99 SAVE $50
- Motorola Moto X Pure 16GB – $399.99
- Samsung Galaxy S4 (Unlocked) – $269.99 SAVE $150
- Blu Advance 4 4GB – $59.99
- BLU Life X8 8GB – $129.99
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