Apple is said to benefit in the near future as LG is currently developing a new OLED panel etching technology. This technology will enable for much thinner devices and waste less production costs, as reported by The Elec from South Korea. The new hybrid technology merges both rigid OLED glass substrates and flexible OLED thin-film encapsulation, which renders panels even thinner compared to rigid OLED panels. This process also results in lower production costs, as there is no need for backlighting layer.
Two common rigid OLED panels usually come with two glass substrates, but with the hybrid OLED panel the one glass substrate is substituted with TFE. This make the panel even thinner, as the original bottom glass substrate is etched lower which is from 0.5mm to 0.2mm. The “ultra-thin glass” could break while passing on to the next production line, thus LG is developing a synchronized etch-and-cut process to decrease the risk.
August is the month wherever The Elec first made a reference to the hybrid OLED technology, saying that Apples can use it in iPads in 2024. Now Samsung also got ahead with the technology and immediately it will be used in OLED iPad panels produced by the genetically 6 OLED line. While it is not known which iPad models will be eligible for this technology first, consultant Ross Young suggests that Apple will release the 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models with OLED display in the year 2024.
Apart from the great advantages that the new technology will offer, Apple Inc. will also benefit from this OLED panel etching technology. Established in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company that designs, develops and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. Diversified into different segments, Apple manufactures and sells iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TV, and other wearable devices like the AirPods, Apple Watch and many more. Also, with the introduction of Apple Music, AppleOne subscription and Apple Arcade, the tech giant has pushed its revenue into incredible heights in the entertainment industry.
Similarly, Ross Young is a well-known display industry consultant and president of Display Supply Chain Consultants. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. For the majority of his career, he has focused on display research and business. Mr. Young has worked with numerous leading companies in the display industry, providing them with helpful insights related to display technology and market dynamics which ultimately helped in their success.
