LG Display is likely to help Apple create its upcoming phone, which is rumored to be called the “iPhone X Plus.”.
The Korean manufacturer is expected to supply Apple with OLED panels for the upcoming 6.5-inch iPhone model, as reported by the Financial Times (via MacRumors).
The company currently makes LCD panels for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, but does not supply the OLED panels used in the iPhone X – that honor currently belongs to Samsung.
Apple is expected to release a 5.8-inch and a 6.5-inch iPhone model in 2018. According to several reports, LG is expected to supply over 15 million OLED panels for the 6.5-inch model, although it is currently negotiating with Apple for additional supply, according to a report by the Electronic Times.
And while that may sound like a lot of panels, it pales in comparison to what Samsung is providing and will continue to provide. LG's chief rival, Samsung, already supplies most of the iPhone X's OLED displays and is expected to make OLED panels for the upcoming 5.8-inch model.
Still, Apple's move is a small victory for LG in its long-running display rivalry with Samsung. The two companies have sued each other multiple times over alleged theft of OLED and LCD technology. They're also competing for Google's Pixel 2 — Samsung supplies the AMOLED display in the Pixel 2, while LG supplies the P-OLED display in the Pixel 2 XL.
But while that's good news for LG, it may not be so good for Apple consumers. The 6-inch Pixel 2 XL had a whole host of issues, including discoloration and image degradation. Samsung's OLED displays on the Pixel 2 and the original Pixel phones didn't have these issues to the same extent.
It's unclear whether the Pixel 2 XL's display issues were LG's fault, but with an even larger screen, we're hoping the company can address any issues and step up its game by the time the new iPhone X models arrive this year.
