Apple had planned to go all-in on OLED for the upcoming 2019 iPhone generation, with the 2018 lineup aiming to bring the last model to feature LCD.
However, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal, that's not going to happen, as Apple may have to wait another year to completely abandon LCD displays. This is a decision that is largely based on its existing supplier portfolio, as Samsung is currently the only company making OLED panels that can meet Apple's requirements and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.
While Apple is actively working with LG, which will also manufacture OLED for the company, that project is progressing slowly and the company has no choice but to stick with LCD for at least another year, the report adds.
Otherwise, adding OLED to all iPhone models would lead to higher prices for the entire lineup, a strategy Apple itself can't afford right now. The LCD version it's expected to launch this year is expected to be the most affordable of the entire generation, as Apple wants a low-cost alternative to its premium iPhones.
Samsung, in turn, is pushing for higher display prices, and the existing panel on the iPhone X is said to be the most expensive part of the device. If this approach is maintained for future models, iPhones could launch at even higher prices – Apple is believed to be working on an iPhone X Plus with an even larger display that will obviously cost more.
For now, Apple's only option is to stick with LCD, and even though it wants to make the switch to OLED, it's more or less forced to stick with that technology for a while longer.
That doesn't necessarily mean that sticking with LCDs wouldn't allow Apple to add new features to its devices. All models will come with a notch and integrate Face ID, with the edge-to-edge display being used on the devices regardless of the display technology.
