Production challenges face Apple’s plans for new technology displays
San Francisco/Seoul — Apple has big plans to outfit its next iPhone with vibrant, energy-sipping organic LED (OLED) displays, seeking to entice consumers with new technology that has already been embraced by other high-end smartphone makers. The trouble is that the four main suppliers for such components will not have enough production capacity to make screens for all new iPhones next year, with constraints continuing into 2018, people familiar with the matter said, presenting a potential challenge for the Cupertino, California-based company. OLED screens are more difficult to produce, putting Apple at the mercy of suppliers that are still working to manufacture the displays in mass quantities, the people said. The four largest producers are Samsung Display, LG Display, Sharp, and Japan Display. While Samsung is on track to be the sole supplier for the new displays next year, the South Korean company may not be able to make enough due to low yield rates combined with increasing iPho...
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