Apple is shaking up the display market with a multitude of upcoming product debuts and enhancements, according to Korean site ET News. The site summarizes several known product rumors that will impact display manufacturers, including larger iPhone and iPads, an OLED iWatch, and IGZO displays for its MacBook lineup.
Multiple reports have suggested that Apple is working on both a larger iPhone and a larger iPad. ET News suggests that a larger iPhone will be at least 5 inches, in line with a September report from The Wall Street Journal indicating that Apple was experimenting with a number of screen sizes from 4.8 inches to 6 inches.
Several iPad changes are in the works as well, with Apple planning to introduce a Retina iPad mini and experimenting with a larger (possibly 12.9-inch) iPad. The Wall Street Journal has confirmed that Apple is experimenting with larger screen sizes for its iPad lineup and a Retina mini has been confirmed by multiple sources.
ET News further suggests that the iPad will be offered at multiple price points based on display, similar to the iPhone 5c and the iPhone 5s. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has made a similar prediction, stating that Apple has plans to introduce a low-cost iPad mini.
Rumors have previously indicated that Apple is considering a 1.5-inch OLED display for its iWatch, which will be produced by Samsung. Apple CEO Tim Cook previously stated that OLED displays were oversaturated, but Apple has hired at least one OLED expert in recent months.
Apple will also adopt AM OLED which the company has shunned so far to hold Samsung in check and for picture quality issue, etc. Yet, Apple recently began to develop associated technologies, adopting flexible OLED for its iWatch. Apple has drawn up a new OLED display strategy, hiring OLED experts from LG Display early this year.
As far as MacBooks go, ET News points to rumors that Apple is considering the adoption of IGZO (indium gallium zinc oxide) displays. IGZO is a semiconducting material that has forty times more electron mobility than the standard amorphous silicon, resulting in higher resolution displays with better reaction times and less power consumption. IGZO seems like a logical move for Apple as it works to improve both displays and device size and may be a future solution for a MacBook Air with a Retina display.
According to ET News, the implementation of these sweeping product changes will have huge impacts on display manufacturers in Korea. Japan Display is expected to diversify beyond Apple, leaving LG Display to increase its shipments to the company. Samsung Display is also expected to be a key Apple supplier in the months to come, with both Samsung and LG providing components for the iPhone, iPad, and MacBooks. Though rumors have suggested Apple is aiming to reduce its dependence on rival Samsung, it has been unable to find a supplier able to match Samsung's production capacity and quality.
Apple is expected to release the first of its major products during the fall months. A Retina iPad mini and a redesigned fifth-generation iPad mini are both expected to debut in the October/November timeframe. Other products, such as the iWatch, a larger iPad/iPhone, and MacBooks that incorporate new display technology could come in 2014 and beyond.
