Apple Reportedly Working With LG On Foldable iPhone, Could Possible Launch In 2020

According to The Bell (via The Investor ), Apple is working with LG and not Samsung to create an iPhone with a foldable OLED panel. The rep...

According to The Bell (via The Investor), Apple is working with LG and not Samsung to create an iPhone with a foldable OLED panel. The report suggests that Apple’s rivalry with Samsung concern over leaking may be a deciding factor in choosing suppliers. In addition, LG Innotek also reportedly been tasked with creating a "rigid flexible printed circuit board," called RFPCB.

Apple is considering investing in an LG plant that would produce the flexible OLED displays, which seems likely. LG has shown off several foldable display prototypes over the last two years, including one that folds over like a book and a second that rolls up much like a newspaper. LG's foldable displays use flexible OLED panels and LG has been working to increase durability and yield rate.

According to The Bell on Oct. 11, LG Display recently created a task force to develop a foldable OLED screen for the new iPhone model, while its parts-making sister firm LG Innotek has also setup a team dedicated to developing the rigid flexible printed circuit board, more widely called RFPCB.

The report notes that Samsung may introduce its first smartphone to use the technology as soon as next year while Apple doesn’t expect to bring the technology into production through LG until 2020 which may mean a 2021 launch. So it's not surprised that the company is working on adding LG to the mix in an effort to increase production of foldable OLED panels

Currently, Samsung is sole supplier of the OLED displays for the iPhone X, the Korean company also expected to supply OLED panels for Apple's 2018 iPhones, and LG recently started OLED production for phones at a factory in China and has plans to begin supplying Apple with panels as early as 2019. Rumors suggesting an all-OLED lineup with two OLED devices in 5.85 and 6.46-inch sizes.

Via 9to5Mac And MacRumors, Image Via iDropNews And Pocketnow