We've been hearing for a long while about Samsung's forthcoming folding and flexible OLED (what we call FFOLED) smartphones, but it's remained unclear exactly when they will arrive. Word from the grapevine says there will be a Samsung Galaxy X at some point, while other whispers suggest that the Galaxy Note 9 may use a FFOLED design.
It's not just Samsung pushing the idea though (although it has been planning and researching the tech for the longest) with several Chinese OEMs also pegged to debut similar devices. And now even Apple may be getting in on the act, according to new reports.
The Korea Herald says that Apple will be sourcing its flexible OLED panels and flexible circuit boards from LG for a flexible iPhone prototype. There are also several Apple patents showing a few flexible phone designs, supporting the idea that Apple is interested in experimenting with the new form factor concept.
For the iPhone X, Apple sources its OLED panels from Samsung, but these are not implemented in a flexible design. LG is expected to have production facilities for flexible OLED capable of meeting Apple's requirements by 2019, but it's thought the flexible iPhone might not appear until 2020.
Apple has avoided bringing Samsung in on its flexible iPhone project, allegedly due to concernes that there would be a leak from inside Samsung. With Samsung being a key rival, having its own FFOLED projects already well-known and lined up to compete, it makes sense that Apple would not want the firm to be involved.
by pbriden via Featured Articles
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