Apple's first push OLED display phone, Micro-LED how far
Beijing time on the morning of September 13, Apple autumn conference held in the newly completed Jobs Theater. Because this year is the birth of the tenth anniversary of the iPhone, Apple released the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X three phones. Full screen, wireless charging, cancel the Home key, face recognition unlock, AR function, etc. - before the outside world is widely predicted new features are almost all one by one cash.
Among them, sitting on the 10th anniversary of the halo of the iPhoneX with other models of the biggest difference is that the configuration of the OLED full display screen. With the advent of Apple OLED mobile phones, the future OLED will be an exclusive show? How much is the process of Micro-LED industrialization?
It is reported that the high-end version of the iPhone X will be Apple's first organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display phone, the size will be larger (5.8 inches), imaging than the previous LCD screen (LCD) clearer. Apple has abandoned the home button on the fuselage, is expected to be unlocked by facial recognition technology. IPhone X is expected to have a wireless charging feature and equipped with 3D sensors, which will improve the performance of the upcoming enhanced application.
Public information display, OLED screen has a colorful, thin and other advantages, which is more and more flagship mobile phone began to use this screen reasons. However, the corresponding shortcomings of OLED screen is also very obvious, that is, a long time lit the same pixel will be "burning screen" phenomenon. Once the screen appears "burning screen" phenomenon, not only affect the perception, but also affect the life of the screen.
However, according to the recent exposure of the iOS 11 GM version of the firmware can see, Apple has been added to the code to solve this problem. Media reports that Apple in order to extend the life of OLED, this code will be raised to the system-level height, can effectively alleviate the screen "burn screen" problem.
Samsung has become the biggest winner
According to statistics, 2016 OLED screen output mainly from Samsung. It is reported that the current Samsung, Huawei, Apple, millet and other smart phone is still the main screen from Samsung, a small part from the Japanese display company (JDI) and BOE. And Foxconn, Flextronics and other foundry business share also benefit from a comprehensive screen. Especially the world's largest OLED screen manufacturers Samsung, the last month's stock price rose 10.22%.
A few years ago, Samsung began to invest and launch mobile phone with OLED screen, and equipment suppliers work closely together. The iPhone X OLED screen consists of a soft OLED panel, an OLED touch panel, a 3D Touch module and an OLED panel module. In addition to 3DTouch module, the other by the Samsung is responsible for the supply, which also allows Samsung to have a strong bargaining power. We believe that iPhone X OLED screen costs will reach 120-130 US dollars, is the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus LCD screen (cost 45-55 US dollars) more than 2 times, but also make Apple in the second quarter increase of about 50 million US dollars Incremental cost.
Samsung and Apple, both enemies and friends. Although the two companies in the court for more than five years of patent struggle, but in the OLED small screen in front of this scarce capacity, Apple can only rely on Samsung. In response, Apple's response is to invest $ 2.7 billion to LG, to help build its OLED panel production line. In return, LG Display in 2019 will only produce OLED screen for Apple iPhone, hoping to gradually spread the dependence on Samsung's procurement. According to informed sources, LG will begin testing the production of Apple OLED screen production line in the second half of next year, it takes 6 months to officially enter the commercial production. And Samsung Electronics to the end of this year, will be able to provide Apple with 50 million OLED screen.
Micro-LED industry, how far?
Speaking of OLED, you have to mention Micro-LED. As the same has the advantage of self-luminous, in recent years, the industry always take these two technologies for comparison. Micro-LED advantages, high pixel count, ultra-high resolution, lower energy consumption, and longer life.
Micro-LED is actually LED micro-array after the array, that is, each of its pixels are miniaturized LED unit. LED chip mm level can be reduced to the micron level. At present the industry generally about 50 × 50 micron level, while the apple can do 10 × 10 microns. In this way, the spacing between the pixels is very, very small, you can imagine how fine the screen. There are calculations that if the iPhone 6 size screen using Apple Micro-LED, can reach 1500 ppi amazing pixel density, the real "can not see the pixels."
As for the energy consumption, OLED itself because of the characteristics of self-luminous pixels with a more energy-efficient features, Micro-LED pixels since it can also self-light, naturally so And Micro-LED more efficient, more energy-efficient, it is said that the energy consumption is 50% of OLED screen. Life, Micro-LED as an inorganic solution is naturally more durable than OLED-based organic solutions.
It is also very important that Micro-LED this LED array of technology is difficult to flexible. Flexibility is one of the biggest advantages of OLED panels, and the future of this application is very broad. If the Micro-LED can not be used for flexible applications, then it can be used in the future may be limited to now we see these applications.
But in general, Micro-LED still has great potential, because the various manufacturers have already started in advance layout, but also the industry analysts said it can be achieved in three to five years of commercialization. Because the implementation of the lower difficulty, we can even this year or next year to see Apple launched Micro-LED screen Apple Watch.
What will happen next to our screen? This is really worth looking forward to. Micro-LED technology than LCD technology and OLED technology, to bring the progress of science and technology is very fascinating. Not just energy saving, so that the quality of a leap in the upgrade can be said to be very attractive.
What is OLED?
OLED name is "organic light-emitting diode" (Organic Light-Emitting Diode), is an organic self-luminescent material, which makes the OLED screen no longer need backlight module, so the thickness can be done thinner. Moreover, OLED also has a wide color gamut, almost infinite high contrast, high response speed, flexible, power and other characteristics, it is also known as the "dream display technology" call.
Moreover, it is because of the characteristics of self-luminous, OLED screen in the display of black can be done without light, and LCD even in the display when the backlight still need backlight operation in the background. The most direct effect of this mechanism is that the OLED screen can show the perfect picture contrast, the display screen will be more vivid and true. The most straightforward contrast is that if you put a Samsung Galaxy S8 and iPhone 7 together, you will find that although the iPhone 7 display is good enough, but the configuration of the OLED screen Galaxy S8 is still superior.
Also, the OLED screen can be made into a curved screen. Like the Samsung S8 and other models is the reason why the screen is due to the use of the OLED screen, and the LCD screen due to the characteristics of the LCD does not support bending. Another point so that Apple chose to use the OLED screen is perhaps the reason, the current screen fingerprint recognition technology only supports OLED screen, because the screen can be done with the screen cable to do with the screen cable.
Of course, OLED screen is not perfect, this technology is still there, such as burning screen, color offset and other issues. Among them, the burning screen problem (simply means that the display if a long time to display a still image screen, then leave the blur) is not exclusive OLED screen short board, the traditional LCD screen also exists this problem.
But the current OLED screen is the biggest problem lies in the cost, because the OLED single parts procurement costs are very high, which may also be the iPhone X price will reach more than 1,000 US dollars the most important reason.