iPhone 8 in jeopardy, OLED-making machines short in supply

Rumours regarding Apple’s plans to integrate OLED display in their speculative 2017 iPhone device have been taking the rounds since quite some time. Now a new report by Bloomberg suggests that the company might actually adopt advanced displays for its next-generation iPhone from a single supplier named Canon Tokki Corp., from Japan.

“Cannon Tokki Corp., surrounded by rice fields in the city of Mitsuke in Niigata prefecture, has a near monopoly on the machines capable of making screens with organic light-emitting diodes, which enable sharp, vibrant displays that use less energy,” the report read. “A unit of Canon Inc., the company of 343 employees has spent more than two decades perfecting the manufacturing equipment used by OLED screen makers,” the report added. However, there is a problem.

Canon Tokki reportedly makes fewer than 10 machines per year and has a two-year backlog due to high-demand. Chances are, this might impact Apple’s production of iPhone devices.

"We are doing all we can to increase output and make that wait shorter," said Chief Executive Officer Teruhisa Tsugami, adding that demand from display makers, including Samsung Display Co., LG Display Co. and Sharp Corp., will remain strong for the next three years.

“OLED displays offer superior contrast and better power efficiency for improved battery life compared to traditional LCDs. OLED displays can also be made from flexible plastic and can be made much thinner,” a MacRumors report read.
If rumors are to be believed, Apple is planning to launch at least one iPhone model that will come equipped with an OLED display in 2017. Some rumors suggest that the iPhone 8 will come with a curved OLED display and others point towards a flat OLED display.