Apple to phase out LCD screens, switch to OLED for iPhones by 2025

Apple will use organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays for all iPhone models sold in 2025 and later, moving entirely away from liquid crystal displays (LCDs), Japan's Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources.

Television and smartphone makers are adopting OLED displays over LCDs for the former's ability to deliver more vivid colours and sharper contrast, ideal for high-definition videos.

The planned move will exclude Japan's Sharp Corp and Japan Display from Apple's handset business, Nikkei said.

Apple has begun placing orders for OLED displays for the upcoming iPhone SE model from China's BOE Technology and South Korea's LG Display, according to Nikkei.

Sharp and Japan Display had a combined 70% share of iPhone displays about a decade ago but had supplied LCDs only for the iPhone SE recently and do not mass-produce OLED displays for smartphones, the report added.

Apple first used OLED panels in the iPhone X, unveiled in 2017, and has since switched to OLEDs for premium iPhone models.

The company brought OLED screens to the latest generation iPad Pro models launched in May.

Sharp, Japan Display and LG Display declined to comment in response to Reuters' queries. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.