1.iPhone new technology: non-contact gesture control + curved screen;
According to Bloomberg News, citing people familiar with the matter, Apple is developing non-contact gesture control and curved screens for future iPhones. This project may help increase the recognition of the iPhone in the mobile phone market.
According to the media mentioned above, the new gesture control feature allows iPhone users to perform related operations while their fingers are close to the screen without touching the screen. Curved screens can gradually bend inwards from top to bottom.
Bloomberg mentioned that informed sources revealed that both features are in the early stage of research and development. Apple can stop at any time. However, if Apple chooses to promote the project, consumers will not see results within two years.
Previously, Apple's screen suppliers include Sharp, Samsung, LG, and OLED maker Universal Display Corporation. Wall Street news has mentioned that Apple is developing a small amount of new screens near its headquarters in California, and will probably get rid of dependence on suppliers in the future. Keep the profits of this key component of the screen firmly in your own hands.
2. Pass the new iPhone's soft and hard board specification revision: lower cost, suitable for mass production;
According to South Korea’s “Herald” report, it was learned from sources that Apple had decided that the Rigid Flexible Printed Circuit Board (RFPCB) would no longer be used in the iPhone, which will be released as the new OLED screen. , Lower multi-Flexible Printed Circuit Board (abbreviated as multi-FPCB) instead.
RFPCB is a key component of the iPhone X for connecting screens and chips. The new OLED iPhone planned for release in September is likely to use multi-FPCB for touch screens. The reasons are related to the price and production benefits.
Currently, three South Korean PCB manufacturers (LG Innotek, Interflex and Youngpoong Electronics) are responsible for supplying RFPCB. However, Apple had previously faced RFPCB-related production problems. Before the official launch of the iPhone X, a Taiwanese supplier was unable to meet quality standards. And was removed.
In addition, the connection error of the RFPCB module is also considered to be the key reason behind the so-called "screen freeze" iPhone X. The affected iPhone X's OLED screen will become unresponsive or inaccurate in cold weather. Apple used to be This extensive investigation led to the suspension of production of some parts factories.
It is unclear whether Apple intends to switch existing suppliers to multi-FPCB production, add new suppliers, or completely replace suppliers.
One of South Korea’s PCB manufacturers stated that they had considered supplying multi-FPCB boards to Apple, but later abandoned due to the low price.
Apple plans to launch three new iPhones, one LCD model and two OLED models this year. Apple has been developing two 5.85” and 6.46” OLED screens with Samsung Display.
3. Pass the Apple Negotiations with PlayNitride Co-develop MicroLED screens;
According to the Taiwanese media DigiTimes report, Apple is in preliminary negotiations with the Taiwanese company PlayNitride, and the two companies may cooperate in the development of MicroLED screens. PlayNitride has developed its own MicroLED screen, known as PixeLED. Apple is likely to be interested in PixeLED. In 2017, there were rumors that Samsung was interested in PlayNitride, but it was not completed in the end.
PlayNitride has obtained permission from the executive branch to set up factories in the Hsinchu Science Park in northern Taiwan to produce MicroLED screens. In 2015, the first report mentioned that Apple was interested in MicroLED screen technology. At that time, Apple Taiwan also opened a secret. The laboratory, developed this display technology. Since then, Apple has continuously reduced the size of Taiwan's laboratories and transferred its research and development capabilities to its headquarters.
MicroLED has always been considered as a technology to replace OLED. At present, iPhone X and Apple Watch use OLED screen. MicroLED has higher brightness, better luminous efficiency, and lower power consumption than existing OLED technology. MacX
4.WitsView: The mobile phone panel is expected to be the first to stop rebounding at the beginning of the second quarter;
In the first quarter of this year, the price of TV panels continued to fall, especially in the 65-inch TV panel where military strife was the most decisive. WitsView Research Vice President Qiu Yubin pointed out that panel prices have been falling for nine consecutive months, and the second quarter decline still cannot converge. We maintain our expectations for the 2nd quarter to stop falling, and the mobile phone panel is expected to be the first to stop rebounding at the beginning of the 2nd quarter, driven by full-screen demand. Related handset panel plant operations are expected to benefit in tandem.
Qiu Yubin believes that the current demand is affected by the brand's wait-and-see attitude. In particular, Samsung is not aggressively stocking the product. Together with the Chinese brand factory, it is also conservative. When the demand picks up, it will continue to stop large-size TV panels.
Qiu Yubin said that in the first quarter of this year, under the condition that all brands had adjusted their inventories, they had expected to make up for buying in the second quarter. However, due to unsatisfactory terminal sales, Samsung did not wait and see. The Chinese brands included TCL, Hisense. And so on, they also kept watching and waiting for Samsung's move, causing the demand for stocking in the second quarter to be unclear.
He said that shipments of TV panels in the first quarter were 8% lower than in the fourth quarter of last year, but grew by 10% compared with the same period last year, indicating that the brands are pulling goods and buying gas still maintained. Now the biggest problem is demand, as Samsung last year TV Shipments of 43 million units, a decrease of 10% from 48 million units in the previous year, have affected the attitude this year.
Qiu Yubin pointed out that TV panel prices continued to decline in the first quarter. In terms of various dimensions, the price of TV panels declined by about 3%, 65%, about 12-13%, and 43%, about 10-12%, with the most significant drop. At present, it seems that the 2nd quarter decline cannot be converged, and the possibility of short-term warming in April is unlikely. As a result, the pressure on profitability for panel makers has increased.
Qiu Yubin stressed that there is still an expectation that the quotation for TV panels in the second quarter of the second quarter will have a chance to bottom out. However, it is necessary to observe the demand in May and June. If stocking at the end of the quarter is not improved, TV shipments may have to be revised down this year. With demand picking up, the decline in panel prices is expected to stop.
Compared with the demand for large-size TV panels, it remains to be seen that the prices of small-size TV panels are expected to stop falling more quickly. Chiu Yubin said that the demand for full-screen smart phones this year is good, and the purchase of mobile phones from the fourth quarter of last year to the first quarter of this year is weak. However, it is estimated that the proportion of full-screen mobile phones will increase from 8% last year to 44-45% this year, which is expected to boost demand. In the first two quarters, there is no procurement action for each plant. It is expected that the second quarter will start, and the mobile phone will be launched. Panel buying grid has the opportunity to stop rebound early.