Apple invests $2.7 billion in LG to Make OLED Displays for Future iPhones

We have already heard that Apple plans on going OLED Displays-only for its handsets starting next year. A few days ago, it was reported that Google has invested $880 million in LG Display to secure OLED screen panels for its next Pixel smartphones. Now, according to Korean Economic Daily, Apple may soon invest in LG to source enough OLED screen panels for its future iPhone models.

According to a new report out of South Korea today, the Cupertino-based tech company is planning to invest KRW 3 trillion (about $2.7 billion) in LG Display subsidiary – LG Display. Apple will reportedly make the payment as an advance for the screen panel. Apple is supposed to secure 45,000 units of the 6.5th-generation OLED panel from 2019.

This year’s iPhone model is also said to sport OLED displays, but those will be sourced from Samsung. Earlier reports peg Samsung as the exclusive supplier of OLED displays for the high-end smartphone, as the only company that can reliably produce both the quantity and quality of panels that Apple demands.

LG is likely to build a production line dedicated to iPhone orders only, as part of its agreement with Apple, according to The Investor. As for Google, it has been mentioned that the company has invested in flexible OLED displays. LG however, has not yet finalized the deal. Google’s funding is said to ramp up the production of flexible OLED displays.