Apple is prepping a significant new generation of iPhone for 2025, headlined by the expected iPhone 17 Air. And now, a new report could point to the technology and supplier that will make an ultra-thin iPhone possible.
Supplier ramping new OLED tech at just the right time
Jay Liu and Levi Li write for Digitimes:
Novatek, Taiwan’s leading display driver IC (DDI) manufacturer, has announced plans to commence mass production of its highly anticipated OLED TDDI technology as early as the second quarter of 2025.
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While industry insiders remain tight-lipped about potential end customers, speculation suggests that Novatek’s proposed shipping schedule could align with the next-generation iPhone displays in 2025…Apple is the focus of speculation primarily due to the alignment with component shipment schedules. If the target were Chinese flagship models released at year-end or Samsung devices launching in early 2026, there would be no need to ramp up shipments by the second quarter of 2025.
Apple is widely expected to introduce a major form factor change with next year’s iPhone 17 Air, which will be ultra-slim along the lines of the M4 iPad Pro models.
Top comment by Hazen
I like the idea of a mid tier iPhone with some kind of unique identifier like an ultra thing design. I don’t ‘need’ a Pro iPhone, that’s just the one I buy because Apple stopped innovating on the standard iPhone range and instead uses it to recycle Pro features from years prior. Just give me good specs and a good design and I’m there.
As Digitimes notes, the connection between Novatek and Apple is only rumor and speculation at this point. But the timing of Novatek’s ramp-up, as well as the expected fall launch of the iPhone 17 Air, does make a lot of sense.
One of the benefits of OLED TDDI is that it enables thinner screens. Thus, it’s a technology that would be a perfect fit for the iPhone 17 Air.
Expect to see plenty more details about the highly anticipated 17 Air come out in the year ahead.
For further reading:
- Three reasons to wait for the iPhone 17 Air
- iPhone 17 Air could force Pro users to give up these five things
- iPhone 17 Air: How ultra-thin will it be? These hints are telling
- iPhone 17 Air won’t be the best iPhone, but it will be the future
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