Following a report last week that said Apple is looking to release an OLED iPhone sometime in 2017, Digitimes today reports that the company is planning a 5.8-inch OLED device (via The Motley Fool). While the report should be taken with a grain of salt considering the source, it claims that Apple is pushing to release the larger device sometime in 2018, or perhaps even earlier in 2017, which lines up with last week’s report.
The report notes that Apple is currently talking with Samsung Display, LG Display, and Japan Display to supply the OLED displays, with the former currently being the front-runner in discussions. Last week’s report said that both Samsung and LG were slated to be providers of the displays if all went to plan. LG is expected to be able to mass-produce OLED displays by 2017, while Japan Display is expected to take until 2018.
Digitimes predicts that Apple could ship upwards of 50 million 5.8-inch OLED iPhones during the first year of availability. A 5.8-inch display would put the device as even bigger than Samsung’s Note series, as well as the company’s flagship Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.
If Apple were to introduce the 5.8-inch OLED in 2017, it could be a way for the company to ensure that sales don’t stall during the year, as 2017 is expected to be an ‘s’ year in terms of updates to the expected 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus.
A note from KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo earlier this year said that Apple was planning two variants of the iPhone 7 Plus later this year, one with more advanced camera technology. Building on this, one possibility Digitimes suggests is that in 2017, the higher-end iPhone 7s Plus (or perhaps iPhone 7 Pro or iPhone Pro) could become the 5.8-inch model, priced higher than even the current Plus model which carries a $100 premium.
As with most Digitimes reports, however, this should be taken with a hefty dose of skepticism. The news outlet has a shaky history when it comes to Apple rumors, but with over sources seemingly corroborating that Apple plans an OLED device in 2017 or 2018, it’s something worth noting.
Apple of course is expected to introduce a 4-inch iPhone SE later this month. With analysts claiming that the company is reaching “peak iPhone,” there’s a possibility Apple is looking to cater to both ends of the market with a 4-inch device and 5.8-inch device.
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This is really getting out of hand? Is Apple heading in the same direction as Samsung? A 32 inch, 33inch, 34inch, 35inch, 36inch tv? Up to 100inches?
Apple should make only iPhone 4.7inch and iPhone Plus (5.5inch). Maybe add a 4 inch model if it’s really needed. But they should not have more iPhone models than this. Ridiculous that would be.
I wouldn’t necessarily interpret this as a bigger phone. It could mean larger screen with reduced bezel, or dare I say, imbedded home button and Touch ID. I believe the Huawei Nexus P and Motorola Nexus 6 are pushing 5.7 at near equal height and width to the 6 plus. Keep an open mind. Also, do note, you’re not required to buy it.
As if it would bother me that there would be another iPhone in stores. We all know what happened to the Apple which had 7382 different models of every product back in 97 and before. Steve came back and killed nearly all of them.
I want Apple to keep doing well, spamming the market with 4-5 or even 6-7 different iPhone models (excluding colors and storage options) won’t help them.
Who says the 5.8″ phone isn’t a replacement of the 5.5″ model?
Anyone that thinks Apple would release a 5.8″ phone AND keep the 5.5″ both latest generation then that person is a complete moron. If there is a 5.8″ it is due to reduced bezels, as the intelligent people have described already.
More likely the 5.5″ becomes a 5.7″ phone. There’s no reason to believe they’d keep both and make the lineup larger than it is.
I also doubt the phone would be larger. The iPhone has quite a large bezel so any screen increase would probably come at a reduction of the bezel as opposed to making the entire thing larger still.
This sounds like something too crazy for Apple to do. There is always (ok.. most of the times) a twist to everything they do though. I would expect that the only way 5.8″ displays will happen in an iPhone is if they find a way to get rid of virtually all the bezels around it (including getting rid of physical home button). If they fit a 5.8″ display in a 6″ overall housing, then I can see that. Just my opinion. Any input? :)
OOOh! 5.8 inch is just perfect!
(in with the ‘That’s what she said’)
I would assume the 5.8″ model would replace the 5.5″ model. OLED has smaller bezels then LCD and thr 5.8″ model would have s similar footprint to the current plus models.
The 5.5″ Samsung s7 edge is 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm compared to 158.1 x 77.8 x 7.3 m for the 5.5″ iPhone 6 Plus. Without reducing the top and bottom bezels just switching to OLED can reduce the size of the phone.
The 5.5″ Plus is already so freaking big. They need to lose some weight around the bezels before they start thinking bigger.
Anyone with a functioning brain is with you on that thinking.
Finally apple is looking at a better type of display, but why 5.8 inches?
Apple can make a 5.8″ iPhone with OLED the same width as a 5.5″ device and can reduce the over heigh with removal of the home button. People pay to much attention to the actual screen size and not the footprint.
Screen tech can reduce the bezels or like in the iPhone 7 reduce the thickness by 1mm with a new display array.
The problem is not the footprint. That’s the software. With this change, Apple should make two new layout for the OS and for the apps. Or, like Android phone, they could make bigger screen with the same layout, but I think it’s not “Apple-like”.
…and sapphire glass with liquid metal case
Replace the Plus with Pro and add the OLED. It sucks b/c I’d love an OLED in the smaller flavor but I’ll get over it. Don’t ADD a fourth? iPhone! SE, 7, 7+, and Pro? It’s getting out of hand!
The devices will get bigger displays while maintaining a similar footprint. OLED automatically have smaller bezels then LED display. Remove the home button and you can get devices with equal or less height with bigger screen sizes then the current iPhones.
The first OLED iPhones will probably move to 5″ and and 5.8″ displays. Apple might introduce one size of OLED phone next year before having 2 in 2018. It is sounding like we might have an iPhone 8 next year instead of an s model.
You know every single year people say they’re gonna skip the S year this year, and not once have they done it.
There should be 3 major phones in 2018
iPhone Mini: 4.3-4.4″
iPhone 5.0-5.1″
iPhone Plus 5.7-5.8″
These have greatly reduced bezels and the iPhone and iPhone Plus have roughly the same physical size, with a 0.3-0.4″ larger display. The iPhone Mini has the same reduced bezels and design as the larger, with a bigger display, and remains the only phone that is very comfortably used one-handed. That is what Apple would do if they were the great company they have been until recently.
(#1 thing Apple needs to do is simplify the product lines and naming, if they make an iPhone Pro this year I’ll laugh at their incredible incredible stupidity)
I think Apple eventually switch the iPhone plus model to the Pro name.Could get the pro name this year with the two 5.5″ models being rumored. 30% are supposed to have the dual lens system.
Apple has overcomplicated its lineups recently and also premium lines especially with the Apple Watch.I prefer a much simpler lineup. I would like them to go to 2 storage capacities for iPhones and iPads and have all iPads cellular models(would help sells since people could purchase them through carrier installment plans)
What they are doing with Apple Watch is insane and will probably look more insane in 3 weeks when they hold their Spring event.
I think Apple will go to the disc;ay sizes you said, but not sure if they will go with the mini model. I think the new 4″ model is mainly aimed for India and will be a one shot device like the 5c was.You reduce the bezel on a 4.7″ device and take away the reason to make a smaller screened device.As soon as Apple switches to AMOLED iPhones the bezels will be reduced and Apple will ditch 4″ iPhones and most likely won’t make a 4.3 or 4.4′ iPhone
Please god, let it be edge to edge glass.
tho this is probably not true.
2017 is the S model, no upgrades to speak about.
I wonder if we may see some changes to said cycle. The s cycles never get the traction of the non s cycle releases, and the perception on Wallstreet is a failed released, regardless of what the truth is. The rumors for the 7 is a thinner design, with minor external changes. expect significant changes with 2017 models.
I bet this is for an iPod touch. More portable than an iPad. Yet still large enough for most media
You mean an iPad nano. And no, that’s definitely not happening. They’re already cannibalizing themselves between the iPad mini and larger iPhones. Its pretty simple, they’ll greatly reduce the bezels and the 4″ will go to 4.3-4.4″, the 4.7″ will go to 5-5.1″ and the 5.5″ will go to 5.7-5.8″. Make 0.7″ between phone models.
Apple should only release new screen sizes if they make it a rule that developers must update their apps/games with full optimization for the newer screen sizes within 3 months of the newest iPhones being released. I mean look at it this way there are plenty of apps/games still getting updates that aren’t optimized for the 5.5 inch screen, and won’t until Apple makes it a requirement. Money wise the best example of this is Kim Kardashian Hollywood. The game makes millions and Glu hasn’t used a dime of that money to improve the graphics of the game for the 5.5 inch screen. Hell the GameCenter banner isn’t optimized for the newer screen sizes. And SongPop 2 is even worse cause even the keyboard hasn’t been adjusted for the newer screen sizes yet keeps getting updates. The fact is there are developers who will not optimize their apps/games until Apple makes it a requirement to do so. Until time they’re gonna pocket all profits and not care how the user experience is.
once again apple is behind… OLED for 2017, possible 2018 is too late in the game… rather than increase to 5.8, why not keep the current sizes BUT reduce the overall phone size…
They currently only have 401ppi on the 5.5″ — this is behind most of the flagship models on the market from other companies — and by sticking with an LCD screen they still can’t match the deeper blacks and colour tones that other OLED screens offer…
I was kinda hoping the iphone 7 would have an OLED screen… this comes at another disappointment from apple :-(
Why there is iPad ?
2017- 5.8 inch, 2018- 6.2 inch, 2019- 6.5 inch, 2020- 6.8 inch,……….., 2080- 100 inch
Smartphone screen sizes are really going like this!! ridiculous!!