"iPhone 17 Air": Possible supplier for thin OLED found
Apple's supply chain is rumored to have found a potential partner for the production of new, flat screens for the "iPhone 17 Air".
iPhone 17 Air: Apple shapes the form factor.
(Image: Mac & i)
With the "iPhone 17 Air", which is expected in the fall of 2025, Apple is said to be planning a revised form factor for the iPhone for the first time in many years: it will be the company's thinnest smartphone to date. However, the focus on the thin iPad Pro M4 also entails the need to install particularly flat OLEDs. And according to a report from Taiwan, a supplier has now allegedly been found for this.
Delivery plan allegedly in place
According to the electronics trade journal DigiTimes, which is published in Taipei, the company Novatek is to supply OLEDs with so-called TDDI technology (Touch and Display Driver Integration) from the second quarter of 2025. Apple is expected to be one of the first customers. "While industry experts remain tight-lipped about potential end customers, speculation suggests that Novatek's proposed delivery schedule could coincide with next-generation iPhone displays in 2025," the report states. Where the panels for the OLEDs will come from remains unclear – They could come from existing suppliers such as Samsung Display or LG Display.
Novatek itself is a specialist in display driver technology, TDDI allows touch and display functionality to be accommodated in one chip for the first time. This could result in thinner and more energy-efficient OLEDs. Later, the process could also end up in iPads or Apple Watch devices. Apple always sets very precise specifications for suppliers – It is still unclear whether Novatek will be able to meet them.
What the iPhone 17 Air looks like
Apple is said to be planning to restructure its iPhone product line in the coming year. In addition to the iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, there will be an Air model (possibly also called "Slim") to replace the Plus model. Although it will not be technically high-end like the Pro models, it will have a particularly flat form factor. A new type of aluminum frame is intended to prevent bending.
The iPhone manufacturer has apparently not been interested in foldable smartphones to date, although companies such as Google and Samsung have had them in their range for years. An ultra-thin iPhone could be a first step in this direction.
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