The much-anticipated launch of the iPhone 17 series is set for next month, but preliminary reports regarding upcoming iPhone models have already begun to circulate. According to sources, Apple is exploring the integration of Tandem OLED technology in its future smartphones. This innovative display technology, first revealed with the iPad Pro (2024), utilizes two stacked OLED layers to enhance performance. The tech giant is reportedly in talks with both LG Display and Samsung Display to explore the production of Tandem OLED screens.
Apple Explores Tandem OLED Technology for Future iPhones
A report from The Elec, a Korean news outlet, highlights that Apple is assessing the potential implementation of Tandem OLED technology in its future iPhone line. Citing industry insiders, the report states that LG Display offered a simplified version of the Tandem OLED design to Apple in 2024. Following this proposal, Apple also reached out to Samsung Display for insights regarding the same display technology.
Considering Apple’s typical two-year development and production cycle, the adoption of Tandem OLED panels for iPhones is not expected until 2028.
Last year, Apple introduced the iPad Pro (2024), equipped with a Tandem OLED display. This new technology involves layering two or more light-emitting layers to boost brightness while simultaneously improving energy efficiency. By enhancing luminous efficiency, this configuration allows devices to generate more light while consuming less energy, potentially prolonging battery life without the need to increase battery size.
In contrast, existing iPhone models utilize a single-stack OLED configuration, with red (R), green (G), and blue (B) subpixels arranged in a single layer. Reports indicate that Apple is contemplating a “simplified Tandem” design for future iPhone iterations, where only the blue (B) subpixel will be double-stacked, while the red and green subpixels will remain in a single layer. This approach could reduce production costs while still delivering improved brightness and energy efficiency compared to the current OLED technology.
Additionally, the M4-powered iPad Pro models showcased during Apple’s Let Loose event in May last year were the first to feature Ultra Retina XDR displays, also recognized as Tandem OLED panels. This marked a significant development as Apple equipped both the 11-inch and 13-inch versions of the iPad Pro with OLED technology for the first time.
