Apple has reportedly opened a lab in Taiwan with "at least 50" engineers looking into advanced display technology for products including the iPhone and iPad. Bloomberg reports that Apple's has recruited emgineers from local display maker AU Optronics and Qualcomm, which used to own the building located in Longtan, Taiwan.

Apple began operating the lab this year as it aims to make products thinner, lighter, brighter and more energy-efficient. Engineers are developing more-advanced versions of the liquid-crystal displays currently used in iPhones, iPads and Mac personal computers, Bllomberg's surces claim. Apple also is keen to move to organic light-emitting diodes, which are even thinner and don’t require a backlight.

Apple does the bulk of its research at its headquarters in Cupertino and outsources the manufacturing of almost all devices and components to suppliers such as Foxconn Technology Group and Japan Display.

Samsung is among the few suppliers currently offering smartphones with OLED displays. LG Display has also heavily invested on OLEDs but mainly for devices larger than laptops.