
South Korean Display Makers To Provide Flexible Display For Next Apple Watch: analyst
Samsung Display and LG Display will likely provide the flexible display to Apple for the next-generation smartwatch, an analyst claims. "The two-track strategy of Apple is not surprising at all if you consider that Samsung Display and LG Display are the only manufacturers that roll out flexible OLED displays," said Lee Choong-hoon, president of market research firm UBI research.
Until now, LG Display has been a sole supplier of the organic light-emitting diode display (OLED) fitted in the Apple Watch. But is seems that Apple has reportedly decided to add Samsung Display as another vendor for the OLED parts.
The next-gen Apple Watch is expected to be lighter and slimmer than the first model.
Apple Watch was released last April in limited quantities and in specific stores. There have been unconfirmed rumors that Apple had to deal with manufacturing issues that kept the company from releasing the wearable device in large quantities. But Apple had also chosen to market it as a premium, luxurius product, by offering through specific retail channels.
The Apple Watch frenzy soon died down, and reports indicate that the sales of the gadget remain low.
Apple has not provided sales figures for Apple Watch. Around 2.79 million units of the Apple watch were expected to be sold during the April to mid-June period. Market research firm Pacific Crest forecast the annual sales of the wearable device would stand at 10.5 million, down from an initial estimation of 11 million.