iPhone 8 May Not Get that Curved OLED After All

For many people who are following the rumors surrounding the iPhone 8 smartphone, the big feature of that device has been the rumored curved screen. Rumors have suggested that the OLED screen would have curved sides similar to the Galaxy S7 Edge line of devices. If that was the big feature you have been waiting for, you will be disappointed to hear that many analysts are now predicting that Apple will use a flat screen reports Business Insider.

IHS Markit analyst Wayne Lam recently said, “We anticipate Apple will adopt a flat implementation of OLED design on their special iPhone model, which is analogous to the current 2.5D glass design.”

Lam continued saying, “Much like the recently announced LG G6, we anticipate a touchscreen with a new longer aspect ratio design to take advantage of higher coverage area of the iPhone in its entirety. This new design language is expected to become the trend for 2017, as we all anticipate Samsung’s reveal later this month.”

Lam isn’t alone in thinking Appel will use a flat OLED for the iPhone 8. KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that he expects the coming high-end iPhone models to have a screen similar to previous iPhone models with very slight curves to the edges. DisplayMate’s Raymond Soneira says he has no info on the iPhone 8, but did state that OLEDs on flat glass substrates are available in much higher volumes than OLEDs on plastic substrates that are flexible and needed for curved screen devices.

“The existing iPhone 7 has 2.5D cover glass with a flat glass LCD display, so Apple could make a similar 2.5D OLED display using a glass substrate OLED display at lower cost and much higher production volumes,” he reportedly said.