In May 2024, Apple introduced the latest and greatest iPad Pro, which pioneered the Ultra Retina XDR display, which has been the most advanced display technology in any product that Apple sells. This Ultra Retina XDR display uses a breakthrough display technology called “tandem OLED,” and this method stacks two RGB organic light-emitting layers together to double the brightness levels and contrast ratios while improving energy efficiency and extending longevity overall.
Current iPhone models use single-layer OLED displays, but according to The Elec, Apple is looking to bring that kind of technology to future iPhones. OLED displays in today’s iPhone models have been already superior in these areas: brightness, color accuracy, and contrast ratios, so bringing tandem OLED technology to future iPhones will boost those qualities even further.
However, according to the report, unlike the tandem OLED stacking method found in the iPad Pro, the tandem OLED Apple is reviewing for iPhones is what is known in the industry as “simplified tandem”, which involves stacking two layers for the blue sub-pixel only while the red/green sub-pixels will remain on a single layer.
In the past, LG Display is said to have proposed simplified tandem OLED to Apple, and the supplier even suggested this method for iPhones many years ago. In fact, LG is already ahead of Samsung in producing this advanced technology as it produces more OLED panels for the iPad Pro than Samsung. To ensure solid supply, Apple is likely to rely on multiple suppliers if the company is going to produce iPhones with this cutting-edge technology.
