The iPhone 20 will switch to a design that Apple has never attempted before, involving a quad-curved display that, when combined with the company’s Liquid Glass UI, introduces a seamless visual appearance that offers an illusion of a bezel-less form factor. As expected, developing this display is no easy feat, which is why only one manufacturer is taking on this responsibility.
However, an exclusive OLED deal could make things expensive for Apple as it will require a premium that’s being paid to the supplier. Also, if things weren’t bad enough, Apple CEO Tim Cook has warned that its DRAM stockpile is running out, meaning that by next year, the iPhone 20 could become the technology giant’s most expensive smartphone release to date.
Only Samsung has been mentioned to secure an exclusive OLED for the iPhone 20, and to put things into perspective, it charged $120 for the iPhone X display almost a decade ago
With no DRAM shortage recorded in 2017, the iPhone X still became Apple’s most expensive device at the time, and it materialized a new standard where $1,000 smartphones were going to be the norm. The premium price was due to Samsung being the sole OLED supplier, with Apple being forced to pay between $110 and $120 for each display unit, forcing the iPhone X to fetch a higher MSRP.
Fast forward to the iPhone 20, and The Korea Herald reports that history could repeat itself, with Samsung once again expected to be Apple’s only supplier of the quad-curved display. While LG is also a key partner in the Cupertino firm’s supply chain, Samsung has proven time and time again that it has the resources and manpower to handle Apple’s volume and stringent quality requirements.
The only downside to relying on Samsung for these quad-curved OLED panels is that Apple will be forced to fork out a premium for each iPhone 20 unit. Furthermore, with each 8GB LPDDR5X RAM module estimated to cost $180, resulting in 45 percent of the total BOM (Bill of Materials), Apple will fight an uphill battle in trying to keep those price hikes contained as much as possible.
Then again, the company could simply take advantage of this crisis by flaunting that gorgeous design, marketing it as a next-generation flagship that deserves the premium slapped on it. Those familiar with the ‘Apple effect’ will most probably be mesmerized by the product and will begin to daily drive the iPhone 20 eventually, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to come cheaply.
News Source: The Korea Herald
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech’s mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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