Apple is developing new displays that would make its mobile devices “slimmer, brighter, and less power-hungry,” marking the first time for the company to design and develop the component in-house, according to a report from Bloomberg. 

In 2017, Apple launched its first OLED display sporting smartphone with the iPhone X. This display was manufactured by Samsung Display for Apple. But just like Apple is planning to go alone when it comes to internal components of the iPhone, it now looks like Apple wants to do the same with the display as well.

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The report said Apple was making “a significant investment” in the development of MicroLED display. “MicroLED screens use different light-emitting compounds than the current OLED displays and promise to make future gadgets slimmer, brighter and less power-hungry,” it said.

The technological challenges faced by the team in building the displays are so significant that Apple almost ditched the plan last year. But its ongoing efforts have now brought the displays to an “advanced stage” that have included the successful creation of an Apple Watch MicroLED prototype that could launch within “a few years".

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The company has designed chips powering its mobile devices for several years. Its move into displays has the long-term potential to hurt a range of suppliers, from screen makers like Samsung, Japan Display, Sharp and LG to companies like Synaptics that produce chip-screen interfaces. 

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Codenamed T159, the project is being overseen by Lynn Youngs who has been an Apple veteran who helped develop the touch screens for the iPhone and the iPad and is now overlooking the iPhone and Apple Watch screen technology. The 62,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Santa Clara is “the first of its kind” for Apple, but is too small for any kind of mass production effort. Bloomberg speculates that the tech company could ultimately turn to other suppliers to produce the displays, but wants to keep its work out of the hands of partners until it's completely ready.

Samsung currently dominates the supply of OLED displays for Apple's flagship iPhone X. It is believed that Apple will switch to OLED displays for all of its iPhone release in 2019.

Source: Bloomberg