LG Display Commits ₩1.106 Trillion to Apple’s 2028 IZO OLED iPhone as Samsung Weighs New Line
Updated
Updated · Tech Times · May 13
LG Display Commits ₩1.106 Trillion to Apple’s 2028 IZO OLED iPhone as Samsung Weighs New Line
1 articles · Updated · Tech Times · May 13
₩1.106 trillion in LG Display spending approved on April 22 is now tied by industry sources to Apple’s 2028 iPhone OLED program, which uses a transparent indium-zinc-oxide cathode.
Apple disclosed this week that replacing today’s magnesium-silver cathode is meant to fix distortion and brightness loss at the curved corners of four-edge bending displays, a change engineers see as critical for mass production.
LG is expected to buy low-damage TCO sputter equipment first for R&D and then for volume output, because current OLED lines cannot make the new transparent electrode with existing tools.
Samsung Display has not announced matching capex, but analysts say space limits make retrofitting unlikely and point instead to a dedicated new line, even as Samsung also prepares panel capacity for a foldable iPhone due in 2026.
Apple’s roadmap points to a two-step shift: a 20th-anniversary iPhone in 2027 with an earlier four-edge version, followed by the IZO-cathode model in 2028 that could shape broader Android display investment.
Can Samsung successfully supply both Apple's first foldable phone and its next-generation bezel-less display simultaneously?
Is Apple's quest for a perfect screen creating an unsustainable technology arms race for its global suppliers?
LG Display Commits ₩1.1 Trillion for IZO OLED Production to Meet Apple’s 2028 Bezel-less iPhone Ambitions
Overview
LG Display is making a major investment of ₩1.106 trillion ($740 million) to expand its OLED production at the Paju plant, directly supporting Apple’s 2028 iPhone plans. This move comes as Apple pushes its suppliers to speed up development and meet strict requirements for new technology. Apple aims to use advanced transparent electrode technology for four-side bending OLED displays, which is crucial for creating truly bezel-less iPhones. LG Display’s expanded capacity and focus on this technology position it as a key partner for Apple’s next-generation devices, reflecting the strong influence Apple has on its supply chain.