Apple is setting up to expand its wearable area by introducing the next-generation smartwatch, called the Apple Watch X, along with the upgraded LG display technology ‘LTPO OLED’ instead of Samsung’s.
LG and Samsung are the two major display providers, and this time Apple could ditch Samsung as it is using LG’s LTPO OLED technology, as per reports. This new display will lead to lower power consumption and longer battery life. It is also reported that Apple could use this new display on other forthcoming Apple phones.
If the reports are to be believed, Apple has decided to adopt a new low-temperature crystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) technology for the Apple Watch 10 series organic light-emitting diode (OLED). It is expected that by the end of this year, it will be on the floor.
If the reports come true, then the forthcoming Apple Watch 10 would feature the LTPO TFT, which is a method of applying oxide to the driving TFT and some substituting TFTs among the 7-8 TFTs. The LTPO TFT used on the Apple Watch used oxide for only two switching TFTs, whereas LTPS was used for the rest of the switching TFTs and driving TFTs.
Here’s the question: Why is Apple adopting only LG’s LTPO OLED technology for the Apple Watch 10?
Apple is adopting a new LTPO OLED display for the forthcoming Apple Watch 10 with increased oxide usage. Here, oxide is a material that replaces a few current LTPS in the display; it delivers lower leakage current, leading to better power efficiency for the display; and it takes over the driving TFT and probably a few switching TFTs.
If the Apple Watch 10 features this new LTPO OLED, then most probably future iPhones could also use this technology since Apple usually brings Apple Watch display technology to iPhones later. The iPhone 16 is next on the line, which uses only LTPO in the top variants such as Pro and Pro Max, but the iPhone 17 series might use this new LTPO display technology with wider oxide usage in all models.
Although, at the time, Apple is gearing up to announce the Apple Watch 10 this year along with LG’s LTPO OLED Display, next year’s Apple Watch 11 can use Samsung’s LTPO Display since they are not currently developing the display itself. If this comes true, then this will help the Korean giants get a head start on providing the new LTPI display for future iPhones. Also, Galaxy smartphones presently avoid using this new LTPO display, even after Samsung Display supplied their phones with OLED displays before iPhones in the past.
