Reports from Taiwan say Apple is planning to use new “in-cell” display technology from Japanese manufacturers in the next iPhone. This would benefit Sony, Sharp, and Toshiba, who currently lead the industry in the technology.
Compared with on-cell technology, touch panels that use in-cell technology can be made thinner because the touch sensors are actually placed inside the color filters rather than on top of them.
At present suppliers for Apple’s touch panels (these include Taiwan’s TPK Holding Co. and Wintek Corp.) use mainly on-cell technology.
The pseudo-reliable Digitimes is also reporting these claims, based on “sources in Apple’s supply chain”. They report that improvements in yeild rates for in-cell panels have made it feasible for Apple to use the technology in its products.