A report on Tuesday claims Apple will switch from touch-on-lens technology to a glass-film touch solution for the upcoming Apple Watch Series 3 lineup.
TPK Holding has been a supplier of G/G (2 pieces of glass) touch panels for use in Apple Watch for two years, but since Apple adopted TOL (touch on lens) for second-generation Apple Watch in 2016, TPK has been unable to hike yield rates for TOL touch panels to a reasonable level and is therefore mulling stopping production for the Apple wearable devices, according to industry sources.
TPK to End Production of Touch Panels for Apple’s Watch
The publication indicates that in a bid to return to profitability, TPK will focus on 3D sensor-based touch panels for smartphones with OLED displays in 2017 and give up production of touch panels for Apple Watch. The curved surface of the Apple Watch is said to have complicated the manufacturing of Watch touch panels.
DigiTimes says its “industry sources,” say Apple will turn to either Biel Crystal or General Interface Solution to produce the glass-film touch panels. Biel has also been rumored to be in the running to supply both the front and rear glass on Apple’s upcoming 10th Anniversary iPhone handsets.
Apple Watch Rumor Mill Quiet
While rumors abound for the possibilities of future iPhones, iPads, and even Macs, the rumor mill has been mostly silent about a future Apple Watch model. LTE support has been rumored, which would allow the device to be more independent of the iPhone it currently requires being Bluetooth tethered to.
As always with reports like this, all information here should be taken with a grain of your favorite low-sodium seasoning. We won’t know anything for certain until Apple makes an official announcement. Also, look both ways before crossing the street, and don’t trust EPA gas mileage estimates, those things are usually WAY off!
