Apple is considering the use of micro-lens technology for its OLED displays on next year’s iPhone 16 models. The technology would offer increased brightness, while potentially reducing their power consumption, reports The Elec.
According to the publication, while Apple display partners Samsung and LG have offered to apply micro-lens arrays (MLA) to the OLED panels. However, the technology has both pros and cons that Apple needs to consider.
Micro Lens Array is a uniform pattern in the screen panel that features tens of billions of microlenses that reduce the loss of light from internal reflections to improve the levels of brightness the screen can produce. The more light that is kept within the screen, the more light (or brightness) that is transmitted to the user.
This provides increased perceived brightness while maintaining the same level of power consumption, or maintains brightness levels while consuming less power compared to conventional OLED panels at the same luminance.
However, while MLA straightens the path of light to increase frontal luminance, it can also reduce side luminance, narrowing the display’s field of view. Plus, Apple would need to deal with extra expense, as applying MLA to the OLED panels would increase the manufacturing cost.
The samples being provided to Apple from the two suppliers are different, and neither has yet been able to meet Apple’s standards.
Whether or not Apple will use the panels in the iPhone 16 lineup will depend on whether the efficiency of the OLED material set can be improved upon before production of the iPhone 16 begins.