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According to a new report from South Korea, LG Display is the supplier of the curved OLED panel used in Huawei’s new, super high-end device, the Porsche Design Huawei Mate RS. The report mentions that previously, LG supplied OLED displays only to LG Electronics and Xiaomi, however, it should also be pointed out that LG is the supplier for the small-sized panel used in Apple’s Watch. It should be noted that, according to the source, LG Display itself has not officially confirmed the veracity of their report.
That LG Display has produced a dual-edge curved display is, in and of itself, not new. The company debuted a prototype back at CES some years ago behind closed doors. Of particular relevance is the fact that, provided the report is accurate, LG is providing technology that is of higher-end in nature to a competitor, while its own sibling company, LG Electronics, is left with what some have labeled sub-par panels used in the LG V30 and Google-branded Pixel 2 XL. This is further compounded by the fact that neither LG nor its domestic rival Samsung, have as of yet released any device whatsoever that includes an in-screen fingerprint sensor, which for reference has been reported to make use of Goodix’s sensing technology.
Huawei, as one of the world’s top smartphone OEMs, has a massive market share compared to that which LG enjoys, and it would thus make sense to offer a unique product to a customer that is likely to be more profitable than LG Electronics, especially should the agreement spill over into less-expensive products. There has yet to be any confirmation for the upcoming LG G7 ThinQ to make use of an in-screen fingerprint sensor, much less an OLED panel in and of itself. Huawei’s seeming selection of LG Display as a component supplier over Samsung also furthers the question as to just how much longer the latter will be able to enjoy its absolute majority over the OLED supply market. Apple has allegedly chosen to use LG panels for some of its 2018 iPhones, and a host of up-and-coming OLED production companies are seemingly preparing to wage proverbial war on the industry leader.