Apple is evaluating MLA scheme OLED screen, Possibly for the iPhone 16 series
Although Apple has yet to officially unveil the iPhone 15 series, preparations for next year’s iPhone 16 lineup are already in motion. As reported by The Elec, Apple contemplates integrating Micro-Lens OLED panels into the iPhone 16 series and has solicited solutions from suppliers Samsung and LG. This is to gauge the merit of embedding this nascent technology as an upgrade to the display.
The Micro-Lens technology can illuminate the iPhone’s screen with an augmented brightness while simultaneously diminishing power consumption, fostering a more energy-efficient design. For Apple to sanction any proposal tendered by the suppliers, the display must unequivocally meet its stringent criteria. The crux of the new proposal revolves around the OLED screen’s architecture, necessitating the adoption of a Micro-Lens Array (MLA). However, inherent limitations have left Apple teetering on the brink of indecision.
The modus operandi of this avant-garde technology is not quite straightforward. It mandates lens designs that attenuate internal reflections, with light paths recalibrated to either augment brightness for the same power draw or reduce energy consumption at a consistent brightness level. For the lay consumer, a conspicuous repercussion is a narrower screen viewing angle, curtailing peripheral viewing perspectives. Notably, while both Samsung and LG employ divergent materials in this technique, none of the current prototypes have managed to meet Apple’s lofty standards. Furthermore, Apple must grapple with the reality that embracing this newfangled technology could escalate manufacturing costs.
Perhaps this technology rings a bell, for LG has already infused its third-generation OLED products with META technology, echoing a similar design ethos. Furthermore, televisions harnessing this technology made their debut at CES 2023.
