Apple working on "more than 10" designs prototypes for next iPhone

Apple is prototyping over 10 distinct new iPhone designs, including OLED and curved displays, states a report from The Wall Street Journal. According to sources, Apple is asking its Asian suppliers to increase production of thin, high-resolution OLED displays to help "differentiate [Apple's] models" from its competitors'. Apple already uses OLED technology in the touchbar on its new line of MacBooks as well as its Apple Watch. OLED screens are thinner and have faster response times, viewing angles, contrast, power efficiency, and vibrance than IPS displays, making the move to OLED (from IPS) seem like a logical move.

Apple also has several good reasons to consider curved glass, OLED, and presumably more experimental designs for the next iPhone: Next year will mark the iPhone's 10th anniversary, and it would be a great time to overhaul the iPhone's design, which (to some consumers at least) is getting long in the tooth. It is estimated that Apple's iPhone 7 family failed to outsell the iPhone 6's, according to reliable analyst at KGI Securities Ming-Chi Kuo. Additionally, stronger competition on the Android side—namely the Samsung S7 Edge and recently released Google Pixel and Pixel XL—may be eating into Apple's sales as well.

Apple has reported strong initial order numbers for its new MacBook Pros, but a weak Q4 2016 financial quarter has likely put all the more pressure on Apple to give consumers an iPhone deserving of the 10th anniversary occasion.

Source(s)