Apple Chooses Sharp for New iPad 3 Screens

Bangalore: Apple has announced that it will not be placing orders with Samsung for the new iPad 3 touch screens.  Apple has decided to go with Sharp for the new LCD screens. The relationship involves Apple investing in some of Sharp's Japanese manufacturing facilities. Specifically, Sharp's Kameyama No. 2 plant in central Japan is tipped to manufacturer LCD panels for Apple's next iPad expected in 2012.

Sharp, an existing supplier of iPhone and iPod touch panels will also be making panels for Apple's next generation iPhone. Apple is just looking to get a better deal on components, maybe to reduce selling prices to a more competitive range. Apple has new products on the way, like the iPad 3, the iPhone 5 and the rumored Apple iTV. 

Sharp would be able to provide the screens for all of the products at the same time and if the cost is less to Apple, the cost is less to the customer, usually. There have been rumors that production has already begun from Sharp.  Misek said, “We believe Apple has shifted display production and that Sharp has now become a large panel supplier. "

It is believed that the Gen 6 Kameyama facility has been exclusively taken over for Apple purposes with Apple purchasing $500 million to $1 billion of equipment for the manufacturing of iPad 3 and iPhone 5 LTE displays. According to Misek, he believes the screens were in production up to two weeks ago and in the same plant, screens can be made for the new iPhone 5.

The screens would be ready for the iPad 3 to ship sometime in March 2012.  There are plenty of technical aspects that go into the newer, more cost effective screens and the final outcome would be based on how well the technology is used to make them. 

A new process takes technology and can offer near OLED power consumption with a 25 percent thicker material. And OLED power consumption is where the cost savings will be.  New OLED panels are expected for the new iPad and iPhone over the next couple years. 

More companies are scrambling to keep costs down as consumers feed on lower cost devices, so long standing partnerships might be tossed aside to ensure cost effectiveness.