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Apple is looking for a way to produce advanced OLED displays more cheaply. According to reports from Korea, the company is considering using HMO technology and a manufacturing method called sputtering. Samsung Display and LG Display are already working on the solution, and the new panels could eventually make their way into MacBooks and iMacs.
Cheaper OLED production without new machines?
As The Elec reports, Apple is evaluating HMO (High-Mobility Oxide) technology, which uses transistors with increased electron mobility. They control OLED pixels, and their higher performance could make it easier to build high-resolution displays with high refresh rates.
Currently, typical oxide transistors reach mobilities of around 10 cm²/V·s. For HMO, the goal is to raise that to 30–50 cm²/V·s.
However, the production method is key. Apple is said to prefer sputtering, the deposition of thin material layers using plasma. The process can use equipment already present in OLED factories, which could help reduce costs.
The alternative is ALD, atomic layer deposition. The method offers greater precision but requires more expensive equipment and materials.
Samsung and LG are testing both solutions
Samsung Display is exploring the use of HMO on large eighth-generation substrates, while LG Display is developing the technology on sixth-generation lines. Both makers are also researching ALD.
The new approach could simplify production of OLED panels intended for laptops and desktop computers. However, that does not automatically mean cheaper Apple devices.
No final decision has yet been made on the mass-production method. It is also unclear when panels using the new solution might reach the market.
Sources: The Elec, OLED-Info, DigiTimes
