LTPO backplane technology - introduction and news

Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide, or LTPO, is an OLED display backplane technology developed by Apple. LTPO combines both LTPS TFTs and Oxide TFTs (IGZO, Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide). LTPO is applicable for both OLED and LCD displays, actually, but this backplane technology is likely to be used exclusively in high-end OLED displays

Apple LTPO OLED backplane (IHS slide)

In LTPO, the switching circuits are using LTPS while the driving TFTs will use IGZO materials. This could lead to a power saving of around 5-15% compared to the currently-used LTPS backplanes. The main drawback of LTPO, however, is that the IGZO TFTs are larger and so the display density may be compromised.

In September 2014 Apple introduced the world's first device to use an LTPO backplane - the Watch Series 4. Compared to the current-generation Watch, the new series has a larger AMOLED display - 1.78" 448x363 on the 44 mm watch and a 1.57" 394x324 one on the 40 mm model.

Apple Watch Series 4 photo

Long text for PHP

The latest LTPO OLED news:

Samsung and LG begin producing 11" and 13" tandem LTPO AMOLED displays for Apple's iPads

Reports from Korea suggest that Samsung Display and LG Display are starting to produce AMOLED displays for Apple's future iPads, to be announced later this year. Samsung is set to produce 11" LTPO AMOLED displays, while LG Display is producing displays for the 13" model (but LGD will also produce 11" AMOLEDs in the future for Apple). 

Apple iPad (8th-Gen)

The Elec says that both Korean makers developer 11" and 13" displays, but for some unknown reason only LGD will produce the 13" displays. This could change in the future, of course. One reason could be that LG Display has more experience with tandem OLED architectures (developed originally by LGD years ago for automotive OLEDs).

Read the full story Posted: Jan 18,2024

TCL CSoT shows tandem and LTPO OLED display prototypes

TCL is demonstrating a new 14" 4K 120Hz flexible AMOLED display that adopts a tandem display structure. The tandem structures enabled a reduction in power consumption of over 30%, an extension of the display's lifetime (3.5X) and a peak brightness of over 2,500 nites.

TCL was also showing a new 6.36" 1200x2670 LTPO AMOLED display, that features the company's new frequency division technology and self-developed frequency scanning circuits. Coupled with an ultra-low power consumption IC, it offers 15-20% power savings compared to TCL's standard AMOLEDs. 

Read the full story Posted: Jan 13,2024

BOE: we shipped over 100 million OLED panels in 2023, will supply next-gen X1 AMOLEDs to OnePlus's upcoming smartphones

BOE hosted an event to mark the launch of its new X1 AMOLED screen, together with OnePlus, who will adopt the new display in its upcoming OnePlus 12 smartphone. BOE also announced, during the event, that it has produced over 100 million AMOLED displays already in 2023.

The OnePlus 12 will features a 2K (3168x1440) display that will offer a peak brightness of 2600 nits. The smartphone will also sport the company's own Oppo P1 display chip that features high-precision pixel calibration algorithms that ensure high brightness, high image quality - reduced power consumption (by 13%, according to OnePlus). The display is based on BOE's new-generation of LTPO backplane, that the company says offer stable high and low frequency switching and increase image performance, while reducing power consumption compared to its previous LTPO platform.

Read the full story Posted: Oct 27,2023

Apple cancels BOE's iPhone 15 panel orders, orders more displays from Samsung

In March 2023 we reported that BOE is developing smartphone OLED displays for Apple's iPhone 15 range, but it is facing technical hurdles, and Apple has yet to approve BOE's displays (the main problem seemed to be around the punch-hole and selfie camera and FaceID sensors).

Apple iPhone 14 photo

Today Korean media says that Apple decided to cancel all of BOE's iPhone 15 display panel orders, and has moved all these orders to Samsung Display. Meanwhile LG Display has been approved as a supplier to only some of the iPhone models (specifically not the iPhone 15 Pro Max phone), and Samsung Display remains the only company that provides the displays for all of the iPhone 15 models.

Read the full story Posted: Sep 12,2023

The Honor Magic V2 smartphone is highly popular in China, according to JD.com

Honor started selling it Magic V2 foldable smartphone 10 days ago, and according to online retailer JD.com, the phone was the 2nd most popular premium smartphones during the week (Apples iPhone 14 Pro is the most popular phone).

Honor Magic V2

The Magic V2 model sold at JD.com costs 9,999 Yuan (around $1,400 USD). It seems as this is the first foldable that reaches high popularity in China, said to be mostly because of its thin profile and low weight (compared to other foldables). The phone is also sold at other Chinese outlets and can be ordered internationally through Aliexpress.

Read the full story Posted: Jul 22,2023

Sigmaintell: production of OLED smartphone displays in China to jump 40% in 2023

Most analysts seem to agree that global demand for OLED displays is set to slow down in 2023. DSCC says that revenues will decrease 7% in 2023, led by a drop in demand for OLED smartphone and TV displays. Omdia also agrees, saying that OLED fab utilization remains low.

Xiaomi 13 Pro smartphone

China-based Sigmaintaell, meanwhile, is optimistic on China's own OLED industry, expecting production to jump 40% in 2023. Sigmaintell says that Chinese phone makers are increasing their adoption of OLED displays in high-end and mid-range models. The company's analysts expect over 220 million Chinese OLED panels to ship in 2023, and China's OLED market share to rise to 38%, up from 28% in 2021.

Read the full story Posted: Apr 20,2023

LG Display and Samsung Display are both working on special glass-TFE OLEDs for Apple's future iPads

Apple's interest in OLED displays for future iPad tablet device is not secret, and many analysts estimate that the first such device will be released in 2024.

One of Apple's requirement is for superior performance for its tablets compared to smartphone AMOLED displays - and so developers are relying on a tandem OLED structure. According to a new report from Korea, LG Display is developing another unique technology for Apple's iPads.

Read the full story Posted: Apr 18,2023

Amorphyx Q&A about champion performance in IGZO TFT for OLED Smartphone applications

This is a sponsored post by Amorphyx, where display industry consultant Ian Hendy has interviewed Amorphyx's CEO John Brewer

Q: Can you start by telling us a little about what Amorphyx does, John?

Amorphyx has several fundamentally new technology platforms that provide for TFT performance improvements in three areas: (1) Switching speeds, with options to move to the Tera-Hz range ultimately, (2) Power, where the IGZO AMeTFT can achieve even lower power performance than today’s LTPO OLED Pro Motion displays and better refresh range, and (3) Small transistor size.

Our technology platforms are lower cost than the alternatives, and move from amorphous and crystalline semiconductor approaches, to devices based on different effects that do not have a semiconductor at all, yet can still drive a display, drive current, deliver grey scale and switch very fast. Or they can operate a flex IC at higher clock speeds than known today.

For now, our main commercial focus is on IGZO AMeTFT which is fundamentally a potential replacement transistor for LTPS or LTPO used in modern OLED phones and has the capability to replace more highly compensated LTPO circuits in modern Smartphone displays due to enhanced stability.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 08,2023

Omdia: the smartphone market is shrinking, but the LTPO-AMOLED display segment is growing fast

Market research firm Omdia says that the global smartphone market is shrinking, and is set to fall 18% in 2022 to 1.425 billion units. LTPS AMOLED display shipments will decline 19% compared to 2021 to 44 million units (LCDs will decline even faster at 26%).

Omdia smartphone display market by tech (2021-2023E)

The only segmented that Omdia says is growing is the LTPO AMOLED one, with a fast growth of 94% in 2022 (to 148 million units), and will continue to grow in 2023 (25%).

Read the full story Posted: Nov 18,2022

LG Display starts to ship LTPO AMOLED displays to Apple

According to ETNews, Apple approved LG Display's LTPO AMOLED displays for the iPhone 14 Pro, and so LGD starts to ship displays to Apple - what has been an exclusive supply by Samsung Display.

Apple iPhone 14 photo

The iPhone 14 Pro has a 6.1" 120Hz 2000 nits 1179x2556 LTPO AMOLED display, while the 14 Pro Max has a larger 6.7-inch 1290x2796 panel.

Read the full story Posted: Nov 09,2022