Apple first used a screen AMOLED in the Apple Watch, a device that was presented in September 2014 and went on sale in April 2015. At this time, no one doubts that they will also use this type of technology in the iPhone panels, although it is impossible to know when they will. In any case, a last rumor already dares to affirm that Apple will invest in the company AU Optronics so that it is this one who provides, at least, part of these panels.
The news comes to us from focus taiwan and cites local media in their country as sources. His information assures that AU Optronics has already been working to develop AMOLED panels for more than a decade and now has a good number of patents that cover technology that is used in AMOLED panels. Currently, the company also provides dashboards for Huawei.
Rumors assure that Apple will start using AMOLED panels from 2018. There are analysts who do not deny this possibility, but they also warn that some providers of LCD panels They have invested heavily to supply Apple's demand, so the iPhone won't have screens other than LCDs for at least 3 years. If we take into account that these statements were made in 2015, everything indicates that in 2018-2019 the iPhone 8 or 8s will already come with an AMOLED screen.
Rumors also claim that Apple has been keeping conversations with Samsung, Japan Display and LG, the latter being the only supplier of panels for the Apple Watch. It is likely that, if Apple ends up investing in AU Optronics, it will do so for a future in which it has more control over this component and less dependence on other companies such as, effectively, Samsung.
AMOLED displays have their advantages, but also their drawbacks. On the one hand, it offers better contrast and lower consumption when using black backgrounds, but this contrast can also be too strong. It remains to be seen what Apple does to keep us all happy, but for that we will still have to wait several years.