Google is considering a major investment in a Korean supplier of smartphone screens to upgrade its future electronics, according to a new report.
Google is considering making a 1 trillion won (approximately $875 million) investment in LG Display, Korea-based news outlet Yonhap News is reporting, citing sources who say they have knowledge of the plans. The investment would help LG Display add more production capacity for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens and give Google easier access to the technology for future Pixel smartphones, according to the report.
OLED screens are an improvement over traditional liquid crystal displays (LCDs), including better color and thinner designs that, in turn, let handset makers produce thinner smartphones. Additionally, OLEDs are flexible, allowing device makers to incorporate curved screens in their products.
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OLED is most prominently featured in Samsung’s (SSNLF) recently announced Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ handsets. Those devices come with curves on both the left and right sides of the screen.
Previous reports have said that Apple (AAPL) is considering adding OLED displays in at least one iPhone model this year. Those rumors, which Apple hasn’t confirmed, also say the panels could be slightly curved.
However, OLED panels are notoriously difficult to produce, making supplies limited. LG Display is one of just a few companies, including Samsung Display, that produce the technology.
While Google (GOOGL) hasn’t announced plans for its future smartphones, the company is rumored to be working on the next version of it Pixel smartphone for later this year. The Yonhap report suggests Google is considering curved OLED screens for its next smartphone and that it could use an investment in LG Display to ensure that it has sufficient supply, according to the news outlet’s sources.
Google has yet to make its investment in LG Display and it’s unclear whether the companies will come to an agreement. Google declined Coins2Day‘s request for comment on the report. LG Display did not immediately respond to a Coins2Day request for comment.
