Apple Watch Series 3 May Use New Type of Display

By Georgia Gana, Christian Post Contributor Thursday, February 23, 2017

The Apple Watch Series 3 is slated to arrive later this year and according to the latest reports, it will feature a new touchscreen display.

Industry sources have told Digitimes that supplier TPK Holding has been having a hard time with the mass production of touch-on-lens (TOL) displays, which is used by the Apple Watch Series 2. Compared to the glass-on-glass (G/G) panels used by the original Apple Watch, TPK is unable to increase yield rates for TOL screens which resulted in losses for the company in 2016.

As a result, the supplier is considering halting the production of Apple Watches and will instead focus on 3D sensor-based touch panels for smartphones with organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays. In turn, Apple is considering a new display technology for the upcoming third-generation smartwatch.

"Considering cost and yield rates, Apple will adopt G/F (glass-film) touch solution in place of TOL for new Apple Watch," sources told the publication.

The use of this new display is expected to improve the manufacturing aspect of the Apple Watch Series 3, compared to its predecessor. However, for consumers, there will be no discernable difference between these two types of displays.

Sources also mentioned that the G/F displays could be manufactured by Taiwanese company General Interface Solution or Hong Kong-based Biel Crystal Manufactory. Shipping is expected to begin in the second half of 2017.

Meanwhile, in terms of technical specifications, not much is known about the Apple Watch Series 3. However, reports have suggested that the new wearable device may finally gain cellular capabilities via an LTE chip.

This feature was expected to be included in the Apple Watch Series 2 but the Cupertino-based tech giant reportedly experienced issues with the smartwatch's battery, which led to the absence of LTE support.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is also touted to gain improvements in battery life. Apple Insider recently discovered that the company filed a patent for a charging apparatus that will be integrated into the wearable device's watch band. However, it remains to be seen if this technology will indeed be featured in the upcoming device.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is rumored to arrive in September.