iPhone displays may be coming from Japan

Although it was previously thought that AU Optronics (AUO) and Innolux Display would be the manufacturers chosen by Apple to fabricate the iPhone's "multi-touch" displays, a DigiTimes report citing "sources at panel makers" said the major suppliers for the panels may be "two Japan-based players while an unspecified Taiwan-based company may be a secondary source for the iPhone panels."

The speculation that AUO and Innolux may be iPhone panel suppliers has not been verified, though Taiwan-based panel makers said Japan-based players still have advantages in the handset panel segment. Therefore, it is still difficult for Taiwan-based players to land iPhone panel orders, the makers noted.

According to reports iPhone displays will likely be made from low-temperature poly-silicon (LTPS) panels since the technology features a more flexible circuit design. Currently AUO and TPO Displays (A Toppoly and Philips joint venture) are the only two companies in Taiwan producing LTPS panels.