Samsung finalized the design of the Super AMOLED panels meant to be utilized by the Galaxy S10 line, Sout Korean media reports, adding that the Seoul-based technology giant is ready to begin mass-producing the screen modules in question. SFA and Phil Optics are among the manufacturers that are collaborating with Samsung on the new panels and more partners might follow suit in the coming weeks, as per the same report. The insiders cited by the latest report reiterated previous theories about the Galaxy S10 line using a front-facing camera hole instead of a traditional notch and suggested the new modules will be advertised as part of the Infinity-O series.
As a result of that product strategy, Samsung is understood to be working on an entirely new lineup of Super AMOLED panels which utilizes curved display edges and unprecedented color accuracy, the new rumor suggests. How successful will that approach end up being remains to be seen but as things stand right now, the Galaxy S10 line will be somewhat similar to the Galaxy S9 family in terms of the overall design. Part of the reason why Samsung opted for the new modules is to differentiate its 2019 handsets from rivaling solutions as it believes its China-based competitors will not be able to copy the Infinity-O aesthetic next year, insiders claim.
Background: Earlier this month, the South Korean original equipment manufacturer announced several new mobile display ranges which it’s preparing to commercialize in the near future. Besides the aforementioned Infinity-O range, the company debuted Infinity-V, Infinity-U, and New Infinity series. The single-letter designators are meant to illustrate the shape of a display notch used by the said screen modules, with the Infinity-O lineup technically featuring a hole instead of a conventional cutout. The hole itself can be positioned centrally near the top of the screen but might also be moved to any particular corner of the panel, Samsung said. The Galaxy A8s may be the first device to utilize the new technology before the thereof makes its way to the Galaxy S10 range.
While Samsung’s main flagship series historically consisted of two models in every product generation, the Galaxy S10 line is said to include three distinct devices. Besides direct successors to the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+, Samsung is also expected to launch a device that will mark its partial return to flat mobile screens in the flagship segment of the Android ecosystem. All three handsets should be available on a global level, insiders said earlier this fall.
Impact: The fact that Samsung is now believed to have finalized its Infinity-O range is in line with the expected timeline of the Galaxy S10 line’s availability; by most accounts, the upcoming phablets will be announced at Mobile World Congress in late February and go on sale within a month of their official unveiling. Whether Samsung truly managed to develop Super AMOLED panels whose looks can’t be easily copied remains to be seen but such an achievement could certainly help it differentiate its products in highly competitive markets like India.