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Apple under-display IR and selfie camera design with OTI Lumionics solution

A Turning Point for Under-Display Camera Commercialization: A Close-Up Analysis of Apple’s 2026 Strategy (iPhone 18: IR Camera, Foldable: Selfie Camera… OTI Solutions Are Key)

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Apple plans to apply under-display camera technology differently depending on the device type in its next-generation iPhone lineup, slated for release in 2026. According to industry sources, the iPhone 18 series will feature an under-display infrared (IR) camera, while the foldable iPhone, scheduled for release at the same time, will feature an under-display selfie camera. This is not a simple design change; it is a strategic decision that takes into account the structural characteristics and user experience of each device.

Bar-type iPhones require a polarizer to suppress external light reflection and improve outdoor readability. However, polarizers absorb both visible and infrared light, significantly reducing transmittance. This structural limitation could directly lead to poor image quality and consumer dissatisfaction if the front-facing selfie camera is placed under the display. In contrast, IR cameras only require a 940nm near-infrared wavelength, and their goal is not high-quality photos, but accurate security authentication. Therefore, the iPhone 18 series will incorporate an under-display IR camera to simultaneously implement a full-screen design and Face ID security features. This is the most reasonable approach, minimizing image quality concerns while enhancing design perfection.

The foldable iPhone is a different story. To ensure thickness and flexibility, the device adopts a structure that eliminates the polarizer, replacing it with a color correction film and phase compensation material. This relatively increases display transmittance, facilitating the application of an under-display selfie camera. While camera performance degradation remains, this can be sufficiently addressed through AI-based image correction technology and ISP improvements. Samsung Electronics has already incorporated an under-display camera into the Galaxy Z Fold series, and Apple plans to leverage the same structural advantages to incorporate an under-display selfie camera into its foldable iPhone.

A key technology in this process is the Cathode Patterning Material (CPM) from Canada’s OTI Lumionics. This technology prevents the deposition of metal cathodes in specific areas during the OLED manufacturing process, forming a transparent opening. This technology facilitates the stable operation of the under-display camera and IR sensor. This solution, which maintains screen quality while ensuring the transmittance required by the camera and sensor, has already been verified by major global panel manufacturers, and Apple plans to incorporate it into the iPhone 18 series and foldable iPhone.

(a) Under-display camera, (b) Under-display IR camera structure – Source: OTI Lumionics

(a) UDC and (b) UDIR using a patterned cathode (Source: OTI Lumionics)

UBI Research Executive Vice President Changwook Han emphasized, “Apple’s choice to use an under-display IR camera in the bar type and an under-display selfie camera in the foldable is the result of choosing an optimized solution for each product structure,” and “2026 will be a turning point when Apple commercializes under-display technology in earnest.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 OLED Component and Materials Report

[OLED summit 2016]AMOLED panel Application, will it succeed in extension to PC?

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On the first day of OLED Summit 2016, presentations on Intel and OTI Lumionics for PC AMOLED panel were held. Both of these two companies presented on topics of current situation analysis for PC AMOLED panel and upcoming opportunities, and noted that there is a long way to go for AMOLED panel for PC.

On January 2016, Lenovo presented the introduction of world’s first OLED laptop ‘X1 Yoga’ with 14-inch 2550×1440 resolution AMOLED panel, and HP also presented the introduction of 13,3-inch 2560×1600 resolution OLED laptop ‘Specter X360 hybrid laptop/tablet’. Also in CES2016 held early this year, Samsung introduced ‘Galaxy Tab Pro S’ where they seem to prove the possibility of AMOLED panel for PC.

However, both Intel and OTI Lumionics explained AMOLED panel lacks in power consumption, brightness, lifespan, and price compared to LCD. OTI Lumionics showed the results of three products, Galaxy Tab Pro S, X1 yoga, and Mac book, emphasizing the need for improvements in AMOLED panel for PC.

Especially, OTI Lumionics CEO Michael G. Helander said, “as a result of burn-in test of AMOLED product for PC, it decreased to under LT97 in 80 hours, and it is an especially important factor for office PC which runs daily average of 7 hours. Considering that products with AMOLED panel are at premium level, it must be improved 10 times better compared to now”, emphasizing the reduction of burn-in phenomenon after the lifespan of PC AMOLED panel being improved.

Intel John F. Jacobs said “although OLED has big issues in lifespan and power consumption in white environment, the recent trend of PC tend to utilize contents with various color compared to existing office or internet-based white environment where the white background tend to decrease. It can be a new opportunity for OLED”, emphasizing the opportunity of OLED.
In order for white realization, AMOLED panel must drive all sub pixel of RGB. So in regular PC environment where white background is normally used such as office program or internet browser, AMOLED panel is mainly applied in special monitors such as medical and broadcasting due to issues of increasing power consumption and comparatively decreasing lifespan.

However, as Intel presented, considering that the PC environment is gradually changing and the lifespan of OLED is continuously improving, it is expected that AMOLED panel will have a bright future with PC as well.

While emphasizing high contrast range, fast response speed, wide viewing angle which are the strength of OLED, it is analyzed that the development of OLED luminescent material must be the main point in extending the OLED industry.

<Intel’s John F. Jacobs>

<OTI Lumionics’s Michael G. Helander>