The iPhone 4 launch fiasco is about to repeat itself. A defect has presented in some iPhone 5 touch panels produced by Wintek which may affect the ability to meet initial shipment targets for the launch which is expected in October, according to iPhone supply chain makers.
In response, Wintek simply indicated that all of its products are being delivered on schedule.
Wintek, is the company where n-hexane poisoning took place this time last year. N-hexane, a poisonous chemical was used to quicker manufacture iPhone4 screens. Wintek still accounts for 20-25% (while Taiwan TPK Holding accounts for the rest) as Apple has no problem in putting their worker's health behind profits.
"The defect, "delayed bubble", is difficult to avoid during panel production, particularly when the defect is not detected during the process of laminating touch panels, and only later found during assembly, the sources said."
More advanced smartphones use AMOLED or SuperAMOLED screens that are thinner, use less power and to not require the old "lamination" procedure as the display and the touch screen are one and the same panel.
If you thought it's a good idea to preorder iPhone 5, think again, the "delayed bubble" defect was present in Apple's 2008 iPhones and as with the iPhone 4 the defective units, there was no issue in selling and marketing the product. Among cheap hair dryers and iPhones Foxconn is also known for really bad quality check, as the workers have to live in detention camp-like conditions for below minimum wage.
Samsung's SAMOLED screens could have been a "life saver" for Apple but unfortunately iPhone 5 is likely to also come with cheap TFT screens dubbed as "Retina", thanks to the increased resolution.
Meanwhile Apple has forfeited the privilege of having Samsung built memory chips and CPUs, so the only area that was never an issue on iPhones and iPads might have a rough start.
It is very likely that Apple's products will not see neither SAMOLED nor top-of-the-line 20nm chipsets from Samsung's new largest and most advanced memory fabrication facility for at least the next 5 years as Samsung continues to dominate the flash memory and display market.
