Apple to Switch to Glass-Film Touch Solution for Apple Watch?

Apple may be switching to a G/F (glass-film) touch solution for the Apple Watch following poor yield rates for TOL (touch on lens) touch panels, according to a DigiTimes report.

TPK Holding has been providing G/G (glass-glass) touch panels for the Apple Watch for two years; however, it has been unable to increase yield rates to a reasonable level. The company is considering stopping production for Apple and focusing on 3D sensor based touch panels for smartphones.

The difficulty in raising yield rates for TOL panels comes from the curved surface of Apple Watch screens that complicate the manufacturing for touch sensors, the sources said, adding the low yield rates resulted in losses for the company in 2016.


Sources say Apple plans to adopt a G/F (glass-film) touch solution for the new Apple watch with Taiwan-based General Interface Solution or Hong Kong-based Biel Crystal Manufactory as suppliers.

Shipments of the Apple Watch 3 are expected to begin in the second half of 2017.

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