Pantech joins HTC by using LCD to replace scarce AMOLED screens

Pantech, Korea's No. 3 handset maker will not use AM-OLED displays on its new smartphones to be launched in the first half of next year because of a shortage of the component.

The company, which currently sells two AM-OLED smartphones based on the Android operating system in Korea, joins Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC in shifting to LCDs because of supply issues.

A shortage of AM-OLED displays hinders their bid to overtake rival LCDs as the dominant displays for mobile phones. Prices and technology also remain as major barriers holding back the adoption of the so-called next-generation displays in not only mobile phones, but TVs as well.

The executive manager said: "We will not use AM-OLED displays in our new phones to be rolled out in the first half of next year because of supply issues."