Chinese investors have recently approached Crystal Optotech to verify whether the company is currently producing sapphire panels for Chinese smartphone manufacturer Xiaomi. Crystal Optotech responded it has yet to produce sapphire for mobile phone application.
Sapphire material produced by the company is not yet for sale in the non-LED sector, said Board Secretary Kong Xuejun. He added that it is currently only in the testing phase.
Once there is confirmation that Apple will indeed use sapphire glass covers for their upcoming iPhones models, Xiaomi will follow suit. It has been rumored that Crystal Optotech has become Xiaomi’s partner for sapphire panels.
When asked about the rumored partnership, Liu Hui, Crystal Optotech’s securities department representative responded “the company does not produce sapphire for mobile phone components.”
Crystal Optotech is mainly a manufacturer and OEM for optics components. The company’s products are separated into two main categories, one being sapphire substrate for LED application.
”We only produce sapphire substrate for application in LEDs,” said Liu Hui. “Sapphire for mobile phone application is a concept that only came about last year. Sapphire application is mainly focused in the LED sector at this moment.”
The industry is optimistic about sapphire for use in mobile phone glass covers, as it is scratch resistant and hard to break, said Kong. There is talk in the market that touchscreen sensitivity and other functions will be increased. Crystal Optotech will keep an eye on market changes and adjust strategies when needed.
