It says a lot about Apple as a brand when the 2018 lineup already has the world buzzing. The iPhone 8, set to land in 2018, is part of the flagship smartphone collection of the electronics giant. While it's still a while away, the word around the circuit is the company's finally ready to ditch the LCDs for new OLED panels, which is a major move in terms of performance and display.

According to a report from G For Games, JDI is already gearing up to support Apple in their big jump from LCD to OLED. The supplier, which already supplies a large chunk of Apple's panels, is determined to keep its place as the company's largest panel supplier.

Sources told Japanese newspaper Nikkan that JDI is planning to convert the 4.5 generation Ishikawa factory into an OLED test production line by spring 2016. This will be followed by the sixth generation Mobara factory and a mass production line in spring 2018, in hopes of being equipped enough to provide the upcoming iPhone 8 with enough materials by then.

Sharp, another one of Apple's main LCD suppliers, has not yet given details on their plans on the company's switch-up. However, LG and Samsung -- two of the world's biggest OLED panel manufacturers -- are already ahead of the curve, so there's already worthy competition up against JDI this early in the game.

A previous report from Korea Times already revealed Samsung's intention to provide Apple with the OLED panels for the next iPhone installments. According to a Samsung Display executive, the company is looking to extend its reach across the industry and not just limit itself to Samsung devices.

"Samsung Display has recently renewed talks with Apple to supply its small-sized OLED displays for the next iPhones to be released in a few years, which I believe is around 2018," he explained.

He added, "Samsung Display-manufactured OLED displays have so far been used in all Galaxy flagship smartphones. But demand for handsets will remain weak as time goes by because the handset industry will be reshaped further. Samsung Display needs to have a long-term contract with new and trustworthy major customers for OLED displays. If Samsung starts to ship OLEDs for new Apple iPhones, then this will be huge."

Apple continues its run as an imposing figure in the tech community. According to a report from CNET, the company capped off its "most successful year yet" with the recently released iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, according to CEO Tim Cook.