Apple's shift to OLED iPhones could happen sooner than expected, if the latest reports are to be believed, Digital Spy reports.

Chinese news service Nikkei claims that 2017's iPhone 7S will be the first to rock the display technology, which wasn't tipped to find its way to the device range for another few years.

OLED screens enable manufacturers to create thinner, lighter and more flexible handsets with brighter displays and longer battery life.

Apple has already dabbled in this display tech with the Apple Watch, which achieves longer battery life by turning off pixels when required.

Several of the firm's rivals have adopted OLED, including Samsung, which has included an always-on AMOLED display on its upcoming Galaxy S7.

Apple's shift towards OLED seems inevitable, given that the firm is rumoured to be entering a big-money deal with Samsung and LG to this effect.

But don't expect the change to be in place in time for this year's iPhone 7.