Apple is supposedly in talks with Renesas Electronics to take over a unit that designs chips for smartphone displays, whose engineering might help improve image sharpness and battery life, according to Apple Insider.

The Cupertino, California-based company has offered $479 million for Renesas' 55 percent stake in Renesas SP Drivers.

The deal was first reported by business news agency Nikkei. 

If a deal is reached, it would be the biggest acquisition in Apple history.

The deal would surpass the $404 million Apple paid for NeXT back in 1997, which brought Steve Jobs back to the company he founded.

Renesas SP Drivers is a joint venture between Powerchip and Renesas, Sharp. 

Sharp owns 25 percent of the venture, would also likely sell its stake to Apple if the transaction is finalized, according to Nikkei.

Over 240 Renesas SP Drivers's employees are expected to stay with the company even if a deal is reached with Apple.

Renesas SP Drivers reportedly is the sole supplier of LCD chips for Apple's iPhone devices, according to AppleInsider.com, which is probably the reason Apple wants more control of the company.

These components are important to determining the display's clarity and quality, an increasingly important differentiator for mobile devices.  

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