BOE Actively Preparing to Become Apple’s OLED Screen Supplier

Sina reports that China’s largest screen component maker BOE is investing in OLED production lines for iPhone displays. In the future, the iPhone may use a BOE screen, thus becoming Apple’s OLED screens’ third supplier.

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As the source says, BOE has been involved in Apple’s OLED business for some time but has not yet reached Apple’s quality standards. However, the company now appears confident in the matter, and they have started investing in factories and equipment to become Apple’s suppliers in the future. In 2021, BOE may become the third Apple OLED supplier after Samsung Display and LG Display.

Insiders revealed that BOE recently decided to invest in OLED production lines exclusively for Apple. They plan to build 10 new production lines at their B11 OLED factory in Sichuan. The company has been following up on OLED screen projects for the iPhone. However, because its OLEDs have not yet met Apple’s stringent quality assessments, no agreement has been reached with the latter.

Media also cautiously pointed out that the current actions of BOE do not mean that Apple has placed OLED orders with BOE. But it is said that Apple has asked BOE to ‘make necessary preparations’ for the production of domestic OLED iPhone displays.

For the past ten years, Apple has always believed that LCD screens can meet its high requirements for smartphone display. However, with the development of the iPhone X, the hard-material LCD, it can no longer meet the design of a full-screen smartphone. The reason why the iPhone X’s ‘chin’ can be so narrow is that Apple bent a part of it behind.

At first, Apple’s OLED screen had only Samsung Display as a supplier. This is actually a result that Apple is very reluctant to see. ‘Exclusive’ means that Apple has little bargaining power and supply risks. Later, for the iPhone 11 Pro generation, LG became Apple’s OLED screen supplier. But in fact, Apple still relies heavily on Samsung screens.

Currently, BOE provides LCD screens for Apple. It was previously thought that BOE might begin to supply OLED screens to Apple this year, but today’s report shows that even if orders are placed, production will not begin until 2021.