BOE makes push to become Apple's second OLED supplier for iPhones

Major Chinese display maker BOE is reportedly investing billions into OLED production lines in an attempt to win orders from Apple, which currently relies exclusively on Samsung panels for the iPhone X.

BOE is investing some $7.04 billion into a "B11" line in Sichuan province, and finalizing investments for a "B12" line likely to be built in the city of Chongqing, Korean site ETNews said on Tuesday, citing sources from several industries. For B11, the company is believed to have started ordering equipment for front-end processes in June.

That line is expected to do a 70/30 percent split between flexible and foldable OLED panels, while B12 will aim for 50/50.

BOE has allegedly presented information about both lines to Apple, though it's uncertain whether the latter has made investment requests or if BOE is simply pursuing Apple on its own. Regardless, BOE would need to pass Apple production standards to qualify for orders.

LG Display has likewise been gunning for Apple OLED orders, and could even help the company build a foldable iPhone come 2020. ETNews indicated that LG holds quality and output advantages over BOE.

Apple could potentially want as many as three suppliers, given rumors the company is planning to ship 5.8- and 6.5-inch OLED iPhones next year, and eventually go OLED-only. That would not only improve bottlenecks but reduce dependence on Samsung, its main competitor in the smartphone arena.

17 Comments

wood1208 2932 comments · 10 Years

About 6 years ago

With 3 OLED suppliers, Apple can get needed supply and control the cost.Relying on enemy Samsung alone is too dangerous.

melgross 33607 comments · 20 Years

I just read about Apple’s patent for a foldable,screen. I hope they won’t be doing that. We just went through a big discussion about folding screens. More problems than benefits.

wood1208 said:

With 3 OLED suppliers, Apple can get needed supply and control the cost.Relying on enemy Samsung alone is too dangerous.

I’m going to hedge my bets on this. The problem won’t be availability. It will be in qualification. For example, LG has a low qualification for its OLED screen’s. Samsung has at least, a fairly high qualification. Their screen for Apple is supposedly a more highly qualified one (which also includes Apple OLED technology).

the question is whether these others can do a highly qualified screen. If not, Apple won’t use them, Samsung and shortages aside.

jbdragon 2312 comments · 10 Years

melgross said:

I just read about Apple’s patent for a foldable,screen. I hope they won’t be doing that. We just went through a big discussion about folding screens. More problems than benefits.

The iPhone X already has a foldable screen. As the center top part of the screen where the notch is as as been folded over. You can see this in pictures.

jbdragon said:

melgross said:

I just read about Apple’s patent for a foldable,screen. I hope they won’t be doing that. We just went through a big discussion about folding screens. More problems than benefits.

The iPhone X already has a foldable screen. As the center top part of the screen where the notch is as as been folded over. You can see this in pictures.

What? The notch is cut out. There aren’t any folds. And folding screens are screens that allow the device to close like a book.