iPhone SE 4 rumored to finally ditch LCD for OLED in early 2025

Rumors of an iPhone SE 4 with an OLED screen are continuing to gain pace, with Apple reportedly ceasing supplies of LCD panels.

The iPhone SE is the last Apple smartphone to have an LCD screen instead of using an OLED panel. Rumors have previously proposed the iPhone SE will join the rest of the collection in using OLED at some point in the future.

In Tuesday's report from Nikkei Asia, Apple is set to stop working with two Japanese display panel suppliers for iPhone screens. Japan Display and Sharp are providers of LCDs, and will continue to do so for the iPhone SE 3.

However, report sources claim that Apple has placed orders for OLED iPhone SE displays from LG Display and BOE. Since Japan Display and Sharp don't mass produce OLED panels for smartphones, they're expected to exit the iPhone supply chain when Apple switches to the iPhone SE 4.

It is forecast that the iPhone SE 4 with OLED will ship in early 2025.

Previous rumors have claimed that Apple Intelligence support will be included with the model, with it also sharing a chassis design and edge-to-edge display with the iPhone 14 or iPhone 16. Face ID, an A18 chip, and a 48-megapixel camera are also tipped to be major upgrades for the model.

A gradual supplier switch

Apple's change in display technologies used in its iPhones has significantly altered its screen supply chain over the years.

A decade ago, Japan Display and Sharp had a combined 70% share of the iPhone display supply chain. Now, they are only supplying screens for the iPhone SE.

With the switch to OLED, Apple has relied on other suppliers that work with the technology. Samsung Display is the main supplier, providing about half of Apple's iPhone OLED screens, with LG Display having a 30% share and BOE around 20%.