Reports out of the Korean business press seem to indicate that Samsung is still Apple’s best frenemy forever. According to The Elec, Samsung Display is set to increase its supply of OLED panels for iPhones this year after receiving Apple’s approval for all models in the iPhone 15 series. On the other hand, LG Display has received conditional approval for the iPhone Pro but not for the iPhone Pro Max. BOE has not yet received approval for supplying OLED panels for the lower-tier iPhone models, losing the initial order to Samsung Display.
The increase in Samsung Display’s OLED panel supply is attributed to setbacks faced by its rivals, particularly LG Display, which encountered production issues last year. Apple is expanding the use of Dynamic Island technology to all iPhone 15 models, necessitating hole-display panels, which BOE is struggling to manufacture. BOE had plans to supply small low-temperature polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistors (LTPS TFT) OLED panels for the basic and plus models of the iPhone 15 series.
However, there may be other issues influencing the situation. Yield problems faced by Apple’s camera parts suppliers, Sony and LG Innotek, for the parts intended for the iPhone Pro Max could lead to adjustments in Apple’s production schedule, potentially giving LG Display more time to obtain approval for supplying OLED panels for the iPhone Pro Max.
