In a strategic move, Samsung Display has obtained the green signal from Apple to kickstart the mass production of OLED panels for each variant within the iPhone 15 Series lineup. In contrast, fellow suppliers, LG Display and BOE, are currently awaiting Apple’s go-ahead, which has yet to be granted.
Reports from The Elec, as shared through GSMArena, reveal that BOE, the designated supplier for OLED panels for both the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models, has encountered a stumbling block related to the “Dynamic Island” feature found across the entire iPhone 15 Series. Evidently, BOE’s OLED panels are grappling with issues such as bleeding around the aperture intended for the Dynamic Island functionality.
Meanwhile, LG Display, entrusted with the production of OLED panels for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models, is in a holding pattern. This is attributed to the pending approval for the iPhone 15 Pro Max panel, which boasts notably slimmer bezels, thus rendering its fabrication a more intricate task for LG’s production line.
However, LG is diligently working to accelerate the approval process for the iPhone 15 Pro Max model, simultaneously ramping up OLED panel production for the iPhone 15 Pro, which has garnered conditional approval. Despite the manufacturing hurdles, experts within the industry opine that LG’s financial repercussions will likely be manageable.
In this intricate web of supplier dynamics, Samsung Display emerges as the primary beneficiary. They stand poised to potentially be the exclusive provider of OLED panels for all four models within the iPhone 15 Series this year. Notably, Apple’s anticipated phone releases are scheduled for later this year, specifically in September 2023.
