Apple is serious about getting rid of Samsung as its main display supplier for the iPhone
The current largest supplier of OLED displays for the iPhone is Samsung, followed far behind by LG Display. Apple is reportedly looking to diversify its supply chain of display components for the 2020 iPhone lineup.
Apple has entered the final stages of certifying screens from China's BOE Technology Group, a new report from Nikkei Asian Review reveals. If the deal goes through, BOE could become the biggest supplier of OLED displays for the 2020 iPhone lineup.
"Apple has the incentive to qualify a new supplier for OLED display as [others] are a bit reluctant to invest too much to expand capacity," said Eric Chiou, a veteran analyst at Taipei-based research company WitsView. "That gives BOE a good opportunity to break into the new market while the Chinese display company has already proven it has capability to supply to MacBooks, iPads, HP and Dell screens. It should not be too unexpected if Apple eventually buys OLEDs from BOE too."
Apple has been working with BOE to procure display panels for the MacBook and iPad since 2017, so an expansion of their business relations comes as little surprise. According to inside sources, Apple is "aggressively" testing BOE's flexible OLED displays for next year's iPhone models. The 2020 iPhone lineup is likely going to switch to OLED for good, including the budget model.
Nikkei Asian Review has a good track record, as far as Apple supply chain leaks are concerned, and its latest report is in line with previous rumors about Apple's plans to move entirely to OLED technology for its smartphones.
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