- ⏰ 7 hours ago (Updated 7 hours ago)
- Alban Martin
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Apple has all but shut Chinese manufacturer BOE out of the iPhone 13 supply chain after discovering design changes to its OLED panels. As reported The Electricthe screens supplied by BOE no longer comply with the requirements of the Cupertino company.
BOE about to be banned?
BOE has been supplying OLED panels for the classic 6.1-inch iPhone 13s since last year, but the company has made only a “meager amount” of OLED panels for the iPhone since February, according to The Elec. The production volume of the panels is said to have “fallen over the past four months”.
The original reason for the drop in production was a shortage of integrated circuits (ICs) for display drivers, with supplier LX Semicon prioritizing orders from LG Display. More importantly, BOE is said to have changed the design of its OLED panels by increasing the circuit width of the thin film transistors. When Apple discovered this change, it immediately asked BOE to stop production. An embarrassing discovery that must have caused some internal shocks.
Still, BOE is unlikely to be shut out of Apple’s OLED panel supply chain in the future, as its presence puts pressure on Samsung Display and LG Display to be more competitive and contain their prices. . BOE’s factory in Chengdu, Sichuan is reportedly still operational, and BOE may be working on a workaround to meet Apple’s requirements.
BOE has made OLED panels for the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 at two factories in China, accounting for just 10% of all iPhone screens in 2021, but the company has planned significant expansion to overtake LG Display and position itself as Apple’s second iPhone screen supplier in 2023 with the future iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. It is expected that the screen technology will not change this year, with the 120 Hz on the Pro, but the design of the front panel will evolve since the notch will finally be removed and replaced by a combo hole + pill on both high end.