The market for affordable yet powerful smartphones is heating up, and Apple’s upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE is causing quite a stir among tech enthusiasts and consumers alike. According to recent reports by The Elec., China-based BOE will be supplying the OLED displays for this highly anticipated device, set to be released next year. Despite initial production issues causing BOE to miss out on supplying OLED panels for this year’s iPhone 15 series, the company is now focusing on producing OLED panels for the iPhone SE 4. With an estimated volume of around 20 million panels, this move underscores Apple’s commitment to expanding its entry-level product line.
Interestingly, instead of introducing new specifications for the iPhone SE 4, Apple is expected to use OLED inventory originally meant for the 2021 iPhone 13 or 2022 iPhone 14. This decision will allow Apple to optimize its supply chain and maximize efficiency for the iPhone SE 4, which will come equipped with a 6.1-inch OLED display and an Apple-designed 5G chip, making it a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the current iPhone SE, which has a smaller 4.7-inch LCD display with thicker bezels.
According to Kuo, the upcoming iPhone SE is expected to share similarities with the previous-gen standard iPhone 14, which boasts a 6.1-inch OLED display with slimmer bezels. In contrast, the current iPhone SE comes with a 4.7-inch LCD display that features thicker bezels.
As we eagerly anticipate the release of the iPhone SE 4, the partnership between Apple and BOE, coupled with the device’s impressive specifications, is a clear indication of Apple’s unwavering dedication to innovation and affordability within the smartphone industry.
Based on current estimates, the cost of the 6.1-inch OLED panel for the iPhone SE 4 is projected to be around $40, thanks to the utilization of a low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin film transistor (TFT) design that is believed to be of low technical difficulty to produce. This makes it a component that BOE is more likely to be able to produce at a level that meets Apple’s high standards.
Moreover, the cost of the LTPS panel for the iPhone SE 4 is less than half the cost of the low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) panel used in the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which is estimated to be over $100 per unit.
As Samsung Display is already involved in producing panels for eight iPhone models, including the four iPhone 15 models, it is assumed that the company will have less incentive to manufacture panels for the iPhone SE 4. In contrast, LG Display is expected to concentrate on creating LTPO panels, rather than LTPS.
It should be noted that The Elec has a decent track record of reporting on Apple’s supply chain, but its accuracy regarding Apple’s specific plans for the parts in question is not always reliable.
Source: The Elec