Apple relies on Samsung and LG to produce its OLED panels for its iPhones. Now, Chinese-based display maker CSOT is evaluating its production lines in hopes of becoming supplying the Cupertino tech giant with OLED displays for future iPhones.
Chinese display maker CSOT could produce OLED panels for Apple
Currently, Apple uses Samsung Display and LG Display for its OLED displays and has BOE trying to become a panel supplier as well. According to a new report by The Elec, CSOT is now working with Apple to try and bring a Wuham factory online for iPhone display production. Both companies are currently in early talks and the report says CSOT plans to make a demo line to evaluate the performance of the panels made there.
CSOT, together with Apple, first review the OLED panel produced from its T4 factory at Wuhan, China, sources said. The factory is designed to house three phases for a total capacity of 45,000 substrates per month. Two phases are currently live.
Based on how things go with the evaluation, the Chinese firm will “decide on whether it will use T4 to manufacture OLED panels for iPhones or to build another line after the evaluation.”
As reported earlier this week, another Chinese firm BOE who joined Apple’s supply chain to produce panels for the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 13 earlier this year, is trying to expand its capacity to manufacture OLED LPTOP displays that enable a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, in time for the iPhone 15 Pro. BOE will continue to supply displays for the lower-end models in the upcoming iPhone 14 lineup expected in the fall while displays for the Pro variants will be manufactured by Samsung and LG.
The Elec notes, “Cupertino can also already use BOE to pressure Samsung Display and LG Display into lowering their unit prices. BOE’s OLED production capacity will also expand to 144,000 substrates per month by the end of this year or early next year, triple that of the maximum capacity at CSOT’s T4 factory.”
Read more:
