Apple adds LG Display to its iPhone 14 Pro display supply chain. ETNews reports that the South Korean manufacturer got its final approval from Apple to produce LTPO OLED panels for iPhone 14 Pro lineup in October and it has entered the display market which is dominated by Samsung Display.
In September, The Elec reported that LG Display was awaiting the tech giant’s approval to manufacture low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED for iPhone 14 Pro Max to either mass production or make more improvements.
Since the LTPO OLED panels used in iPhone’s Pro lineup are harder to manufacture than the low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) OLED panels used in standard iPhone models, the South Korean manufacturer cleared high technology entry barriers to gain Apple’s display business.
LG Display bags a portion of Samsung Display shipments for Apple’s iPhones
Previously, Samsung Display was the exclusive supplier of LTPO OLED panels for Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro models. Now, LG Display has bagged a portion of Samsung’s shipments. The report states:
After the iPhone 14 was released, the display of the pro model was exclusively supplied by Samsung Display. Samsung Display’s technology has been stable for over two years since mass-producing LTPO OLED for mobile use. Samsung Display achieved the highest profit in the third quarter by supplying OLED exclusively to the iPhone 14 Pro Max model.
The new business venture is expected to be profitable for LG Display in spite of the reduction in iPhone 14 Pro shipments.
An official from Stone Partners, a market research company, said, “The iPhone 14 has started to cut production for some general models, but Samsung Display and LG Display are expected to maintain their original supply contract level due to the popularity of the Pro series.”
The report further details that Apple’s display business is currently divided among three suppliers:
- Samsung produces displays for all four iPhone 14 models, standard and Pro.
- LG Display produces LTPO OLED panels for iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models
- BOE produces LTPS OLED panels for standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models.
