LG Display to Supply Apple With 400,000 OLED iPhone Panels By End of Year

Wednesday November 7, 2018 3:00 AM PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple has contracted LG Display to begin production of OLED panels for iPhones. According to ETNews, the display panels will be produced at LG's E6 production line in Paju, with shipping to begin next month.


LG will supply approximately 400,000 OLED panels to Apple before the end of the year, with the cost of each unit expected to be around $90.

In September it was reported that LG's sixth-generation flexible OLED display panels passed a series of Apple's quality tests, which led to the preparation phase for mass production.

In April, a report claimed that Samsung would likely remain Apple's exclusive supplier of OLED display panels for its latest phones, after LG fell behind schedule due to mass production challenges.

However it looks like LG has cemented its position as Apple's secondary supplier of OLED panels. Korean newspaper Newspin reported about a potential deal signed between Apple and LG back in July.

Apple in September launched the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max with 5.8-inch and 6.5-inch OLED displays, respectively. Last month it launched the more affordable iPhone XR, but that phone has a 6.1-inch LCD "Liquid Retina" display.

Apple can potentially negotiate lower prices for OLED panels as Samsung and LG compete for its business, which should in turn lower its production costs of OLED-equipped iPhones.

Related Roundup: iPhone XS
Tags: etnews.co.kr, LG, OLED, LG Display
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39 comments


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69Mustang
10 months ago

Apple can potentially negotiate lower prices for OLED panels as Samsung and LG compete for its business, which should in turn lower its production costs of OLED-equipped iPhones

From a consumer perspective, this means nothing except more profit for Apple. It's not like it will translate to lower end user cost.
Rating: 11 Votes
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appleguy123
10 months ago

Don’t worry abou it too much. Apple’s strict QA test should prevent the pixel xl fiasco LG made last year.

Tell that to the LG MacBook Air displays.
Rating: 6 Votes
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BvizioN
10 months ago

Some people think the quality of displays differs depending on who makes it. I personally never really see differences.


These people are mostly MacRumors community guys. No one outside the "Nerd" circle gives a flying monkey who makes what, as long as the quality is good.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Mc0
10 months ago

Any way to tell if I end up with the Samsung or LG display? I plan to get XS in December.

Don’t worry abou it too much. Apple’s strict QA test should prevent the pixel xl fiasco LG made last year.
Rating: 3 Votes
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69Mustang
10 months ago

It will allow them to lower the price when they release next years model

No it won't. Lowering the price of the previous year's items is a consequence of economics. Basically any company with reoccurring product releases does that... every year.
Rating: 3 Votes
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iModFrenzy
10 months ago

Any way to tell if I end up with the Samsung or LG display? I plan to get XS in December.


Any reason for needing to know?
Rating: 2 Votes
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alleggerita
10 months ago



Apple can potentially negotiate lower prices for OLED panels as Samsung and LG compete for its business, which should in turn lower its production costs of OLED-equipped iPhones.

Article Link: LG Display to Supply Apple With 400,000 OLED iPhone Panels By End of Year ('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/11/07/lg-supply-apple-400000-oled-panels/')


Plot twist: LG is actually in cahoots with Samsung and there isn’t gonna be lower prices at all.
Rating: 2 Votes
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EVGabe
10 months ago
This won’t make a difference at all. The panels are made according to Apple’s specifications, and Apple’s hardcore quality control will probably make Samsung vs. LGs panels indistinguishable.
Rating: 2 Votes
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69Mustang
10 months ago

Your right, but you forgot stock holders are happy about this news.

At Best, it’ll keep prices where they are for a little longer IMO (we’ll see) rather than increases continually each year.

I didn't forget about stock holders. I commented about consumers. ;)
Two entirely different perspectives.

Not sure why you'd think a second vendor would help stabilize cost to consumers. It hasn't thus far and Apple has multiple vendors for multiple components. Yet prices still rise.
Rating: 2 Votes
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samcow
10 months ago

From a consumer perspective, this means nothing except more profit for Apple. It's not like it will translate to lower end user cost.

This is where Tim Cook shines
Rating: 1 Votes
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