BOE to Manufacture Up to 15-Inch OLED Displays Aimed for Future iPads

Apple supplier BOE recently converted one of its factories in China in order to manufacture larger OLED displays for devices beyond smartphones, including tablets and computers, according to Korean website The Elec.

OLED iPad Pro Feature
The report claims that BOE is likely aiming to supply OLED displays for future iPads, after becoming a supplier of iPhone 13 displays last year. The repurposed factory will be able to manufacture up to 15-inch displays, but it remains to be seen if Apple ever releases a 15-inch iPad. In June 2021, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple had explored the idea of iPads with larger displays, but he said a release if any would be years away.

The factory will have the ability to manufacture OLED displays with two layers of red, green, and blue emission layers, the report added, which could lead to future iPads having significantly brighter displays. However, it remains to be seen whether BOE would succeed in commercializing these panels due to the complexity of the technology.

Apple currently sources OLED displays for iPhones from Samsung and LG, but it frequently attempts to diversify its supply chain to reduce the risk of relying on a single supplier and to secure competitive pricing.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
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Top Rated Comments

AppleShareholder Avatar
40 months ago
BOE will steal the technology. It's a shame that for all of its wokeness and human rights advocacy, Apple continues to do business with Chinese companies.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DHagan4755 Avatar
40 months ago
A 15" iPad would be cool. But Apple first needs to make a 15" MacBook Air.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleShareholder Avatar
40 months ago

It looks like BOE is doing the best it can to become Apple's one of the main suppliers. Being able to use the iPhone 13 PM for months, I think they have impressed Apple that they can get the job right. Hopefully, they can keep up with the order demand. Whatever Apple's going to ask for.
The Pro Max displays are made by Samsung.
It's the regular 13 models that have some BOE panels. Apple trying desperately to prop up Chinese companies.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleShareholder Avatar
40 months ago

I thought some of the Pro Max models were also built by BOE?

It also looks like things are coming together for BOE. This was all reported previously as well. As far as July, 2021. Mid 2022 is the target date for BOE.

https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2021/06/apples-display-supplier-boe-to-start-ltpo-display-production-in-mid-to-late-2022-in-the-hopes-of-capturing-more-iphone-busin.html

https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2021/11/apple-supplier-boe-is-expanding-their-oled-display-capacity-for-apple-and-chinese-smartphone-vendors.html
All the Pro and Pro Max displays are high quality Samsung panels.
Most of the 13s are also Samsung. BOE is used for a small amount of non-Pro models as well as the refurbished iPhones.
BOE's quality is kind of questionable, but they're definitely much better than Japanese quality. Not as good as the Koreans, though.
Apple is propping up BOE to please China.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
40 months ago
It looks like BOE is doing the best it can to become Apple's one of the main suppliers. Being able to use the iPhone 13 PM for months, I think they have impressed Apple that they can get the job right. Hopefully, they can keep up with the order demand. Whatever Apple's going to ask for.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleShareholder Avatar
40 months ago

I wonder why when Tim Cook was expanding the supply chain to be in India.
I believe India and China are not on good terms ATM. It would be good marketing in India to say that iPhones are made domestically.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)