The dawn of a fully OLED iPhone lineup is upon us. Apple is poised to launch the fourth-generation iPhone SE, featuring an OLED display for the first time, early next year. This transition signifies the culmination of Apple’s strategic shift towards OLED technology across its entire iPhone portfolio.
As reported by Nikkei Asia, this move away from LCDs will reshape Apple’s supply chain, leaving behind long-time Japanese panel suppliers Japan Display (JDI) and Sharp.
Apple’s journey with OLED began in 2017 with the iPhone X. Since then, OLED has progressively replaced LCD in Apple’s premium iPhone models, significantly impacting LCD suppliers. JDI and Sharp, which once supplied approximately 200 million LCD panels annually for iPhones in 2015, saw their contributions dwindle to roughly 20 million by 2023. More recently, these Japanese manufacturers have primarily supplied LCDs for the iPhone SE.
Currently, JDI’s involvement with Apple is limited to supplying small OLED displays for devices like the Apple Watch. The company is now pivoting its strategy, focusing on LCDs for the automotive sector. Similarly, Sharp is strategically downsizing its LCD operations, which were predominantly geared towards televisions.
Meanwhile, Apple has reportedly initiated orders for OLED displays for the upcoming iPhone SE with China’s BOE Technology Group and South Korea’s LG Display, solidifying its commitment to the technology.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE is rumored to boast a significant redesign, mirroring the iPhone 14’s aesthetics. Expected upgrades include Face ID (replacing Touch ID), a USB-C port, an Action button, an Apple-designed 5G modem, a powerful A18 processor, and a sleek all-screen design eliminating the Home Button. The display is anticipated to expand from 4.7 inches to a more immersive 6.06 inches. Furthermore, internal RAM is likely to double from 4GB in the 2022 model to 8GB, potentially driven by the demands of advanced features like Apple Intelligence.
Mass production is projected to commence in October 2024, with a potential release before the Lunar New Year in January 2025. However, considering the historical precedent of March announcements for all previous iPhone SE generations, a March 2025 release remains a strong possibility.
