Apple Embraces OLED Fully: iPhone SE4 to Feature OLED Display, Marginalizing Japanese LCD Suppliers

Apple Embraces OLED Fully: iPhone SE4 to Feature OLED Display, Marginalizing Japanese LCD SuppliersAccording to Nikkei Asia, Apple plans to use an OLED display on the iPhone SE4, set to launch early next year. This marks a complete shift to OLED across Apple's iPhone lineup

Apple Embraces OLED Fully: iPhone SE4 to Feature OLED Display, Marginalizing Japanese LCD Suppliers

According to Nikkei Asia, Apple plans to use an OLED display on the iPhone SE4, set to launch early next year. This marks a complete shift to OLED across Apple's iPhone lineup. The decision will sideline two long-time LCD screen suppliers for AppleJapan Display (JDI) and Sharp.

Since the introduction of the iPhone X in 2017, Apple has embraced OLED displays for its higher-end iPhones, impacting LCD suppliers significantly. In 2015, JDI and Sharp provided approximately 200 million LCD panels annually for iPhones. However, this number plummeted to about 20 million by 2023. With Apple's gradual transition to OLED, these two Japanese LCD panel manufacturers have been supplying panels only for the iPhone SE models in recent years.

JDI currently provides smaller OLED screens for devices like the Apple Watch, and the company is strategically shifting its focus towards LCD business surrounding automotive applications. Meanwhile, Sharp is scaling down its LCD business primarily used for televisions.

Reports suggest that Apple has already started placing orders for OLED screens for the upcoming iPhone SE from BOE Technology Group in China and LG Display in South Korea.

The fourth-generation iPhone SE is rumored to adopt a design similar to the iPhone 14, featuring Face ID instead of Touch ID, a USB-C port, an Action button, an Apple-designed 5G modem, an A18 processor, and a full-screen design. The device's screen size is expected to increase from 4.7 inches to 6.06 inches, and internal RAM could be upgraded from 4GB in the 2022 model to 8GB to meet the hardware demands as suggested by AppleIntelligence.

The fourth-generation iPhone SE could potentially launch before the Lunar New Year in January 2025, although all three existing iPhone SE models were released in March over the past few years, making a March 2025 release for the fourth generation also possible.

Apple's complete switch to OLED will have a profound impact on the entire display industry. On one hand, it will accelerate the adoption of OLED technology, driving down OLED screen prices and offering consumers a better display experience. On the other hand, it will put immense pressure on traditional LCD panel manufacturers, forcing them to push hard in technological innovation and market share competition.

For Apple, this decision means better display performance across all iPhone models, lower costs, and enhanced competitiveness. For consumers, it translates to sharper, more vibrant screen visuals and longer battery life.

However, this decision undoubtedly represents a blow for Japanese LCD panel manufacturers like JDI and Sharp. They will need to find new markets or seek transformation to adapt to the evolving market landscape.

Looking ahead, as OLED technology continues to develop, more and more smartphone manufacturers will adopt OLED screens, propelling the display industry into a new era. As a global leader in smartphones, Apple's decisions in the display field will significantly influence the entire industry.