Apple is preparing to launch the fourth-generation iPhone SE early next year, introducing an OLED display on the model for the first time, completing the adoption of the technology across all iPhones.
According to a report by Nikkei Asiathe transition to OLED displays will result in the exclusion of two historic Japanese suppliers, Japan Display (JDI) and Sharp, from Apple’s iPhone supply chain.
In 2017, Apple introduced OLED displays with the iPhone. In 2015, JDI and Sharp supplied about 200 million LCD panels per year for iPhones. However, by 2023, this number has dropped dramatically to about 20 million. Recently, Japanese manufacturers have focused exclusively on supplying displays for the iPhone SE models.
Currently, JDI only supplies small OLED displays for devices such as the Apple Watch and is reorganizing its business strategy around LCD displays for automotive applications. Sharp, on the other hand, is scaling back its LCD business, which was primarily oriented toward TVs.
Meanwhile, Apple has started placing orders for OLED displays for the upcoming iPhone SE from BOE Technology Group in China and LG Display in South Korea.
The fourth iPhone SE is expected to feature a design similar to the iPhone 14, Face ID instead of Touch ID, a USB-C port, an action button, an Apple-designed 5G modem, an A18 processor, and an all-screen design that eliminates the Home button. The device’s display is expected to grow from 4.7 inches to 6.06 inches, and the internal RAM could increase from 4GB to 8GB to meet Apple Intelligence’s hardware requirements.
Mass production of the device is expected to begin in October this year and it could be commercialized in the first three months of 2025.
