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6.1-Inch iPhone SE 4 OLED Panel Likely to Be Supplied by China's BOE

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Apple supplier BOE has taken the lead in becoming the OLED panel supplier for the fourth-generation iPhone SE, IT Home reports.

iphone-se-4-modified-flag-edges.jpg

Samsung Display, BOE, and Tianma have all been in discussions with Apple to supply the OLED panels, but today's report claims that Samung has withdrawn from negotiations due to pricing problems, despite having an existing iPhone 14 OLED inventory to draw from.

Apple has reportedly been holding out for $25 per panel, but Samsung's final offer was $30, which is lower than the two Chinese manufacturers. That leaves BOE and Tianma as potential suppliers, however Tianma has not yet met Apple's stringent quality requirements, leaving BOE in pole position to win the majority of the orders, if not all of them.

The panel prices for the iPhone SE 4 are said to be a lot lower than suppliers charge for the OLED displays used in the iPhone 15, since the panels for the SE will use legacy parts identical to those used in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, so the suppliers won't need to make new investments in R&D. Display manufacturers are believed to have been bidding to supply the panels since at least last August.

The fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ is rumored to feature an iPhone 14-like design with a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID instead of Touch ID, a USB-C port, an Action button, and an all-screen look that does away with the Home Button.

Earlier this month, CAD renders of the device corroborated previous design rumors for the iPhone SE 4, which is expected to launch in 2025. Despite the rumored upgrades, the ‌iPhone SE‌ 4 may face faster depreciation than Apple's higher-end models, according to one report.

Article Link: 6.1-Inch iPhone SE 4 OLED Panel Likely to Be Supplied by China's BOE
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/03/27/iphone-se-4-oled-supplier-likely-boe/
S

sinoka56

macrumors 6502
Jun 13, 2013
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MacRumors said:
Apple has reportedly been holding out for $25 per panel, but Samsung's final offer was $30, which is lower than the two Chinese manufacturers. That leaves BOE and Tianma as potential suppliers, however Tianma has not yet met Apple's stringent quality requirements, leaving BOE in pole position to win the majority of the orders, if not all of them.
Click to expand...
Lower or higher than the two Chinese manufacturers?

BOE was also caught cheapening on the parts, found to have made design changes without Apple's approval.
www.macrumors.com

Apple Supplier BOE Could Be Frozen Out of Supply Chain for iPhone 14 OLED Panels

Apple supplier BOE is still waiting to receive approval from Apple to manufacture OLED panels for the upcoming iPhone 14 series, after the company...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com
 
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K

ksec

macrumors 68020
Dec 23, 2015
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sinoka56 said:
Lower or higher than the two Chinese manufacturers?

BOE was also caught cheapening on the parts, found to have made design changes without Apple's approval.
www.macrumors.com

Apple Supplier BOE Could Be Frozen Out of Supply Chain for iPhone 14 OLED Panels

Apple supplier BOE is still waiting to receive approval from Apple to manufacture OLED panels for the upcoming iPhone 14 series, after the company...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com
Click to expand...

I read it as Samsung was the lowest price at $30, while lower than the two Chinese manufacturers, was still higher than what Apple wanted to be at $25.

Normally, these type of bid goes in package. Covering both the high end range ( Pro and 16 ) as well as the lower end.

If I were to guess Samsung wanted to be the sole supplier for All iPhone, but Apple wanted to split the deal between Samsung and BOE. Despite BOE may not match in terms of quality of price.
 
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Kebabselector

Kebabselector

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May 25, 2007
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tomtad said:
I think heavily discounting older models, along with a distinct 'mini' option, is the way forward here.
Click to expand...

The problem with older models is they tend to stop getting updates before a new 'SE' model which is likely to be sold for at least a couple of years. I do agree a mini option would be great, but as the world apparently hates small phones I doubt we'll see one. Anyway my iPhone 8 needs an upgrade, so it would be nice if Apple could release this asap!
 
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darkelipse04

darkelipse04

macrumors member
Nov 5, 2004
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AAPLGeek said:
What an absolute ****ing joke. Does Apple REALLY see the need to have another phablet on its already bloated lineup?

There's literally zero reason for a 6.1" screen SE to exist. A 5.4" screen iPhone Classic makes way more sense.
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t call 6.1” a phablet 😅. Apple tried the Mini phone route twice (not counting the lackluster SE 3) and it failed to bring in the revenue they deemed worthy of continuing. No more small phones from them, at least for a while.
 
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azentropy

azentropy

macrumors 601
Jul 19, 2002
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Surprise
Still don't really get the point of this SE. It eliminates some if not most of the key distinctions of why people go with the SE in the first place. This becomes more of a "A" type device in line with Google's offerings. iPhone 16A
 
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AppliedMicro

AppliedMicro

macrumors 68020
Aug 17, 2008
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darkelipse04 said:
Apple tried the Mini phone route twice (not counting the lackluster SE 3) and it failed to bring in the revenue they deemed worthy of continuing
Click to expand...
But they’ve got to limit the (4th gen) SE‘s appeal somehow, to avoid cannibalising higher-end iPhone sales?

How else are they’re going to do it, if not for a smaller display?
 
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O

ozaz

macrumors 68000
Feb 27, 2011
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AAPLGeek said:
There's literally zero reason for a 6.1" screen SE to exist. A 5.4" screen iPhone Classic makes way more sense.
Click to expand...

Surely the reason is to provide an option into the Apple ecosystem for people who can't afford the main iPhone.
Smaller size isn't the only reason people buy the SE, and at a macro level it probably is no longer the main reason.

Even in the Android market with all its variety of options, there are very few midrange or flagship phones with screen sizes less than 6". Mass market demand for sub 6" phones obviously doesn't exist.
 
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whateverest

macrumors newbie
Feb 8, 2018
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I am pretty sure without dynamic island or notch, the dispay should be cheaper, right? Here you go, Apple.
 
R

Remy149

macrumors 6502a
Oct 20, 2016
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ATmahe said:
yes, but imho it was a bad timing (COVID) and it was no Pro model.
Click to expand...
The number of people who want a pro mini is very small. The regular mini was unpopular a more expensive model would just make sales worse. I know some of y’all really love that form factor however I don’t understand the disconnect from the fact that a majority of consumers prefer larger screens. A majority of people use their phone as their primary or only computer.
 
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