Apple Shifts iPhone OLED Orders to Samsung Amid BOE Troubles

[MacRumors]

Apple's Chinese supplier BOE is struggling with iPhone OLED production again, causing millions of panel orders to be shifted to Samsung Display, reports The Elec.

Multiple industry sources told the publication that BOE still hasn't resolved manufacturing issues that emerged in November and December of last year. Problems in a specific production process have reportedly forced the company to halt production on some models entirely.

In the second half of 2025, BOE was supplying OLED panels for the iPhone 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, as well as the more affordable iPhone 16e and its successor, the upcoming 17e. The quality issues are said to be affecting panels for the iPhone 15, 16, and 17 specifically.

This isn't the first time BOE has had a hard time meeting Apple's panel quality requirements, but what's strange in this case is that BOE had been reliably supplying LTPS OLED panels for the iPhone 15 and 16 for some time. The iPhone 17's LTPO panels are more technically demanding, but the older models shouldn't have posed the same challenges.

"BOE had been stably supplying OLED for the iPhone 15 and 16, so the industry finds this puzzling," one source told The Elec.

BOE is now focused on ensuring stable supply for the iPhone 17e, which is expected to launch in the spring. The company holds the largest panel allocation among suppliers for that model.

• Apple's Next iPhone: What to Expect From the 2026 iPhone 17e

Meanwhile, Samsung Display has picked up millions of redirected orders over the past two months. BOE shipped around 40 million iPhone OLED panels in 2024, but that figure likely fell short last year due to the reported production setbacks.

The production issues come after a tumultuous year for BOE's relationship with Samsung Display. Samsung had accused BOE of stealing trade secrets and infringing AMOLED patents, leading to an International Trade Commission (ITC) investigation and preliminary import bans against BOE in the U.S.

The ITC initially found trade secret misappropriation and recommended nearly 15 years of import restrictions, but the companies settled in late 2025, and BOE reportedly paid royalties to Samsung to end the dispute.

Article Link: Apple Shifts iPhone OLED Orders to Samsung Amid BOE Troubles

 

[DeLaSoul]

I want an iPhone Pro without the camera button. It's annoying because when holding the phone it automatically triggers the camera app while I am at the closet reading my favorite rumors site.

 

[tomtad]

I want an iPhone Pro without the camera button. It's annoying because when holding the phone it automatically triggers the camera app while I am at the closet reading my favorite rumors site.

You can turn it off in Settings so it only works in the camera app.

 

[tomtad]

They also make terrible screens. Good news

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

The only iPhones BOE should be making displays for is the iPhone E series.
The more expensive ones should just remains for Samsung.. maybe LG for NON Pro iPhones but I really hope iPhone 18 pro max uses just Samsung Displays.

 

[klasma]

The only iPhones BOE should be making displays for is the iPhone E series.
The more expensive ones should just remains for Samsung.. maybe LG for NON Pro iPhones but I really hope iPhone 18 pro max uses just Samsung Displays.

I disagree, the 16e is too expensive for that.

 

[neuropsychguy]

Sounds like consistency issues. BOE appears to be producing some screens up to quality but struggling to do so in the numbers that they are supposed to and consistently.

 

[neuropsychguy]

I want an iPhone Pro without the camera button. It's annoying because when holding the phone it automatically triggers the camera app while I am at the closet reading my favorite rumors site.

You can turn it off by going to camera control settings, then accessibility, then toggling off the camera control button. You could instead require it to need a firmer press to trigger.

 

[one more]

It’s been like this for ages, Apple try BOE and they fail Apple’s standards. I wonder why Apple still keep on trying working with them.

PS If BOE made the screen for my previous iPhone 15, however, as the article suggests, I can confirm that it is still working fine.

 

[MRSugarD]

Apple, please get rid of BOE entirely. The (tiny?) cost savings are not worth the trouble and huge drop in quality. Samsung and LG know what they‘re doing, BOE apparantly does not after all these years and numerous shady incidents.

 

[DeLaSoul]

You can turn it off in Settings so it only works in the camera app.

Thanks. Turned the entire thing off

 

[BorisDG]

The only iPhones BOE should be making displays for is the iPhone E series.
The more expensive ones should just remains for Samsung.. maybe LG for NON Pro iPhones but I really hope iPhone 18 pro max uses just Samsung Displays.

I have family member with iPhone 16 and BOE screen. It's so yellow, it's crazy! Otherwise it has very good uniformity. I'm expecting M15 OLED material set for iPhone 18 Pro series. Quite excited!

 

[ericzz]

The Elec continues to insist that the iPhone 17e will use the same display panel as the iPhone 16e, which itself reused the panel from the iPhone 14. If that’s the case, does this mean there will be no Dynamic Island?

 

[tridley68]

So now the Chinese can copy more of Apples ideas 🤣

 

[MarcoPohlo]

I want an iPhone Pro without the camera button. It's annoying because when holding the phone it automatically triggers the camera app while I am at the closet reading my favorite rumors site.

Go to Settings -> Camera -> Camera Control and set it to Double Click, no more accidental opens.

 

[sw1tcher]

It’s been like this for ages, Apple try BOE and they fail Apple’s standards. I wonder why Apple still keep on trying working with them.

Apple's trying to cut input costs. If they can cut those costs, they'll pass the savings onto the consumer. 😛

Ah, who are we kidding. Apple's just trying to improve their margins.

 

[one more]

Apple's trying to cut input costs. If they can cut those costs, they'll pass the savings onto the consumer. 😛

Ah, who are we kidding. Apple's just trying to improve their margins.

I mean they have already failed with BOE time and time again. I would look elsewhere, like LG.

 

[roklanhavok]

I offered to make OLED panels for Apple. They asked me if I had made them before, had production facilities, or in any way knew what I was doing. I said no, no, no! They didn't call me back. How rude!

 

[svish]

Hopefully the issues are fully resolved before BOE panels are used again. Samsung and LG make excellent displays and maybe it is better to use only them.

 

[MatrimCauthon]

Thanks! I changed it to double click instead of single click.