iPhone Production May Face Disruptions Due to OLED Display Chip Shortage

[MacRumors]

Due to the impacts on Samsung's production of OLED displays as a result of a global chip shortage, iPhone production could be facing disruptions, according to Nikkei Asia.

Last month, Samsung was forced to shut down its chip fabrication plant in Texas due to large winter storms. The plant is responsible for 5% of the global supply of chips for smartphones and personal computers, and its closure has caused a widespread global shortage. The plant makes chips for Samsung OLED displays, which Apple uses for the iPhone.

The Samsung Texas plant manufactures telecommunications chips for the U.S. semiconductor giant Qualcomm. The facility also produces chips for organic light-emitting diode panels and for image sensors.

The supply crunch hitting Qualcomm will affect a wide range of smartphone makers that rely on the company for key components. Apple, which procures OLED panels from Samsung, could also face disruptions in iPhone production.

The report doesn't elaborate on the specifics, including which iPhone models would be impacted or the length of the aforementioned disruptions. Last year, due to the global health crisis, Apple suppliers were forced to close factories in China and elsewhere around the world. The closures led to the delayed launch of the iPhone 12 in October, which typically happens in September.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says, however, that the 2021 iPhone should be expected in September, specifically saying that Apple suppliers are poised to begin mass production within Apple's usual summer timeframe. Reports last year indicated mass production for the iPhone 12 series did not begin until September.

Article Link: iPhone Production May Face Disruptions Due to OLED Display Chip Shortage

 

[Val-kyrie]

At least it doesn't affect their best phone offering--the iPhone SE (2020)

 

[Kylo83]

Could you imagine if 120hz can been delayed a year because they can’t get the screens arghhh

 

[The Barron]

Apple vs Sammy? Chips, phones, etc? No contest - Go Apple!

 

[jz0309]

semiconductor chip shortage is hitting everyone these days ...

 

[jz0309]

Samsung has said that they might not introduce the galaxy Note this year due to chip shortage... it remains to be seen how they juggle their customers needs vs “internal” needs ... sucks when you are your own customer of the foundry ...

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I’m hoping iPhone 12S or 13 does not get delayed. Not waiting till November this year come on now.

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

The usual planned shortages: hard drives, graphic cards, and now "Chip" shortages.

 

[newyorksole]

I’m hoping iPhone 12S or 13 does not get delayed. Not waiting till November this year come on now.

Trust me... You’ll wait Lol. Everyone always does.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Trust me... You’ll wait Lol. Everyone always does.

Your right but I hope we don’t have to wait. It was annoying last year lol

 

[subi257]

Samsung has said that they might not introduce the galaxy Note this year due to chip shortage... it remains to be seen how they juggle their customers needs vs “internal” needs ... sucks when you are your own customer of the foundry ...

i wonder how they handle the needs as they ...phones and components are 2 separate divisions. Which is...I guess even during the law suits, it did not see to effect the component side.

 

[Apple Mac Daz]

Won’t it be a issue if you took a IUP especially on a Max out last year if it’s not delayed

 

[now i see it]

Hopefully the entire OLED supply chain comes to a stop — and the iPhone returns to LCD. Can't wait for OLED tech to become extinct forever.

 

[-DMN-]

Seeing that OLED is superior to mini-LED, I’m actually highly disappointed that the iPads aren’t going OLED. The few mini-LED TVs that are on the market are vastly cheaper than the OLED TVs, there’s a reason for it.

 

[MrDerby01]

My opinion.. At this point I don't think it matters if you are , Intel, Samsung , Apple , ..... Everyone is "hurting" right now. As we start to vaccinate and see numbers going in a favorable direction on top of companies slowly bringing everyone back then we will see the relationship of production increasing. One real issue at a time.

 

[Suckfest 9001]

Seeing that OLED is superior to mini-LED, I’m actually highly disappointed that the iPads aren’t going OLED. The few mini-LED TVs that are on the market are vastly cheaper than the OLED TVs, there’s a reason for it.

Mini-LED once it’s been refined and perfected will be a much better technology. OLED was a joke of a technology the first like 5 years of its existence, and some of those issues like burn in and ghosting continue to this day.

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

Don’t turn into Samsung Apple.

 

[WLSON]

The usual planned shortages: hard drives, graphic cards, and now "Chip" shortages.

Exactly it doesn't make any sense, COVID can't be the cause. No major nation has gone into a hard lock down (i.e. where people stop going to work) for a long time. Not to mention countries like China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan have very few cases.

 

[ikramerica]

When just-in-time production goes wrong. Which is often...

 

[sw1tcher]

Your right but I hope we don’t have to wait. It was annoying last year lol

First world problem.

 

[-DMN-]

Mini-LED once it’s been refined and perfected will be a much better technology. OLED was a joke of a technology the first like 5 years of its existence, and some of those issues like burn in and ghosting continue to this day.

Mini-LED will never have true blacks like OLED. I was convinced that mini-LED was superior, but actually that would be Micro-LED. Mini-LED still has a back light whereas OLED does not, achieving true blacks.

 

[ElectricPotato]

The usual planned shortages: hard drives, graphic cards, and now "Chip" shortages.

I remember scrambling for components after the "great recession" in 2007/8. Manufacturers panicked and slashed production and years of shortages followed. I suspect at least some of the current problems are from similar short sighted panic moves.

 

[sw1tcher]

Samsung has said that they might not introduce the galaxy Note this year due to chip shortage... it remains to be seen how they juggle their customers needs vs “internal” needs ... sucks when you are your own customer of the foundry ...

If I were Samsung, priority would be placed on my customers/clients because I wouldn't want to give them a reason to go elsewhere.

Their semiconductor and display panel businesses are more profitable (better margins) than their mobile communications division

Samsung Electronics Announces Fourth Quarter and FY 2020 Results

Quarterly operating profit at KRW 9.05 trillion on sales of KRW 61.55 trillion Expects weaker Q1 results overall, memory market expected to recover in H1

news.samsung.com

The Semiconductor businesses posted KRW 18.18 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 3.85 trillion in operating profit in the fourth quarter.

The Display Panel Business posted KRW 9.96 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 1.75 trillion in operating profit for the fourth quarter.

The IT & Mobile Communications Division posted KRW 22.34 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 2.42 trillion in operating profit for the fourth quarter.

The Consumer Electronics Division, comprised of the Visual Display and Digital Appliances businesses, recorded KRW 13.61 trillion in consolidated revenue and KRW 0.82 trillion in operating profit for the fourth quarter of 2020.

 

[JoshuaBru]

What are everyone’s thoughts on this idea...they skip an entire year and the 2022 iPhone has two years worth of updated specs?

 

[5105973]

What are everyone’s thoughts on this idea...they skip an entire year and the 2022 iPhone has two years worth of updated specs?

I’m fine with that. Meanwhile there’s a lot they can do with software updates if they were so inclined.