Apple has ordered more than 24 million iPhone displays from LG as it prepares to start manufacturing its next-generation devices.
The South Korean company is expected to supply around 20 million LCD panels for the all-new 6.1-inch iPhone, plus 4 million OLED panels for a flagship model.
LG is also said to become the primary supplier of OLED displays for next year’s devices.
Samsung currently manufactures all OLED panels for the iPhone X, but rumors of a new Apple partnership with LG Display have been circulating for months now. According to the latest, Apple has finally placed an order.
Apple adds LG to next-generation iPhone’s supply chain
Digitimes, citing sources in Korea, reports that LG will start shipping LCD and OLED panel orders to Apple in the second half of 2018 after finally signing a supply deal.
“Based on the contract, LG Display is expected to ship 3-4 million OLED panels as well as 20 million LCD smartphone panels” this year, the report adds. “LG Display is likely to secure the majority of 6.5-inch OLED panel orders from Apple in 2019.”
As a result, LG is expected to ramp up OLED panel shipments to 10 million units next year. The deal will help improve LG’s financial position after the company posted an $87.04 million loss in the first quarter of 2018.
Apple will still need Samsung
Apple has been keen to distance itself from Samsung following a lengthy legal battle between the two, which finally ended last month.
However, Apple has been forced to rely one of its biggest rivals for certain components. Samsung will almost certainly remain involved in the supply of OLED panels for future iPhones for now, but with a second manufacturer on board, the company will be able to demand more competitive prices.
