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Apple Could Ship 160m to 180m OLED-Based iPhones in 2021
With Apple now using OLED displays in all models of the iPhone 12 and the upcoming iPhone 13, the allocation to display suppliers has become a far more important point for OLED display producers than it was just over three years ago, when SDC was the only supplier. That year only one of the three iPhone models was based on OLED, with 2018 and 2019 having 2 of the 3 models using OLED displays. This year even the iPhone 12 mini uses an OLED display, while the iPhone SE 2020 is the only phone that uses an LCD.
Current speculation is that Apple will ship the highest number of OLED based iPhones ever in 2021, some 160m to 180m units according to Samsung Display, which includes both the iPhone 12 (this year’s models) and the iPhone 13, which will be released next year, with 100m of those totals coming from the iPhone 12. Of those totals, SDC expects to ship 140m of those units, assuming Apple uses OLED for all of its iPhone models again in 2021. SDC expects LG Display to ship ~30m iPhone OLED display units next year, with BOE shipping 10m. LG Display expects to ship ~40m units next year, roughly 2 times what it shipped this year, with SDC shipping130m and BOE shipping 10m, so LGD is more optimistic about Apple’s unit volumes (top of the range) and obviously more optimistic about its own prospects. BOE itself is targeting a higher goal for itself than either competitor, with 20m units their target, although they have failed twice to meet Apple’s requirements for inclusion as a primary OLED display source. BOE is expected to apply again early next year and currently is relegated to supplying OLED replacement panels for iPhone repairs, rather than panels for new phones. Next year Apple some iPhone line will shift to LTPO backplane technology to support variable refresh rates up to 120Hz. SDC used LTPO for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra this year. While both SDC and LGD have experience with LTPO, BOE has not yet used the technology in a product and which could cause the company to not qualify as a primary OLED supplier for Apple in 2021.
With Apple now using OLED displays in all models of the iPhone 12 and the upcoming iPhone 13, the allocation to display suppliers has become a far more important point for OLED display producers than it was just over three years ago, when SDC was the only supplier. That year only one of the three iPhone models was based on OLED, with 2018 and 2019 having 2 of the 3 models using OLED displays. This year even the iPhone 12 mini uses an OLED display, while the iPhone SE 2020 is the only phone that uses an LCD.
Current speculation is that Apple will ship the highest number of OLED based iPhones ever in 2021, some 160m to 180m units according to Samsung Display, which includes both the iPhone 12 (this year’s models) and the iPhone 13, which will be released next year, with 100m of those totals coming from the iPhone 12. Of those totals, SDC expects to ship 140m of those units, assuming Apple uses OLED for all of its iPhone models again in 2021. SDC expects LG Display to ship ~30m iPhone OLED display units next year, with BOE shipping 10m. LG Display expects to ship ~40m units next year, roughly 2 times what it shipped this year, with SDC shipping130m and BOE shipping 10m, so LGD is more optimistic about Apple’s unit volumes (top of the range) and obviously more optimistic about its own prospects. BOE itself is targeting a higher goal for itself than either competitor, with 20m units their target, although they have failed twice to meet Apple’s requirements for inclusion as a primary OLED display source. BOE is expected to apply again early next year and currently is relegated to supplying OLED replacement panels for iPhone repairs, rather than panels for new phones. Next year Apple some iPhone line will shift to LTPO backplane technology to support variable refresh rates up to 120Hz. SDC used LTPO for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra this year. While both SDC and LGD have experience with LTPO, BOE has not yet used the technology in a product and which could cause the company to not qualify as a primary OLED supplier for Apple in 2021.
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