Apple’s iPhone 12 OLED deal to decide LG Display’s fate

LG Display is aiming to supply up to 20 million units of mobile OLED display panels to Apple for the iPhone 12 series, sources within the company told TheElec.

Cupertio is expected to order 75 million units for its upcoming smartphones launching later this year. Samsung Display is expected to supply 55 million, with LG providing the rest, they said.

LG Display shipped only 5 million OLED panels to Apple last year, being dwarfed by its rival Samsung’s 50 million units.

Last year’s shipment was low due to the prevalence of defects, the sources said, and the company could have shipped more, given the iPhone maker is attempting to reduce its reliance on Samsung.

If similar such defects reoccur this year, LG may lose some of its order to Chinese rival BOE, which is also attempting to win Apple over. The Chinese display panel giant has failed to be named for as a vendor iPhone 12 series but could still be used for refurbished models starting later this year.

LG Display will be supplying the 6.1-inch OLED panel to be used for iPhone 12 Max. Samsung is supplying its goods for the 5.4-inch iPhone 12, 6.1-inch iPhone 12 Pro and 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max.

CEO Chung Ho-young, who was named to post last year, has pledged to expand the company’s mobile OLED business. Restructuring the company’s LCD and OLED  displays for TVs are also some of his task given by LG leadership.