Apple plans to launch the iPhone 17 series by 2025, with all models featuring low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) OLED panels. LTPO is a low-power panel technology currently supplied to Apple by Samsung Display (SDC) and LG Display (LGD).
According to industry insiders, Samsung Display will supply panels to all iPhone 17 series models, while LG Display will provide panels for iPhone 17 Slim and Pro models. Given that Chinese panel manufacturers lack experience in supplying LTPO panels, Korean industry insiders predict that all panel orders for the iPhone 17 series may be divided between these two Korean companies.
Apple is expected to release four models in 2025: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Slim (or Air), iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Industry sources say that Apple will equip all four models of the iPhone 17 series with LTPO panels. In contrast, only high-end models in the 2024 iPhone 16 series use LTPO OLED panels, while the two standard models use lower performance low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) OLED panels. The use of LTPO panels in standard models indicates Apple's intention to improve the performance of smartphones.
As the only supplier currently capable of providing LTPO OLED panels, Samsung Display and LG Display are expected to benefit greatly. Due to the complexity of LTPO technology, this is a huge obstacle for Chinese manufacturers who entered the OLED market relatively late. Although Apple also purchases OLED panels from Chinese manufacturers, it is limited to LTPS OLED. According to industry insiders in South Korea, the possibility of Chinese manufacturers supplying LTPO panels by 2025 is almost zero.
At the same time, the iPhone SE 4, which will be launched in the first half of 2025, may use panels produced by Chinese manufacturers. However, there have been recent reports that the panel supply for iPhone SE 4 was originally shared by BOE and LG Display. Now, Samsung Display is also expected to join the supply chain.
