Recently Apple has shown signs of dissatisfaction with the work of BOE, a well-known manufacturer of screens for electronic devices. As a result of the frictions developed in the past, the Cupertino company would have prepared to remove the manufacturing of OLED displays for the various iPhone 14 from the Chinese company, rather turning the order over to the more reliable LG and Samsung.
With the advent of the iPhone 14, why change the supply of OLED screens?
The Elec, a newspaper that originally released the indiscretion, suggests that the breakup is definitive and that such a “divorce” can be considered the natural consequence of an episode that occurred in early May. At the time, BOE had unilaterally decided to change the design of the screens of the iPhone 13, by altering the amplitude of the transistor circuits. As soon as Apple found out about it, it went on a rampage and cut the supplier from the product supply chain.
According to the newspaper, BOE sent its own executive to America in the hope of being able to illustrate its position to the powerful Big Tech, but also to ask for confirmation that the partnership between the two brands would also be reconfirmed for the next smartphone models. Well, the diplomatic expedition does not seem to have been fruitful and Apple would not have given the Chinese company a clear answer on what will be the fate of OLED displays for the iPhone 14. A heavy omission, considering that the production of the screens could already start. from next month.
Rumors suggest that the 30 million screen commission initially planned for BOE will be instead shared between Samsung Display and LG Display. Specifically, Samsung is expected to produce the 6.1 and 6.7-inch OLEDs for the iPhone 14 Pro models, while LG would take care of the 6.7-inch screens of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The two companies were already in the list of the main ones. Apple’s suppliers, however, BOE intended to supplant them through an investment program that should increase the competitiveness of the Chinese factory in the near future.
The situation of the Chinese company could also have been complicated by the fact that relations between the US Administration and Chinese companies are certainly not rosy and that the situation could easily degenerate. Not only could the White House not welcome with grace the idea that a Chinese manufacturer decides to alter electronic components without notifying anyone, but a possible increase in taxes or duties could greatly mitigate the conveniences that Apple has today in subcontracting the production of components to the Chinese tech sector.