Chinese display maker BOE has once again failed to secure Apple’s validation for OLED screens for the iPhone, says a report by TheElec.
The report says BOE is still experiencing manufacturing issues at its Chengdu plant in Sichuan province, failing to receive Apple’s validation for the OLED iPhone screen for the second time this year.
A June report said BOE’s plant in Mianyang ran into similar issues, producing a low production rate of only around 20%.
Apple began its review of the Chengdu plant began in September and resulted in an October verdict of failure. BOE will now have to wait until the first half of 2021 to try again. This means next year’s iPhone lineup will continue to use display panels made by Samsung and LG Display.
BOE will likely hear whether or not it has been approved sometime in the May – June timeframe in 2021. If it successfully passes its review, the panels it produces will likely be used for refurbished iPhone 12 models.
While Apple’s 2021 iPhone lineup is expected to offer the same four models and screen sizes as the current iPhone 12 lineup, the OLED panels used in the new handsets are said to be more technologically sophisticated.
The “iPhone 13” handsets are expected to use low-power LTPO OLED technology offering 120Hz ProMotion displays in at least two models.
