A new supply chain report from The Elec claims that Samsung received mass production approval for all four types of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) for the Apple iPhone 15 series scheduled to be released in the second half of the year and is currently shipping them. LG Display, which was in charge of the top two (pro) lineup in the iPhone 15 series, received conditional approval for the pro model. BOE, which is in charge of the two sub-lineups in the iPhone 15 series, has a dominant outlook that this year's delivery will be difficult.

Due to production disruptions by competitors, Samsung Display is expected to increase iPhone OLED shipments this year as well. After BOE handed over all of the iPhone 15 OLED initial shipments to Samsung Display, it is highly likely to miss the rest of the shipments by the end of this year. Apple applies the ’Dynamic Island’ function, which was only applied to the pro lineup in the iPhone 14 series last year, to the lower lineup in the iPhone 15 series this year. BOE is having difficulties in machining the hole display required to implement the dynamic island.

LG Display recently received conditional approval for the iPhone 15 Pro model OLED. Regarding OLED for the Pro Max model, LG Display can expect mass production approval sooner or later. Although LG Display did not receive approval for mass production of both Pro and Pro Max in time, industry observers say that LG Display's losses may be limited.

This is due to production disruptions that occurred on the camera module side. In the iPhone 15 series, image sensors are mainly supplied by Sony of Japan and camera modules by LG Innotek. The production yield of image sensors supplied by Sony, folded zooms for Promax models that LG Innotek is supplying for the first time this year, and actuators for folded zooms are falling below expectations. The stock of iPhone 15 series parts is also piled up.

Several component makers in Apple's supply chain expect that some of their expected results from the third quarter will be delayed to the fourth quarter. Since the proportion of the Pro lineup in iPhone series shipments has been 50-60% for the past 2-3 years, Apple is likely to prioritize producing the Pro model rather than the Pro Max model, which is currently experiencing production disruptions, while maintaining a high portion of the Pro lineup for the iPhone 15 series this year. this is big

LG Display is expected to try to advance the timing of OLED approval for the Pro Max model while increasing OLED production for the iPhone 15 Pro model that has received conditional approval. LG Display is known to have setbacks in implementing bezels and hole displays in OLED. Last year, LG Display belatedly received conditional approval for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. for more, read the full report by The Elec.