Back in early 2017 it was reported that Apple is in discussions with BOE Display to supply OLED displays for future iPhones. Up until now Samsung was the exclusive iPhone AMOLED supplier, but a new report from Japan suggests that BOE and Apple's talks are still ongoing.
In fact the Nikkei Asian Review says that Apple is "aggressively testing" BOE's flexible AMOLED displays. The NAR claims that Apple will decide whether to add BOE as a supplier by the end of 2019. Such a deal will be a great step forward for BOE toward its goal to become a leading AMOLED supplier.
Apple is said to be testing AMOLEDs produced at BOE's B7 flexible OLED line in Chengdu, China - which started operation in 2017. In addition to the B7 fab in Chengdu, BOE is building its second 6-Gen OLED fab, in Mianyang, with a similar capacity to the B7. In March 2018, BOE announced plans for a third 6-Gen OLED fab, this one in Chongqing. In December 2018, BOE announced plans for its fourth line in Fuzhou.
BOE hopes to supply displays for new iPhone models in 2020, in which case it offers to dedicate the Miangyang fab entirely to Apple. Apple may also decide to first adopt BOE's panels for repair displays or older models (iPhone X or Xs). According to NAR's sources, BOE's AMOLEDs could be 20% cheaper compared to Samsung's AMOLEDs.
