According to previous reports, Apple has been developing a new iPhone SE. However, there was barely anything else we knew about the smartphone. That’s changing today. A new report from Korea sheds light on the launch timeline of the phone and reveals details about the device's display and the companies that are in a bid to supply those panels.
Apple could launch iPhone SE4 in 2024
A new report from The Elec claims that Apple will launch the next iPhone SE in 2025. At this point, there is no confirmation about what Apple will call the upcoming phone. However, going by the naming convention of the previous devices in the lineup, the brand might launch it as iPhone SE (2025) and people might refer to it as iPhone SE4.
iPhone SE (2025) could have an OLED display
The publication says that the iPhone SE (2025) will feature an OLED display panel, which will make it the first device in the lineup to offer one (iPhone SE (2016), iPhone SE (2020), and iPhone SE (2022) have LCD panels). This OLED panel will be the same unit as the one used in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14. So, expect it to be a 6.1-inch panel with a 60Hz refresh rate, 2,532 x 1,170 pixels resolution, 1,200 nits peak brightness, and support for Dolby Vision and HDR10.
Samsung Display could be the main supplier for iPhone SE4’s screens
The report claims that BOE, Samsung Display, and Tianma have proposed their prices for OLED panels for the iPhone SE4 to Apple. Reportedly, Samsung Display has quoted USD 30 for each panel, BOE has quoted USD 35, and Tianma has quoted USD 40. Apple, however, has countered those offers with a price of USD 20. According to the publication, iPhone SE4’s OLED display will have recycled materials. As such, manufacturing it will cost a lot less than the OLED panel for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14.
Looking at the initial proposed prices, it looks like Apple might select Samsung Display as the main supplier of the display panels for the iPhone SE (2025). The Korean company could also supply the remaining stock of iPhone 13's and iPhone 14's display panel for iPhone SE4 as both panels might have the same specifications.
Samsung Display might be offering the lowest price of the lot as it might not have to procure additional equipment for manufacturing those OLED panels because it already has the equipment, which it used for manufacturing the displays for iPhone 13 and iPhone 14. The Elec also suggests that the Korean company might be offering the lowest price as it could offset the lost profit by making more profits on the displays for the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 16 series.
As for BOE, it faced difficulties supplying display panels for the iPhone 15, and therefore, lost a lot of orders to Samsung Display. As such, it would be crucial for BOE to gain as many orders for the iPhone SE4’s display as possible to make up for the previous loss. Reportedly, Tianma isn’t a serious contender as the company’s technology is behind that of Samsung Display and BOE.
