iPhone 18 Pro May Not Feature The Most Advanced OLED Technology This Year As Chinese Rivals Are Gearing Up For Something Exciting

Omar Sohail
iPhone 18 Pro's Chinese rivals could introduce the most advanced OLED ever
Apple has its own reasons for being behind in this technology
How We Rate Rumors
  • 0-20%: Unlikely - Lacks credible sources
  • 21-40%: Questionable - Some concerns remain
  • 41-60%: Plausible - Reasonable evidence
  • 61-80%: Probable - Strong evidence
  • 81-100%: Highly Likely - Multiple reliable sources
RUMOR ASSESSMENT

50%

Plausible

Chinese smartphone makers are notorious for bringing in the latest technology iterations, regardless of whether they take off. It’s not every day that companies are racing to overtake Apple’s iPhones in various areas, and according to the latest report, we could witness a superior OLED technology that’s missing in the iPhone 18 Pro but present in the Cupertino firm’s other products.

As BOE looks to begin mass production of its 8.6th-generation tandem OLED to rival Samsung, one report says OPPO will be the first to adopt it

Apart from the iPad Pro, the only other Apple product line that will move to tandem OLED is the upcoming M6 MacBook Pro, with Samsung reportedly the California-based giant’s exclusive supplier. However, the Korean manufacturer is expected to face some heated competition soon because ETNews reports that BOE is prepping a ceremony on June 17, announcing its B16 production facility located in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

Related Story Apple Is In For A Sticker Shock In Q3, With LPDDR5X DRAM Costs Surging By $68.8 In A Single Quarter, As Operating Profit Margin For General-Purpose DRAM To Hit 90% Within The Year

Initially, BOE plans to manufacture 14-inch tandem OLED panels for customers like ASUS and Acer, with the B16 plant housing a monthly capacity of 32,000 sheets. What’s interesting about the report is that OPPO is said to be one of the company’s customers, hinting that the latter could potentially be the first phone maker to bring tandem OLED to mobile devices, beating Apple in the process.

While adding a tandem OLED brings multiple benefits to the table, such as having a longer lifespan and running brighter than single-layer panels, Apple won’t introduce it until it has revamped the thermal management system of its iPhones. The company is said to be exploring this technology, potentially launching it in 2028, but due to the aforementioned problems, we may witness a delay.

Apple isn’t known for adopting the latest standards, meaning its Chinese rivals will get a first crack at them, at least until they're widely adopted or manufacturing costs drop. Then again, OPPO’s plans may also fall short if BOE cannot maintain satisfactory yields, which has been a long-running problem for the firm. Apple typically taps Samsung and LG to supply LTPO OLED screens for iPhones because BOE is neither able to keep up in terms of quality nor quantity. Maybe we could witness a major transition in the coming months, so stay tuned.

News Source: ETNews

Omar Sohail Photo

About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.

Follow Wccftech on Google to get more of our news coverage in your feeds.

Deal of the Day

Button