China’s OLED Failures Give Korean Firms A Massive Edge In Forming Exclusive Apple Deals, With iPhone 18 Displays And More Entering Mass Production

Jun 22, 2026 at 05:19am EDT
Korean OLED manufacturers form exclusive deal with Apple, locking out China's involvement

A truckload of Apple products is expected to launch later this year, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max undoubtedly picking up the highest volume, giving the company’s suppliers a tremendous opportunity to etch their name as a reliable manufacturer while raking in millions. Unfortunately, China will miss out on these deals, with Korean display makers establishing lucrative partnerships with Apple.

BOE once more loses out on a golden opportunity for securing Apple OLED orders, with Samsung and LG now catering to 100 percent of shipments

Despite receiving multiple chances to get its act together, BOE seemingly cannot get its production lines in order, with ETNews reporting that the Chinese manufacturer won’t be able to enter Apple’s supply chain for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone Fold, iPad mini 8, Apple Watch Series 12, or M6 MacBook Pro.

Related Story iPhone Fold To Feature 3D Printed Hinge To Lower Costs, But Rattling Problems Risk Launch Timeline As Samsung Begins M16 OLED Manufacturing

At the other end, Samsung and LG have successfully carved out an exclusive space for the aforementioned products, cementing their business relationship with their esteemed customer. The report mentions that BOE had received approval to manufacture iPhone 17 Pro panels, but based on the latest schedule, it hasn’t received any green light to mass produce iPhone 18 displays.

Apple productiPhone 18 ProiPhone 18 Pro Max iPhone FoldM6 MacBook ProiPad mini 8Apple Watch Series 12
OLED manufacturer(s)Samsung and LGSamsung and LGSamsungSamsungSamsungLG

Given the sheer volume Samsung handles annually, it’s no surprise that Apple has tapped the Korean technology behemoth to fulfill orders for most products, particularly the iPad mini 8, which typically ships in smaller quantities. The iPhone Fold is expected to be Samsung’s biggest test concerning longevity, while the M6 MacBook Pro is Apple’s first attempt to bring OLED to notebooks, which itself was a challenge.

As for LG, the report mentions that all Apple Watch Series 12 orders will be handled by it, along with a portion of iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max OLEDs. The Cupertino firm has always diversified its supply chain by adding more Japanese and Chinese suppliers to command better pricing. However, looking at the domination of Korean manufacturers this year, it’s highly unlikely that Apple can rely on other companies.

News Source: ETNews

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.