iPhone 17 to Feature Samsung/LG LTPO OLED Panels

Apple is set to launch its highly anticipated iPhone 17 series in 2025, with all models featuring Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide (LTPO) OLED panels. LTPO is an advanced, low-power display technology currently supplied to Apple by Samsung Display (SDC) and LG Display (LGD).

Industry insiders have confirmed that Samsung Display will supply LTPO OLED panels for all iPhone 17 models, while LG Display will focus on providing panels for the iPhone 17 Slim and iPhone 17 Pro variants. Given the lack of experience among Chinese panel manufacturers in producing LTPO panels, experts predict that Samsung and LG will dominate the supply of OLED panels for the iPhone 17 series.

Apple is expected to release four models in the iPhone 17 lineup: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Slim (or Air), iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. According to sources, all four models will feature LTPO OLED panels. In contrast, the 2024 iPhone 16 series will include LTPO OLED panels only in its premium models, while the standard models will utilize lower-performance Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon (LTPS) OLED panels. The inclusion of LTPO panels in all iPhone 17 variants marks a significant move to enhance the performance and energy efficiency of Apple's smartphones.

As the sole suppliers of LTPO OLED panels, Samsung Display and LG Display are poised to see substantial benefits from this development. Due to the complexity of LTPO technology, Chinese manufacturers face significant challenges in entering the OLED panel market, with industry observers stating that the likelihood of Chinese companies supplying LTPO panels for the iPhone 17 series in 2025 is almost nonexistent. While Apple does source OLED panels from Chinese manufacturers, these are limited to LTPS OLED panels.

Meanwhile, Apple’s upcoming iPhone SE 4, scheduled for release in the first half of 2025, may feature panels produced by Chinese manufacturers. However, recent reports suggest that the panel supply for the iPhone SE 4 was originally set to be shared between BOE and LG Display. Now, Samsung Display is also expected to join the supply chain, further expanding its role in Apple's display ecosystem.