Apple may use old components for iPhone SE 4

Apple plans to use the OLED screen panel of the iPhone 13 for the 4th generation iPhone SE to save costs.

4th generation iPhone SE rendering. Photo: AppleTrack.

According to The Elec news site from South Korea, LG Display may participate in supplying OLED screens for the 4th generation iPhone SE, a smartphone model expected to be launched by Appe in 2025.

Previously, BOE was chosen as the main supplier, winning the bid thanks to lower costs than Samsung. Because Apple has cooperated with the Chinese company on a number of other iPhone models, the continuation of the relationship between the two parties is not surprising.

With the 4th generation iPhone SE, the screen proportion provided by BOE may be the largest ever. According to rumors, the company will produce 60-70% of screen output out of a total of 20 million units per year.

According to industry sources, BOE’s output of OLED panels for iPhones is lower than expected due to difficulties in handling the iPhone 15’s defective screen. The production process of the iPhone 16 screen with the Chinese supplier is also not smooth.

The rest of the screen on the 4th generation iPhone SE is rumored to be supplied by LG Display. According to The Elec, Apple plans to reuse the screen from the iPhone 13, cutting back on some of the technology.

iPhone SE is considered a low-cost model. To reduce production costs, Apple often reuses components from old models. However, the selected product is usually still new, with better performance than smartphones in the same price range.

The Gizmochina news site noted that LG Display also produces the iPhone 13 screen. Therefore, the reuse of panels can simplify the manufacturing process for the company, reducing costs for Apple.

The price of the 4th generation iPhone SE screen is rumored to be around 40 USD. If LG Display produces 6 million panels as a sub-supplier, revenue for the company could reach $240 million.

In addition to LG, Samsung Display is also offering preferential prices to provide screens for the 4th generation iPhone SE, but the guaranteed output is not high. In the first half of next year, the Korean company will focus on producing OLED screens for 8 iPhone models, including 4 iPhone 15 models and 4 iPhone 16 models.

4th generation iPhone SE rendering. Photo: AppleTrack.

Another display company, Tianma, also wants to supply screens for the 4th generation iPhone SE. However, Tianma’s technology is said to be less advanced than BOE, so the chances of participating in the supply chain at this stage are not high.

The 4th generation iPhone SE is aimed at emerging markets such as India. Apple aims to produce 20 million units in the first year. The device will switch to an OLED screen instead of an LCD screen like the previous 3 generations.

In mid-July, rumors from Ice Universe said that the 4th generation iPhone SE is equipped with a 6.06-inch screen, while the iPhone 13 uses a 6.1-inch panel. If the rumors are correct, LG Display needs to adjust the panel to match the new product.

In terms of configuration, the device is expected to be equipped with Face ID and a USB-C port, which is a big change compared to Touch ID and the Lightning port on its predecessor. The product will be as powerful as the iPhone 16 with the A18 chip, 6-8 GB of RAM, an aluminum frame and a 48 MP rear camera.