The cheapest Apple iPhone to finally get OLED screen

The cheapest model in the iPhone family has so far been equipped with an LCD screen. But that will probably change with the next generation. According to new information, Apple has started ordering OLED panels for the iPhone SE 4. John Prosser

Apple relies entirely on OLED

There have been rumors for some time that the next iPhone SE will come with an OLED screen. At the moment, the model is the only remaining iPhone with an LCD display. Since the launch of the iPhone X in 2017, Apple has gradually switched all of its smartphones to OLED. How Nikkei Asia now reports that Apple has started ordering corresponding panels.

They are to be manufactured by both LG Display and BOE and correspond to those used in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14. This would fit with rumors from the past that the upcoming iPhone SE 4 also has the casing of the iPhone 14.

LCD manufacturer cut

The complete move away from LCD means that the two Japanese companies JDI and Sharp are no longer part of Apple’s group of screen suppliers. Ten years ago, both companies produced around 70 percent of iPhone displays. But with the switch to OLED technology, their share has continued to decline in recent years.

More powerful than the iPhone 15

The iPhone SE 4 is expected to be released sometime next year and will be equipped with Face ID. The phone could also support Apple Intelligence. However, this would mean that the cheapest iPhone will even surpass the iPhone 15 in this respect. The latter does not support the upcoming multimodal AI functions that will run locally on the Cupertino devices.

According to MacRumors start in October 2024. A presentation of the device is then scheduled to take place in January 2015. However, this would mean a departure from the usual cycle. Most recently, the SE models were always released in March. This possibility probably still exists.