**BOE Wins Apple OLED Order, Marks Major Milestone in Chinese Tech Industry**
*Published: September 26, 2017 | Source: Money DJ*
On September 24, Nikkei News reported that BOE’s Chengdu B7 plant in Sichuan is set to start mass-producing OLED panels for smartphones by early October. In order to meet Apple’s tight deadlines, the factory will send engineers to the site during the National Day holiday and continue working around the clock. This aggressive approach reflects BOE’s strong confidence in the growing OLED market and its ambition to secure a major client like Apple.
The company is also building a new OLED factory in Mianyang, Sichuan, which is expected to begin operations in 2019. The Mianyang plant is rumored to supply OLED panels for the iPhone. According to industry sources, Apple has been evaluating BOE's technology and may first use it in the Apple Watch before expanding to iPhones.
Currently, Samsung dominates the iPhone OLED market. To reduce reliance on a single supplier, Apple has been reaching out to BOE, LGD, and Japan Display, sharing technology with these companies to support their development.
Despite being behind Samsung, BOE has made significant progress. Foreign experts working in Chinese factories suggest that BOE’s B7 plant technology is comparable to Samsung’s. With strong government backing and massive investments—over RMB 93 billion in Chengdu and Mianyang—BOE is well-positioned to catch up quickly.
In the smartphone OLED market, Samsung holds a dominant 90% share, followed by LGD and then BOE. While Nikkei has praised BOE’s progress, Chinese media remains cautious, noting that the technology still lags behind Korean manufacturers.
The Global Times highlighted that the rising demand for OLEDs has made them a key strategic material for Chinese phone makers. Companies like BOE, Huaxing Optoelectronics, and Hui Guang are investing heavily in OLED production. For example, Hefei Optoelectronics launched its 6th generation OLED line in Shanghai last December, while BOE started a flexible OLED line in Mianyang.
Industry estimates suggest that domestic manufacturers have invested hundreds of billions of yuan in OLED development. However, stable production capacity may not be achieved until 2020.
Zhang Baizhe, a professor at Tsinghua University and an LCD expert, noted that while Chinese investment is substantial, OLED technology is complex. Samsung has been developing it for over a decade, and it took several years to improve yield rates. Chinese manufacturers must remain patient and prepared for long-term challenges.
This move by BOE marks a significant step forward in China’s push to become a global leader in display technology. As Apple continues to diversify its supply chain, the future of OLED manufacturing looks increasingly promising for Chinese firms.
Tags: OLED, OLED panel, OLED market, OLED technology
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