Apple To Discontinue LCD Screens By 2025, All iPhone Models Will Feature OLED Screens Thereafter

Apple introduced OLED screens with the iPhone X in 2017. Since then, the company has used OLED technology in its premium models, while continuing to use LCDs for its more budget-friendly options.

Moving forward, even the lower-cost iPhone SE will feature an OLED display, aligning it with the high-end models.

Source : Unsplash/Ash-Lab

By 2025, Apple is set to implement a significant upgrade across its entire iPhone lineup. According to a report from Nikkei Asia, the company plans to equip all iPhone models with OLED displays, a shift from the current LCD screens used in some of its more budget-friendly models such as the iPhone SE and older versions. OLED screens, renowned for their vibrant colors and high-definition clarity, will now be standard across all iPhones.

This transition will also mark the end of screen production partnerships with Japanese firms Japan Display (JDI) and Sharp, as they will no longer supply displays for Apple’s smartphones.

The Transition From LCD To OLED Screens

OLED, or organic light-emitting diode technology, has gained increasing popularity due to its superior picture quality compared to LCDs, or liquid crystal displays. Unlike LCDs, which require a backlight, OLED screens generate their own light. This inherent capability allows OLED screens to be thinner, more energy-efficient, and capable of displaying more vibrant colors—ideal for an enhanced experience when watching videos or playing games on smartphones.

Apple introduced OLED screens with the iPhone X in 2017. Since then, the company has incorporated OLED technology into its premium models, while continuing to use LCDs for its more budget-friendly options. However, moving forward, even the lower-cost iPhone SE will feature an OLED display, aligning it with the high-end models.

How Will It Impact Japanese Suppliers

This development represents a significant setback for JDI and Sharp, two firms that once played a major role in supplying screens for iPhones, according to Nikkei's report. Approximately a decade ago, these companies provided around 70 percent of the screens used in iPhones. However, as Apple transitioned to OLED technology, their business with Apple sharply declined. By 2023, JDI and Sharp were reduced to supplying only LCDs for the iPhone SE, and even this arrangement will be discontinued with Apple’s shift to OLED displays.

Unlike other suppliers, JDI and Sharp do not manufacture OLED screens on a large scale, so they will not be part of Apple’s future plans. Instead, Apple will source its OLED screens from South Korean companies like Samsung and LG, as well as BOE from China.