Samsung won't give Apple its best OLED tech for iPhone 14

Samsung Display will reportedly supply OLED panels for four iPhone 14 models, but the OLED technology won't be exactly the same across the board. According to industry watchers cited by The Elec, Samsung will use lower-grade materials from the previous generation OLED on lower-tier iPhone 14 models while reserving its most advanced materials for the top-tier iPhone 14 variant.

LTPO OLED panels are reserved for top-tier phones, including Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4

In more technical terms, Samsung Display will supply Apple with OLED panels developed using its so-called M11 and M12 material sets. Panels based on the M11 set have an LTPS backplane and will be used by the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 models.

Apple's higher-end iPhone 14 models will use OLED panels with an LTPO backplane manufactured by Samsung Display using its newer M12 material set. The same M12 material set is said to be utilized by Samsung to manufacture OLED panels for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4.

In total, industry watchers estimate that Samsung Display will supply Apple with roughly 80 million OLED panels for the iPhone 14 series.

Meanwhile, Samsung's latest foldable devices using LTPO technology will be unveiled on August 10. And although the iPhone 14 series hasn't adopted a foldable design, the upcoming Samsung and Apple flagships will inevitably compete over the same pool of prospective flagship smartphone customers.