Samsung Display is expected to secure the largest share of OLED panel orders for Apple’s new iPhone 17e.

According to Korean tech news site The Elec, Apple has allocated the majority of OLED supply for the A$999 device to Samsung Display, reversing earlier expectations that Chinese display maker BOE would lead the order allocation.

BOE and LG Display are still expected to supply panels for the iPhone 17e, but in smaller volumes.

Industry estimates cited by The Elec suggest the supply structure could closely mirror the previous generation.

For the iPhone 16e, Samsung Display reportedly shipped around 11 million OLED panels, while BOE supplied about 7.5 million units and LG Display delivered roughly 3.5 million.

Apple typically ships about 20 million units of its entry-level iPhone SE and “e” models in the first year after launch, with the devices designed to reuse existing components while pairing them with the latest Apple silicon to compete with mid-range smartphones.

BOE’s reduced role in the new model is reportedly linked to production quality issues affecting its iPhone OLED output since late 2025.

Sources cited by The Elec say manufacturing problems in a key process temporarily disrupted production, impacting panels used across several iPhone models including the iPhone 15, 16 and 17 families.

Samsung Display has reportedly benefited from the disruption, receiving additional orders for several million panels.

The iPhone 17e is expected to feature a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with peak brightness of up to 1,200 nits for HDR content, along with Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2 front glass.

Meanwhile, Samsung Display is also ramping up production capacity for Apple’s future devices.

Reports indicate the company is increasing investment in its A4 factory in South Korea to boost flexible OLED output for Apple’s anticipated foldable iPhones, which could launch in the second half of 2026.