苹果下单京东方？！

据韩媒ETNews报道，近期有业内人士透露，京东方决定为苹果投资专属的OLED模块线，并已开始在工厂和设备方面进行投资。据悉，京东方计划在其位于四川绵阳的B11 OLED工厂中新建10条模块线，而此次投资是其最近与苹果沟通后所做的后续决定。

这也就意味着，苹果和京东方已经达成实质性合作。2021年iPhone屏幕供应商必然出现京东方啊！！！在疫情笼罩之下的面板产业，对京东方可谓是一剂强心针。

多位熟悉京东方情况的业内人士表示：「听说苹果最近要求京东方为OLED的供应做出必要的准备。」这意味着， iPhone有可能将采用京东方OLED屏幕。

苹果公司一直在寻求其制造商来源的多样化。苹果最初只使用三星生产OLED显示屏，但为避免对单一供应商的依赖，同时为了降低成本，苹果在2018年增加了LG作为其供应商。去年，苹果主要供应商围绕着三星和LG这两大韩国巨头，同时夏普、JDI成为了为iPhone11系列供应LCD屏幕的新成员。此前，京东方主要向苹果提供LCD屏，但去年，苹果测试了BOE成都工厂生产的LCD屏，苹果喜欢屏幕的高质量和低价格。据报道，BOE的LCD屏比三星的便宜20%。

在新冠状疫情的影响下，三星和LG受到不同程度的影响，有业内人士表示，这可能是京东方进入苹果供应链的一个绝好时机。

去年，市场就一度传出京东方有望为苹果新机供应屏幕的消息，但事实是，主要参与者仍围绕着Samsung Display和LG Display这两大韩国巨头，同时夏普、JDI成为了为iPhone11系列供应LCD屏幕的新成员。

报道指出，虽然京东方已超越韩国显示器制造商，成为全球领先的屏幕供货商，但其在OLED行业中的地位仍相对较弱。因此，京东方必须重视并加强更先进的显示技术。

另一方面，韩媒也认为，目前京东方的投资决定并不意味着苹果已经向京东方下了OLED订单。但是，若一旦通过苹果严格的质量评估，京东方将成为继三星、LG之后的第三家OLED供应商。

有消息称，京东方计划在2021年6月向苹果供应OLED。对此韩媒指出，一直以来，苹果都寻求将OLED供应商多元化，而京东方则希望扩大其OLED业务，因此两家公司之间的合作关系很有可能会变得稳固。

BOE Makes Investment in Plant and Equipment for OLED Module Lines

Feb 25, 2020

It has been confirmed that BOE, the biggest display maker in China, has started making investment in plant and equipment in order to supply OLEDs to Apple. It will be interesting to see whether BOE can be a third OLED supplier for Apple in 2021 following Samsung Display and LG Display.According to the industry, BOE recently decided to invest in OLED module lines exclusively for Apple. It is heard that BOE is planning to construct 10 new module lines at its B11 OLED plant located in Sichuan. Module line is where many components are assembled so that a display panel can be attached to finished products such as smartphone. It is expected that BOE will have an entire assembly line from panel to module as it has Gen 6 flexible OLED fab at B11 plant.BOE has consistently been making attempts to supply its OLEDs to Apple. Along with the construction of B11 plant, it has been participating in projects for development of OLEDs for iPhones. However, it has yet to supply its OLEDs as its OLED has not satisfied Apple’s strict quality evaluation.BOE’s decision to invest in module lines does not indicate that BOE has signed a contract with Apple. It will be able to supply OLEDs once it passes Apple’s strict evaluation. The reason why BOE’s recent investment is still drawing interests is because its investment is a follow-up decision from its recent communication with Apple.“We heard that Apple recently asked BOE to make necessary preparations regarding supply of OLEDs.” said multiple representatives from the industry who are familiar with BOE’s situation.

<BOE’s foldable panel (Reference: BOE’s homepage)>

There is now a greater chance for BOE to become one of Apple’s OLED supplier. Apple currently has high level of dependence on Samsung Display. Samsung Display was the only OLED supplier for iPhone X and it also owns most of supplies of OLEDs for iPhone 11 series. As a result, it is urgent for Apple to diversify its OLED suppliers.BOE needs to raise the level of importance of OLED within its entire businesses. Although BOE has become the world’s leading display maker by surpassing South Korean display makers, its position within the OLED industry is relatively weak. As a result, it is important for BOE to put emphasis on next-generation high value products such as OLED, QLED, and microLED.Because Apple wants to diversify its OLED suppliers while BOE wants to expand its OLED business, there is a high chance that a partnership between two companies will become solidified.Emergence of BOE is definitely a bad news for Samsung Display and LG Display as they may see their supplies get reduced and have to reduce their unit costs if BOE joins them as one of Apple’s OLED suppliers.It is heard that BOE is looking to supply its OLEDs to Apple in June of 2021. It will be interesting to see whether BOE’s recent investment will lead to actual supply of OLEDs to Apple.