アップル(Apple)事情に精通する「天風国際証券(TF International Securities)」のアナリスト郭明錤(ミンチー・クオ)氏は最新のレポートの中で、アップルは2022年中頃に、ミニLEDディスプレイ搭載をセールスポイントとする新型「MacBook Air」の発売を予定しており、そのミニLEDを中国ディスプレイパネル製造大手「BOE(京東方)」が供給するだろうと述べた。
Chinese display panel giant will secure 20 billion yuan in funds to expand its Chongqing display line, known as B12, which produces OLED panels for smartphones, according to local media Yicai.
BOE said the Wuhan factory will begin to produce in full capacity in the first half of 2021. The factory is the company’s second after its Gen 10.5 LCD factory at Anhui.
Wuhan factory started operation in 2019 and BOE initially aimed to expand production last year but this was delayed due to the pandemic. Production temporary halted in the first half of 2020 due to the outbreak.
Both Gen 10.5 factories has a production capacity of 120,000 substrates per month.
BOE, one of the leading display maker in China, has been trying to enter the list of suppliers for Apple for some time, and now it seems that the company has finally been able to do so with the upcoming iPhone 12 models.
As per the latest report, BOE has supplied flexible OLED panels for the iPhone 12 models to Apple. However, the order is said to be of limited quantity only as LG Display is still the tech giant’s second choice for display suppliers and Samsung Display being the primary supplier for the display panel.
Earlier, it was reported that the BOE, which is already a display supplier for MacBook and iPad, will be supplying OLED screens for the upcoming iPhones as Apple tries to reduce dependence on Samsung. But some reports indicated that the Chinese firm didn’t meet Apple’s standard but could enter the supply chain later.