BOE Faces U.S. Trade Setback That Could Disrupt Apple’s iPhone Display Supply
BOE, the Chinese display giant, might be in serious trouble-this time not over quality issues, but a potential violation of U.S. trade laws. A preliminary ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) suggests BOE and seven of its subsidiaries misused Samsung Display’s trade secrets to produce OLED panels, a possible breach of Section 337 of the Tariff Act.
If the ruling stands, BOE could be banned from importing OLED displays into the U.S., and existing inventory might be pulled off shelves. For Apple, that spells possible disruption in its iPhone display supply chain. BOE currently supplies roughly 20% of OLED panels for the iPhone 16 lineup, and it even built a dedicated plant in Sichuan for Apple production.
BOE’s journey with Apple hasn’t been smooth. Since joining the iPhone display scene with the iPhone 12, the company has faced criticisms over panel quality. Yet, it managed to share orders with industry heavyweights like LG and Samsung.
The ITC’s final decision is expected in November, followed by a 60-day presidential review. Analysts say such preliminary rulings rarely get overturned, which doesn’t bode well for BOE. While the ruling won’t affect iPhones already imported to the U.S., the potential import ban could force Apple to rely more heavily on Samsung and LG, likely driving up production costs.
The BOE-Samsung conflict isn’t new. The two firms are embroiled in six legal battles-five over patent issues and one over trade secrets. In fact, BOE recently filed another lawsuit targeting Samsung’s Galaxy devices, including the Z Fold 5, Z Fold 6, and the upcoming S25 Ultra, demanding a U.S. sales ban and full legal fee coverage.
What This Means for iPhone Buyers
If Apple does end ties with BOE, users could feel the impact through more expensive iPhones or limited model availability, especially in the short term. While Apple is known for its agile supply chain management, shifting suppliers at scale is no small feat.
In the broader picture, this situation reveals just how fragile and tangled the tech supply chain can be. Protecting IP is vital, but these disputes have ripple effects that stretch far beyond courtrooms-affecting manufacturing timelines, product pricing, and availability for consumers worldwide.
All eyes are now on Apple. Will it drop BOE entirely? And can Samsung and LG ramp up production fast enough to fill the gap?