Samsung May Win Exclusive OLED Deal for 20th Anniversary Special iPhone

Samsung has long been a crucial business partner for Apple, supplying displays for every iPhone model since the iconic iPhone X launched in 2017. At the same time, Apple has continued sourcing panels from manufacturers like LG and BOE. It’s done to reduce supply chain risks and avoid relying too heavily on a single vendor.

Apple might hand Samsung exclusive 20th anniversary iPhone OLED display contract

A new report from The Korea Herald suggests that Samsung Display could secure an exclusive OLED supplier contract for the 20th anniversary special iPhone. If true, this would be the second time Apple has granted Samsung Display sole supplier status since the iPhone X. This will mark a notable shift in its sourcing strategy.

The timing makes this development more significant. That mirrors the role of the iPhone X, which debuted as a special edition device for the company’s 10th anniversary and introduced major design and technology changes at the time.

This report follows a recent rumor suggesting that Samsung is working on a custom OLED design for the anniversary model. The panel is said to feature a quad curved layout, with subtle micro curves along all four edges. As a result, it will create a more seamless and refined appearance.

Samsung is also expected to supply a pol less OLED panel that removes the traditional polarizer layer. Instead, it would use COE, or Color Filter on Encapsulation, where the color filter is integrated into the encapsulation layer. This approach could make the display thinner, brighter, and more power efficient.