New supply chain reports say Apple is in talks with Samsung and others to provide displays for the iPhone SE’s launch in early 2025. If all rumors are to be believed, Apple’s fourth low-cost iPhone SE has been plagued with strange delays and bad luck. It was launched as an iPhone that would only be produced for internal testing at Apple, then it was canceled, then it was launched again, and then it was stuck in between. Now a new industry report claims that multiple display vendors have made offers to Apple to supply displays for the device.
Apple is trying to supply screens for the iPhone SE
According to The Elec, Apple is in talks with Samsung Display, BOE and the smaller, lesser-known Tianma. It is now said that every retailer tells Apple the price of the iPhone SE 4 screen. This price is low enough for an iPhone SE due to the expectation that the model will be very similar to the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, The Elec reiterated. Companies can therefore use existing production lines and recycled parts, according to the publication.
This isn’t the first time suppliers have competed for the iPhone SE 4 contract. In August 2023, it was claimed that Apple had selected its main supplier but was considering placing orders with smaller secondary suppliers. Tianma is reportedly one of these smaller firms, but The Elec says it is currently far enough behind Samsung and BOE in terms of its technology that it is not a serious competitor.