Every time we think the iPhone SE is dead, a new rumor pops up to remind us that it’s not. This time it’s about the screen and, apparently, Samsung won’t make it.
According to ZDNet Korea (via ITHome), Samsung declined the opportunity to supply iPhone SE 4 displays to Apple due to pricing concerns. The report claims that Apple wants to pay around $25 per display, while Samsung is looking to get $30. While initial reports claimed that Apple would stick with an LCD display for the iPhone SE 4 (like the iPhone 11), recent rumors claim that it will have an OLED display, which can be much more expensive.
Samsung has been supplying OLED panels to Apple since the first iPhone with an OLED screen: the iPhone X.
Apple launched the iPhone SE 3 in March 2022 with 5G and a slightly higher price of $429. It also includes the A15 Bionic processor and “advanced” camera features including Smart HDR 4, Photographic Styles and Deep Fusion, although Apple has stuck with a single rear camera. The latest iPhone SE rumors claim that the next model will be a dramatic redesign that will remove the Home button and adopt an all-screen design. It’s also expected to get Face ID and a newer processor, but most reports claim it will still have a single camera.
With Samsung excluded, Chinese company BOE is the lead as a display supplier for the iPhone SE. Apple has worked with BOE in the past, but encountered quality and reliability issues.
