M14 also being developed for iPhones next year
Samsung Display is almost certainly expected to use its M12 material set for OLED panels that it will supply to Apple for iPhone 15 series this year, sources told TheElec.
The South Korean display panel maker used the material set for the first time last year for the two top-tier models of the iPhone 14 series. The two lower-tier models used the M11 material set, the former generation.
But for the iPhone 15 series, it is expected to apply them to all four models, the sources said.
OLED materials sets are comprised of dopants, hosts and primes for the red, green and blue pixels that comprise the layers of the panel.
Meanwhile, Samsung’s new foldable phones launching later in the year are also expected to use the M12 material set again, the same as the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 of last year.
Samsung Display is also developing a new material set it is calling M13 for customers excluding Apple. The material set is likely to be used on Google’s foldable phones that will launch this year.
Another material set, dubbed M14, is being also developed for Cupertino, which is likely for iPhones launching in 2024.
The precise reason for this development of two materials sets is unknown, but likely a response to customer demand. After all, the iPhone maker is a top customer of Samsung Display.
Meanwhile, the top two models on the iPhone 15 series will use low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) OLED panels while the lower two will use low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) TFT OLED panels.
Samsung Display will be supplying OLED panels for all four models; LG Display only the top-tier models or Pro models. BOE is also expected to be a tertiary supplier for lower-end models if it succeeds in developing the hole-display OLED panels needed.