Samsung reportedly declines to manufacture displays for 2025 iPhone SE 4

WEB DESK: Samsung has reportedly declined to produce displays for the upcoming iPhone SE 4, slated for release in 2025, citing disagreements over pricing with Apple.

As a result, China’s BOE will step in to manufacture the screens, according to a new supply-chain report from Korea.

Rumors of a significant overhaul to Apple’s entry-level iPhone first surfaced last November, suggesting the removal of the Home button to align the iPhone SE 4 with modern all-screen designs.

Subsequent reports indicated that Apple would adopt displays similar to those found in the iPhone 13, effectively repurposing existing technology to minimize production costs.

Initially, Samsung, BOE, and Tianma were vying for contracts to produce the displays. However, Samsung’s withdrawal from negotiations, attributed to pricing disagreements, has paved the way for BOE to secure the exclusive contract.

South Korean media outlet ZDNet Korea revealed that Samsung pulled out of talks midway through March due to Apple’s insistence on a lower price point, with the company’s offer reportedly $5 higher than Apple’s desired amount.

While BOE’s selection introduces some level of risk, given Samsung’s experience in manufacturing displays for previous iPhone models, the transition may encounter fewer production challenges.

Apple typically prefers multiple suppliers to mitigate risks and enhance negotiating leverage, but the company appears content with the outcome, considering the iPhone SE 4’s non-flagship status and Samsung’s unwillingness to compromise on pricing.

Conversely, Samsung seems to have prioritized more profitable ventures, opting out of supplying displays for an older product with narrower profit margins.