Rumor: Apple is considering buying OLED screens from Chinese manufacturer

The Chinese screen manufacturer BOE is investing one hundred billion yuan, converted about 13.8 billion euros, in the construction of two factories for the production of OLED screens. That’s what anonymous sources tell Bloomberg. Apple is said to be in talks with the manufacturer.

According to Bloomberg sources, Apple has been testing BOE OLED screens for months, but the iPhone maker has not yet decided whether it will use the displays. If Apple actually uses screens from the Chinese manufacturer in iPhones, it will probably only be in models that will be released in 2018, the news agency writes based on the tipster.

Although talks between Apple and BOE are still at an early stage, the Chinese screen manufacturer is said to plan to build two factories for the production of OLED screens. They will be located in Sichuan province. BOE already makes OLED panels on a small scale. With the new factories, the Chinese manufacturer could increase production and offer Apple an alternative to the screens of manufacturers such as Samsung, LG and Sharp.

It is likely that Apple will use different suppliers of OLED screens if it will process these displays in its iPhones. Apple has not yet made iPhones with OLED screens, but according to rumors, that will change this year. Apple is expected to release three iPhones and that only the most expensive model will receive an OLED screen this year.