South Korea's leading display manufacturers have officially begun production of OLED panels for Apple's upcoming iPhone 17, according to industry sources. While Samsung Display (SDC) and LG Display (LGD) have secured the initial batch of orders, the total volume appears to be lower than that for the iPhone 16, reflecting geopolitical and economic uncertainties.

Chinese display manufacturer BOE has secured production capacity of roughly 100 million OLED panels annually for Apple's iPhones, according to industry sources. While BOE still lags behind South Korean giants Samsung Display (SDC) and LG Display (LGD) in technology, its rapid expansion is expected to undermine the bargaining power of the Korean suppliers in future negotiations with Apple.

The global race toward microLED mass production is heating up, with both Taiwanese and Chinese manufacturers accelerating efforts to carve out leading positions in the next-generation display technology market. While Taiwanese companies were early movers, Chinese players have also been ramping up their investments significantly in both speed and scale - particularly around microLED in package (MIP) products, which are expected to enter mass production between late 2025 and early 2026. These advancements are poised to drive growth in high-end display applications, including ultra-bright commercial displays larger than 90 inches.

At AUO's annual shareholder meeting on May 28, a small shareholder referenced a quote from the late Chi Mei Group founder Wen-lung Hsu: The display panel is a once-in-a-century industry. That once-promising era may be fading. Nevertheless, how does AUO Chairman Paul Peng see the industry's future?