Highlights
- Apple plans to bring tandem OLED technology currently used in the M4 iPad Pro to future iPhones.
- It will offer higher brightness, better power efficiency and longer lifespan.
- Apple has mapped out a two-year production timeline, which means tandem OLED iPhones likely won’t arrive until after 2028.

If this new report hold any ground, Apple is probably gearing up to introduce tandem-structure OLED panels to future iPhones. This is key display advancements currently exclusive to the M4 iPad Pro lineup. Here’s more on that.
Advanced Tandem OLED Displays for Future iPhone
According to a recent The Elec report, Apple has mapped out a two-year production timeline to adapt the superior tandem OLED technology for iPhones. However, since the company has not yet finalised whether it will collaborate with Samsung Display or LG Display, iPhones featuring tandem OLED panels likely won’t debut until after 2028.
The tandem OLED displays used in Apple’s latest iPad Pro models stack two RGB organic light-emitting layers, which significantly boost brightness, improve power efficiency and extend panel lifespan, advantages not found in the current single-stack OLED displays used in iPhones.
For iPhones, Apple is reportedly evaluating a variation called “simplified tandem” OLED, which stacks two layers only for the blue sub-pixel, while the red and green sub-pixels remain on a single layer. This version still aims to improve performance while reducing complexity and manufacturing costs.
LG Display is believed to have pitched this simplified tandem OLED approach to Apple, backed by its confidence in the technology. In fact, LG proposed a tandem OLED solution for iPhones several years ago and is now reportedly ahead of Samsung in this area.
Notably, LG has already supplied more tandem OLED panels for the iPad Pro than Samsung and has experience with two-stack OLEDs in its automotive display segment. In contrast, Samsung’s automotive OLEDs typically use a single-stack method.
Given LG’s lead, Apple is reportedly showing stronger interest in LG’s tandem OLED tech. That said, Apple is expected to diversify its supply chain to ensure production scalability and cost efficiency, which could bring China’s BOE into the mix as well.
As with all early-stage technology plans, there’s a possibility that Apple’s strategy may evolve over time. But if the company proceeds as expected, tandem OLED displays could significantly elevate display performance in future iPhones post-2028.
FAQs
Q1. What is tandem OLED technology, and how does it benefit iPhones?
Answer. Tandem OLED technology stacks two RGB organic light-emitting layers, which significantly enhances brightness, improves power efficiency, and extends the display’s lifespan, advantages over the current single-stack OLED panels used in iPhones.
Q2. When are iPhones expected to feature tandem OLED displays?
Answer. Apple is reportedly working on a two-year production timeline, but due to supplier decisions still pending, tandem OLED-equipped iPhones are unlikely to launch before 2028.
Q3. Which companies are involved in developing tandem OLED panels for Apple?
Answer. Apple is evaluating options from LG Display and Samsung Display, with LG currently leading due to its experience and early proposals. Apple may also consider BOE to diversify its supply chain for scalability and cost efficiency.
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