Apple Seeks 20% Price Cut on iPhone 18 Pro Max OLED Panels
Apple is pushing suppliers for a 20% reduction in OLED panel prices.
1Apple’s OLED Panel Demand
Apple is reportedly asking for a roughly 20% price cut on OLED panels for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. This comes despite the panels becoming harder to manufacture. While Apple’s per-panel costs typically decrease with each new iPhone generation, this request is unusually steep.
2Reason Behind the Price Drop
Apple has proposed paying around $70 per OLED panel for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Once supply deals are finalized, Samsung Display and LG Display are expected to settle at an average of $66.50. This is nearly 20% less than what Apple paid for iPhone 17 Pro Max panels.
3New Material and Costs
The iPhone 18 lineup will reportedly switch to Samsung Display’s new M16 OLED material, which enhances brightness, longevity, and color accuracy. However, better materials come with higher manufacturing costs, and panel makers must retune their processes to stabilize yields after such a switch.
4Other Cost Increases
Apple’s demand appears to be an effort to offset rising costs in other iPhone components. Memory chip prices have surged across the industry, and device manufacturers are seeking discounts from suppliers rather than raising prices outright to protect their margins.
5Suppliers’ Perspective
Samsung Display President Lee Cheong stated that this year will be ‘extremely difficult due to chipflation.’ LG Display’s Jeong Cheol-dong acknowledged the pressure but noted that ongoing cost-cutting efforts should keep the situation manageable.
6Impact on Consumers
Cheaper components may not lead to a cheaper iPhone. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to start at $1,299 and $1,399, respectively, marking a $200 increase over the current generation. Apple seems to be using the display price cut to prevent an even steeper price hike.
Original article: Cult of Mac — Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max OLED Panellerinde Fiyat İndirimi İstiyor