Apple Eyes Tandem OLED for Future iPhones to Boost Battery Life [Report]

LG Display is reportedly pushing Apple to adopt tandem OLED display technology for a future iPhone, with a target launch as early as 2028, according to a new report from Dealsite. The move would bring the power-efficient screen technology, which recently debuted on the iPad Pro, to Apple's flagship mobile device.

The report notes that LG Display has successfully developed a new 14-inch LTPO-based tandem OLED panel for laptops, set for mass production by the end of the year. While that specific panel is not intended for the MacBook—Apple requires oxide TFT panels for its notebooks—the underlying technology, which stacks multiple light-emitting layers to boost brightness, longevity, and efficiency, is seen as central to LG's efforts to win iPhone orders.

LG already has a strong foothold in tandem OLED. The company was the first to commercialize the technology in 2019, initially for automotive panels, and later supplied the 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models where tandem OLED debuted. In that segment, LG achieved an estimated 65% share of shipments, outpacing Samsung Display. According to analytics firm Patentpia, LG also leads in tandem OLED intellectual property, with 348 published U.S. patents—about 25.2% of the total—giving it an edge over Samsung and Japan's SEL.


The competitive landscape is heating up. Samsung Display, though later to the field, has since supplied panels for the iPad Pro and is rolling out tandem OLED to automotive displays. Meanwhile, BOE shipped tandem OLED panels for Honor's Magic6 Porsche smartphone in 2023. Industry observers note that LG is heavily promoting its tandem technology for iPhone, though adoption ultimately depends on Apple. Because stacking multiple light-emitting layers reduces production throughput, LG is said to be preparing additional investment to support future demand.

This push aligns with Apple's broader goal of improving battery life and power efficiency in its premium devices. Enhanced efficiency from a tandem display would be particularly beneficial for future designs, especially as models like the iPhone 17 Air are getting so thin that battery life is a major consideration.

This isn't the first time the technology has been linked to the iPhone. An earlier report from The Elec claimed LG Display had pitched a "simplified tandem" structure to Apple, prompting the company to check in with Samsung Display about its own capabilities. Both reports point to a 2028 timeline for a potential tandem OLED iPhone.

A 2028 release would place the display upgrade a year after the rumored 20th-anniversary iPhone in 2027. That anniversary model is already expected to feature a bezel-free design and new silicon anode battery technology.


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