The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a preliminary ruling recommending a ban on BOE smartphone displays — including those used in some iPhone models — after siding with Samsung in a high-stakes trade secrets case. However, Apple insists it won’t be impacted by any final order.
What’s the case all about?
The dispute dates back to 2023, when Samsung Display accused BOE of misappropriating trade secrets related to OLED screen manufacturing. The ITC has now concluded that Samsung “proven by a preponderance of evidence” that BOE unlawfully benefited from Samsung’s proprietary OLED technologies.
The preliminary ruling is significant, though the final judgement is expected in November 2025. If the ITC upholds the ban, President Donald Trump will have two months to decide whether to approve or block the recommendation. The ban would target the import of smartphones — such as some iPhones — that contain BOE OLED panels.
While this sounds like a red flag for Apple, the Cupertino company downplayed the implications.
In a statement to AppleInsider, Apple said: “Apple is not a party to this case, and the order has no impact on any Apple products.” Legally, it’s unclear whether the ITC intends to ban BOE panel imports themselves or the smartphones using them — a crucial distinction, as no iPhones are assembled in the U.S., meaning the displays are integrated before entering the country.
BOE currently supplies panels for iPhone 15, 16, and upcoming 17 models, though its involvement is limited and largely focused on budget variants and the Chinese market. Apple has long depended on Samsung Display and LG Display for premium models, including foldables.
As of now, it doesn’t impact Apple but in the long-term it could change Apple’s display sourcing strategy, especially since BOE recently expanded its OLED production to ramp up orders for Apple. Any ban could force the company to shift entirely to Korean suppliers. While BOE is a relatively minor player now, the ruling could stifle its ambitions of becoming a serious iPhone display provider and raise further geopolitical tensions in the global tech supply chain.
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