The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has released a preliminary ruling that BOE—a Chinese OLED supplier used by Apple—stole display technology from Samsung. The ruling recommends banning the import of BOE OLED panels and devices containing them, which may include some iPhone 17 models if they feature BOE displays
🔍 4 Key Insights Behind the Ban Risk
1️⃣ BOE accused of trade-secret theft
Samsung Display filed a complaint in October 2023 alleging BOE misused OLED manufacturing secrets. The ITC ruled in favor of Samsung in this preliminary phase, recommending exclusion and cease‑and‑desist orders
2️⃣ Models potentially affected
iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 16, 16 Plus, and 16e, which contain BOE displays in the U.S., are at risk. The iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max uses BOE’s LTPO OLED panels in China only—these may not appear in U.S. units
3️⃣ Apple says no current impact
Apple issued a clarifying statement: “Apple is not a party to this case, and the order has no impact on any Apple products,” asserting that no current U.S. sales are affected—a claim tied to the preliminary ruling’s limited scope India Today
4️⃣ Timeline to watch
Final ITC ruling is expected in November 2025, followed by a 60-day presidential review period. If upheld, Apple may need to eliminate BOE from its U.S. iPhones and rely solely on Samsung or LG displays, possibly increasing costs and constraining supply
🔭 What’s Next
- Apple’s supply shift: The company may recalibrate sourcing to exclude BOE for U.S.-bound models.
- Launch implications: New iPhone 17 models, especially those using BOE screens in China, may not ship in the U.S.
- Pricing & availability: A constrained supplier mix could disrupt inventory and push prices upward.
- Legal developments: Samsung’s separate civil suit in Texas could intensify pressure or lead to damages for BOE.
✅ Bottom Line
While no iPhones are banned right now, a final ITC ruling could bar models using BOE OLED screens—potentially disrupting the U.S. launch of iPhone 17 units using those displays. Apple maintains current sales are unaffected, but the tech giant must prepare contingency plans ahead of the November 2025 deadline.
