Apple Seeks 20% Cut for iPhone 18 Pro Max OLEDs

Apple is pushing Samsung and LG for cheaper iPhone 18 Pro Max OLED panels to offset rising costs for 2nm chips and memory components.

Apple is requesting a 20 percent price reduction for iPhone 18 Pro Max OLED panels from suppliers Samsung and LG, aiming for a $70 target price. While iPhone 16 Pro Max panels often exceeded $100 and iPhone 17 Pro Max units averaged $80, reports suggest suppliers could lower the cost of the upcoming M16 OLED panels to an average of $66.50. These panels offer improved luminous efficiency, lifespan, and image quality. The cost-cutting measure follows significant price hikes elsewhere in the Bill of Materials; the new A20 Pro, Apple's first 2nm SoC, is estimated at $280 per unit. Additionally, rising costs for DRAM and NAND flash memory could increase the iPhone 18 Pro Max production cost by $300. Samsung and LG remain the primary OLED suppliers for both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models.