That’s good news for the bottom line: the SE will likely use an older OLED design, allowing BOE to use existing parts inventory. But it’s not good news as Apple has been trying to reduce its reliance on Samsung for displays. A new report from The information describes how much power Samsung has over Apple as one of the few manufacturers capable of mass-producing high-end OLEDs to its specifications. Samsung Display reportedly gets away with things no other Apple component supplier would dream of doing, such as not allowing Apple engineers into its facilities and refusing to replace a stock of screens when a minor flaw was identified.

As much as Cupertino would like to sever ties with Samsung, it will probably be several years before that becomes a reality. If and when it gets its MicroLED production off the ground, Apple will probably start small and use the technology in watches first. In the meantime, Samsung is probably not losing sleep over the iPhone SE order from its competitor. If The Electric points out that the modern LTPO OLEDs Samsung makes for the iPhone 14 (and probably 15) cost more than twice as much as the old OLEDs the SE will reportedly use. Maybe things will change in a few years, but until then, it looks like Samsung’s display production lines will be busy making OLED panels destined for high-end iPhones.