BOE is seeking a share of Apple's next iPad Air OLED supply chain, aiming for a secondary sourcing role behind primary supplier Samsung Display. The Chinese panel maker is building its OLED effort at the B12 fab in Chongqing, home to BOE's sixth-generation OLED production line, ahead of a redesigned iPad Air expected in the first half of 2027. Samsung Display already holds the lead supply role and is on track to begin ramping production by the end of this year or the start of next.

BOE still has to clear Apple's qualification process, with samples expected to be submitted for evaluation and a verdict not expected until closer to year-end. Even a favorable outcome may only translate into modest volume, limited to iPad Air units for the Chinese market or refurbished devices. The sources put BOE's qualification decision in November or December, with Apple typically finalizing production approval one to two months ahead of mass production.

Should BOE fall short, Samsung Display will carry the entire initial production run alone. BOE has lost significant ground in tablets, with its utilization on Apple-dedicated OLED lines sliding from roughly 82% in 2024 to about 48% earlier this year. The redesigned iPad Air is expected in 11-inch and 13-inch sizes with a hybrid OLED panel and 60Hz refresh rate, keeping it below the iPad Pro's tandem stack OLED panel on cost.