Chinese display maker BOE is seeking to supply organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels for Apple's iPad Air, following Samsung Display's lead into the product lineup.

According to industry sources on Aug. 11, BOE is developing OLED panels for the next-generation iPad Air, which is expected to be unveiled in the first half of next year. Development is taking place at the company's B12 production facility in Chongqing, China, where its sixth-generation OLED production line is located.

Apple has selected Samsung Display as the primary supplier of OLED panels for the iPad Air and is expected to begin mass production around the end of this year or early next year. BOE is aiming to secure a secondary supplier position alongside Samsung Display. The company has not yet reached the mass production qualification stage and is expected to submit samples for evaluation before undergoing Apple's qualification process. A final decision on commercial supply is expected around the end of this year. Initial shipments could be limited to models for the Chinese market or refurbished devices.

Industry sources expect BOE's mass production qualification to be determined in November or December. Apple typically grants production approval one to two months before mass production begins. If BOE fails to qualify, Samsung Display is expected to become the sole supplier for the initial production run.

BOE has previously supplied OLED panels for Apple's iPhone lineup. In the IT OLED segment, including iPads, however, South Korean manufacturers such as Samsung Display and LG Display have maintained the leading positions.

The new iPad Air is being developed in 11-inch and 13-inch versions. It is expected to adopt a hybrid OLED panel combining a glass substrate with thin-film encapsulation (TFE). The display will likely use a single-stack red-green-blue (RGB) emitting structure, while the thin-film transistor (TFT) backplane will be based on low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS). The panel is also expected to support a 60-hertz refresh rate.

Apple has differentiated the iPad Air from the iPad Pro by adopting a single-stack OLED architecture and LTPS technology, reducing panel costs while maintaining OLED display quality. As Apple expands OLED adoption from the iPad Pro to the iPad Air, the tablet OLED market is expected to continue growing.

According to market research firm Omdia, shipments of OLED panels for tablets are projected to increase 39% to 15 million units this year from 10.9 million units last year. By contrast, liquid crystal display (LCD) panel shipments are expected to remain largely flat, with OLED driving overall growth in the tablet display market.

"BOE is developing OLED panels with the goal of entering the iPad Air supply chain," an industry source said. "Whether it ultimately secures supply orders, and in what volume, will depend on Apple's evaluation and mass production qualification results."

Separately, BOE is also seeking to supply OLED panels for Apple's MacBook Pro from its B16 8.6-generation OLED production line in Chengdu. However, the company is reportedly still facing challenges in stabilizing manufacturing yields, making commercial shipments to Apple unlikely in the near term. Industry sources expect BOE to enter Apple's MacBook Pro OLED supply chain after 2028.

AP Systems reported revenue of 162.844 billion won and operating profit of 9.595 billion won in the second quarter, the company said on Aug. 10. Revenue and operating profit increased 47.7% and 254.1%, respectively, from a year earlier.

First-half cumulative revenue reached 358.977 billion won, up 54.6% from the same period last year. Operating profit rose 166.5% to 27.583 billion won.

Revenue from organic light-emitting diode (OLED) equipment increased approximately 99% from a year earlier, while parts sales rose 25%. New semiconductor equipment orders currently stand at 78.5 billion won.

AP Systems is expanding its semiconductor equipment portfolio, focusing on rapid thermal processing (RTP) systems and laboratory automation equipment. The company is targeting 100 billion won in new semiconductor equipment orders this year.

In the near term, AP Systems aims to increase the semiconductor business's contribution to total company revenue to 20%. By 2030, it plans to raise that figure to 30%.

AP Systems paid 5 billion won in year-end dividends this year based on its previous fiscal year's results. The company also repurchased treasury shares worth 3 billion won and plans to retire the acquired shares.

"We will accelerate the development of new growth drivers centered on semiconductors," an AP Systems official said. "Through shareholder return initiatives, we aim to establish ourselves as a leading value-up company in the capital market."