Chinese display maker BOE is now Apple's largest MacBook display supplier

Chinese display manufacturer BOE is expected to capture 51% of Apple's MacBook display panel orders this year, up from 39% in 2024, according to new reports.

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In a new story from MacRumors, BOE is expected to ship around 11.5 million units to Apple in 2025, which represents the first time that the Chinese display manufacturer will supply over half of the display panels used throughout Apple's MacBook family of laptops.

In a new report from market research firm Omdia, Apple's growing demand for display panels for its MacBook Air was instrumental in the change, benefiting BOE in a big way, but it won't last forever. Apple is forecast to buy 22.5 million display panels for its MacBook laptops this year, representing a 1% year-over-year increase.

LG Display has been Apple's primary MacBook display supplier, but now it's expected to supply around 8.48 million panels in 2025, leaving it with a 35% market share. This is a 12.2% decline in LG Display's shipment volume and a 9% decrease in its share compared to 2024.

Sharp continues supplying its Mini-LED panels for the higher-end MacBook Pro laptop, forecasted to supply 3.1 million panels to Apple in 2025. This represents a 20.8% year-over-year decline in shipment volume and a 14% market share. Omdia reports that the weakening demand for MacBook Pro laptops has affected supply volumes of both LG Display and Sharp, as Apple redirects a greater number of display panel orders to BOE.

BOE's success won't last for long, as Apple is expected to upgrade to OLED panels for its next-gen MacBook Pro laptops in 2026, so until OLED panels begin shipping, BOE will dominate the MacBook display supply chain, because of the strength of the MacBook Air in Apple's product family.

Omdia noted that BOE's big change might not last for too long, with Apple expected to upgrade its MacBook Pro to OLED panel technology in 2026. Omdia explains: "OLED technology, with its superior display performance and slimmer, lighter form factors, is expected to be introduced in MacBooks starting 2026. Samsung Display is likely to join Apple's MacBook supply chain at that time, intensifying competition among display makers as the market shifts from LCD to OLED".