Novatek, a leading driver IC manufacturer in Taiwan, has achieved a significant milestone by securing a place in Apple’s iPhone supply chain. According to a report from Economic Daily News, Novatek’s OLED driver IC will be used in the forthcoming iPhone 16 series, marking the first time a Taiwanese IC design company has been awarded a crucial chip order for the iPhone. This order is expected to boost Novatek’s OLED driver IC shipments by 50% in the second half of the year compared to the first half.
The iPhone 16 series, set to debut in September, will feature the latest A18 processor produced using TSMC’s advanced N3P process, with mass shipments anticipated in the third quarter. The new series will continue to use OLED panels with enhanced pixel upgrades, necessitating higher specifications for the OLED driver IC. Novatek’s entry into the iPhone supply chain signifies a major breakthrough, leveraging its collaboration with South Korea’s LG Display (LGD), which supplies OLED panels.
Historically, Novatek’s driver ICs have been used in Apple’s iPad for several years, but the company had not secured an iPhone order until now. The collaboration with LGD has enabled Novatek to penetrate the iPhone 16 supply chain, combining LGD’s OLED panels with Novatek’s advanced driver ICs for shipment.
Industry sources indicate that Novatek will begin delivering OLED driver ICs to LGD in July. These ICs will be assembled into panel modules in the third quarter and subsequently sent to OEMs for production, aligning with the anticipated iPhone 16 launch.
Novatek’s inclusion in the iPhone supply chain is expected to significantly enhance its market position and drive growth in the second half of the year, reflecting a successful expansion of its business footprint within the highly competitive mobile device market.
