Apple is staring down a potential crisis that could remove select iPhone models from American markets—not due to its own actions, but because of a high-stakes trade secret battle involving one of its Chinese display partners. The twist? A supplier allegedly stole proprietary technology from Samsung, and now Apple is trapped in the fallout of a legal clash that might permanently alter iPhone availability and pricing in the U.S.

Key facts at a glance:

• The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) found BOE Technology guilty of misappropriating Samsung’s OLED trade secrets
• iPhones using BOE displays—including certain iPhone 15, 16, and possibly 17 variants—could face import bans into the United States
• BOE currently fulfills about 20% of Apple’s OLED panel orders
• Final ruling expected in September 2025, with former President Trump having 60 days to veto the decision (though no approval is needed for it to take effect)

BOE’s costly misstep puts Apple in a bind

The ITC’s preliminary determination states that BOE and seven affiliated entities violated the Tariff Act by unlawfully acquiring and using Samsung Display’s confidential OLED manufacturing processes. Samsung first filed the complaint in October 2023, accusing BOE of leveraging insider knowledge obtained through ex-Samsung engineers.

The recommended remedies are severe: a restricted exclusion order banning imports of infringing OLED components, and a cease-and-desist directive halting BOE from distributing existing stock to U.S.-based manufacturers. In practical terms, this means any iPhone equipped with BOE panels derived from stolen tech could be barred from entering the U.S.

Currently, some U.S.-sold iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 16, 16 Plus, and 16e units include displays supplied by BOE. By December 2024, the ITC’s Office of Unfair Import Investigations had sided with Samsung, advocating for a full ban on BOE-made displays and any products incorporating them.

Unlike previous legal skirmishes—such as the Apple Watch dispute with Masimo, where Apple could redesign around contested sensors—this case strikes at the core of Apple’s supply chain resilience. A trade secret violation of this magnitude doesn’t allow for quick fixes or engineering workarounds; it threatens to sever an entire supplier relationship overnight.

Apple’s scramble for supply chain stability hits a wall

This controversy arrives at a particularly fragile moment for Apple. The company is already grappling with internal leaks, having recently settled a major legal conflict with chip firm Rivos in 2024. Additionally, at least three ex-employees have been arrested on charges of transferring sensitive Apple data to organizations linked to China.

Apple has long pursued supplier diversification to mitigate risk. India, for example, is projected to produce 14% of global iPhones, with ambitions to grow that share to 32% by 2027. However, Indian production lines currently achieve only about 50% yield rates on critical components like casings. BOE’s role was meant to help compensate for these gaps in manufacturing maturity.

Timing could not be worse. Apple recently approved BOE to manufacture LTPO displays for the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max—specifically for the Chinese market. These panels, however, reportedly fall short of Apple’s performance standards, which is why the company intends to limit their use to China-only releases.

PRO TIP: Apple’s decision to use BOE on lower-tier models was a calculated move—using non-Pro devices as a testing ground to evaluate BOE’s capabilities while minimizing exposure on flagship products.

The looming showdown: Samsung’s dominance on the line

Samsung Display dominates the global OLED market with a 41.4% share, while BOE holds 11.6%. If BOE is cut off from the U.S., Apple loses not just a supplier, but crucial pricing leverage. It would become heavily reliant on Samsung and LG Display for advanced OLED panels—just as global supply chains face unprecedented strain.

Consider the stakes: losing 20% of its display supply means Apple must redirect that volume to Samsung and LG, both of which already handle the sophisticated LTPO displays used in Pro models. With potential new China tariffs reaching 60%, and rumors of the iPhone 16 Pro Max nearing $2,300 under revised trade policies, Apple can’t afford to lose cost-efficient alternatives.

The final ITC verdict is due in November 2025, followed by a 60-day review period during which Trump can intervene. What makes this case unique is the political calculus: Trump may weigh Apple’s massive U.S. economic impact against the importance of upholding protections for American-linked operations of foreign firms like Samsung.

How this affects your next iPhone purchase

The BOE saga threatens a cascade of consequences: disrupted supply, increased costs, and uncertainty for consumers. Apple may need to reroute BOE-equipped iPhones to non-U.S. markets and ensure all American-bound units use panels from LG or Samsung—all while managing a potential $490 million settlement over accusations it misled investors about iPhone sales in China.

PRO TIP: If you’re planning to upgrade to an iPhone 16 or 16 Plus this year, prepare for possible delays and higher prices as Apple reconfigures its display sourcing strategy for the U.S. market.

This goes beyond a typical patent fight. It underscores how a single supplier’s alleged misconduct can ripple across continents, triggering import bans, consolidating supplier power, and ultimately inflating prices for end users far removed from the original conflict.

Apple’s history shows a pattern: the Apple Watch ban due to Masimo patents, ongoing battles over employee leaks, and now the BOE scandal—all reveal how external legal fires can rapidly endanger flagship product availability.

The broader lesson? While Apple has long relied on diversifying suppliers to reduce risk, trade secret theft introduces a new kind of vulnerability—one that no amount of engineering or negotiation can instantly resolve. As the November 2025 deadline looms, Apple faces a tightening vise: shrinking display options, rising costs, and growing demand volatility—all converging at once.

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