LG Display is on track to achieve its highest operating profit in 15 quarters, driven significantly by increased iPhone 17 display orders from Apple. The South Korean display manufacturer’s fortunes are turning around as brokerages expect the company to reach KRW 1 trillion (€668 million) in operating profit next year, marking a dramatic recovery for the struggling panel maker.

iPhone 17 Orders Fuel Recovery

LG Display’s iPhone panel shipments in the third quarter are expected to reach approximately 18.5 million units, representing a 70% increase compared to the second quarter. This surge coincides with Apple’s iPhone 17 launch, which began pre-orders on September 12 and became available September 19, 2025.

LG Display has ramped up its smartphone OLED production capacity to 70 million units for 2025, up from previous years, specifically to meet Apple’s enhanced requirements. This production increase reflects the technological demands of manufacturing LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) displays for Apple’s premium iPhone lineup.

Key Metric	Details
Operating Profit Target	KRW 1 trillion (€668 million) in 2025
Q3 iPhone Shipments	18.5 million units (70% QoQ increase)
Annual OLED Capacity	70 million units for 2025
Recovery Timeline	Highest profit in 15 quarters
Technology	LTPO OLED displays

Structural Rebound for Display Sector

Industry watchers see the third quarter as the start of a structural rebound for the display sector, with LG carving out more share in IT and mobile OLEDs. This recovery comes after years of challenging market conditions that saw display manufacturers struggle with oversupply and declining panel prices.

The iPhone 17’s adoption of LTPO OLED technology across all models has created significant opportunities for LG Display. All iPhone 17 models in 2025 are expected to use LTPO, with LGD supplying OLED panels for the Pro Max and Plus models, giving the company substantial market share in Apple’s flagship lineup.

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Beating Chinese Competition

An industry insider in South Korea stated that the likelihood of Chinese manufacturers supplying LTPO panels in 2025 is nearly zero. This competitive advantage has allowed LG Display and Samsung Display to maintain their duopoly as Apple’s primary OLED suppliers, locking out Chinese rivals from the lucrative iPhone display market.

The technical complexity of LTPO manufacturing, which enables variable refresh rates and improved power efficiency, has created a significant moat protecting Korean display makers. LG’s investments in advanced OLED production capabilities are now paying dividends as Apple expands premium display technology across its entire iPhone 17 range.

Long-Term Implications

This profit surge represents more than quarterly gains—it signals LG Display’s successful pivot toward high-margin mobile displays after struggling in the TV panel market. The company’s strengthened relationship with Apple provides revenue stability and validates its technology investments.

However, maintaining this momentum requires continued innovation as Chinese competitors aggressively develop LTPO manufacturing capabilities. LG Display’s ability to sustain these profit levels will depend on retaining Apple’s confidence while expanding its customer base beyond a single major client.