The surge in demand for Apple’s next-generation smartphone, the iPhone 17, has created an unexpected knock-on effect in the tech world. This surge in demand has reportedly put LG, one of Apple’s largest display suppliers, on track to achieve its highest operating profit in 15 quarters, or nearly four years.
A key factor in LG’s record profits is the massive orders for OLED panels for the iPhone 17. Industry analysis suggests that the iPhone 17’s ability to maintain its starting price while offering significant hardware upgrades (notably the use of an LTPO OLED display on the standard model and 256GB of initial storage) has generated significant consumer interest.
LG Achieves Its Highest Profit in 4 Years
According to UBI Research, LG is expected to ship 45.6 million iPhone 17 display units thanks to this demand. This increase pushes the Korean company’s financial forecasts to the top:
- Estimated Operating Profit (Q3 2025): 448 billion won (approximately $332.4 million). According to Daishin Securities, this is a record that has not been broken for 15 quarters.
Estimated Revenue (Q3 2025): 6.87 trillion won (approximately $5.1 billion). - 2026 Revenue Forecast: Approximately 1 trillion won (approximately $741.9 million).
Samsung is expected to ship 78 million units during this period, while LG’s momentum, particularly with its increased share of the standard iPhone model, is noteworthy.
Apple’s iPhone 17 is seen as a triumph of its “price-performance” strategy. The device maintains its starting price of $799, while offering the following improvements, which is driving consumer demand:
- Advanced Processor: The powerful A19 SoC chipset, manufactured using TSMC’s latest 3nm “N3P” process.
- Display Upgrade: The use of LTPO OLED technology, previously only available on the “Pro” models, in the base iPhone 17.
- Storage: The initial storage has been doubled to 256GB.
Industry analysts say that offering such powerful hardware improvements without a price increase creates demand beyond the competition. This unprecedented demand is directly reflected in LG’s production lines, fundamentally changing the company’s financial situation.
This situation stands out as a striking example of how a single large customer like Apple can significantly impact a supplier’s financial fortunes. LG’s record profit forecast is based entirely on the current high demand for the iPhone 17; however, analysts warn that if this demand declines, profit figures could also decline.
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