Apple says ITC ruling on Chinese display ban won't impact the iPhone
by Josh Render, · tom's guide(Image credit: Future)
Editor's Note: We have updated this story to reflect that Apple says the ITC ruling over Chinese display maker BOE. will not affect the iPhone We have included a full statement from Apple below.
Updated story: A new preliminary ruling from the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) lead to concerns certain iPhone 15, iPhone 16, and possibly even iPhone 17 models could be under threat.
However, Apple has confirmed this case has no bearing on the company's devices and won't cause any impact on consumers. An Apple spokesperson said: "Apple is not a party to this case, and the order has no impact on any Apple products.”
iPhone 17 price hikes — new report claims Apple could charge more this fall
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max killer upgrade reportedly cancelled
iPhone 17 could get a display upgrade — but still be inferior to the iPhone 17 Pro
The initial case, as reported by ET News, centers on the Chinese display maker BOE, which has been producing OLED displays for the iPhone since 2021.
In the preliminary ruling, the ITC states that BOE, alongside several of its subsidiaries, had “violated subsection (a)(1)(A)(i) of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, in the importation into the United States, or in the sale of certain organic light-emitting diode display modules and components thereof by reason of misappropriation of trade secrets,” namely those belonging to Samsung.
As part of the ruling, the ITC recommends implementing both a restricted exclusion order and a cease and desist order against BOE.
The former of these orders would block the company from importing infringing OLED panels into the U.S., while the latter would mean that BOE could not sell or supply its existing stock to U.S. assemblers.
Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox.
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
And while Apple does source displays from BOE (alongside Samsung and LG) the company has confirmed to Tom's Guide no iPhones are affected by the ban.
Will this affect iPhones sold in China?
We have seen in a recent X post from Junkanlosreve that Apple has authorized BOE to produce LTPO displays for Chinese versions of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. However, it appears the same won’t be true in other countries due to weak LTPO performance benchmarks.
If that's accurate, it could be the case there's some consequence for iPhones models in the Chinese market, if Apple decides it wants to limit its relationship with BOE in light of this, but that would only be speculation at this stage. And at any rate, what happens in China has nothing to do with the ITC's ruling for U.S. imports.
Of course, this is also only a preliminary ruling as well. We will also have to wait for the final decision on the matter, which is expected in November. Once that is made, President Trump will have sixty days to either veto or approve the commission's ruling.
More from Tom's Guide
- Apple could ditch titanium on iPhone 17 Pro — and keep it exclusive to iPhone 17 Air
- iOS 26 Photos — here's the biggest upgrades for your iPhone
- iPhone Fold could cost less than Galaxy Z Fold 7 — under $2,000
See more Phones News
TOPICS
Apple Samsung
Social Links Navigation
Staff Writer
Josh is a staff writer for Tom's Guide and is based in the UK. He has worked for several publications but now works primarily on mobile phones. Outside of phones, he has a passion for video games, novels, and Warhammer.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout
Read more
iPhone 17 price hikes — new report claims Apple could charge more this fall
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max killer upgrade reportedly cancelled
iPhone 17 could get a display upgrade — but still be inferior to the iPhone 17 Pro
Forget the iPhone 17 Air for a moment — these are the 5 most exciting rumors about the other iPhone 17 models
Apple's rumored iPhone release date shake-up is good news for the iPhone 17 – here's why
Trump tariffs could impact iPhone 17 prices — should you upgrade now?
Latest in iPhones
iOS 26’s Liquid Glass design brings big changes to your iPhone — here’s everything coming in the public beta
iPhone Fold — Apple is reportedly partnering with Samsung for a 'crease-free' display
Apple could ditch titanium on iPhone 17 Pro — and keep it exclusive to iPhone 17 Air
iPhone Fold could cost less than Galaxy Z Fold 7 — under $2,000
iPhone 20 could have an incredibly advanced design — but I'm worried Apple will mess it up
iPhone 17 Pro Max just leaked in a surprising new color — get ready for orange
Latest in News
Surprise! Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 found to be thinner than 'world's slimmest foldable'
A leaked xAI security key could put your data at risk — here’s what happened
'Severance' season 3 gets update from Apple TV Plus exec — and it's a bummer
'The Legend of Zelda' movie has its cast — here's who's playing Zelda and Link in the live-action adaptation
Made by Pixel event set for August 20 — Pixel 10, Pixel Watch 4 and more
You can now stream select Xbox games you own to PC, no Xbox required—but there's a catch