Samsung May Use BOE Displays Again for Galaxy Phones and Smart TVs

In a surprising turn of events, Samsung is reportedly considering buying display panels from Chinese manufacturer BOE once again. This comes after a period of tension and legal disputes between the two tech giants.

If the reports are accurate, BOE could supply OLED screens for Samsung’s smartphones and LCD panels for its smart TVs—potentially marking a major shift in Samsung’s sourcing strategy.

Reunion

It wasn’t too long ago that Samsung and BOE were locked in a heated patent dispute. That clash put a pause on their business ties, particularly in the OLED display space. Now, though, the ice appears to be thawing. According to a report by South Korean outlet DealSite, BOE’s Chairman, Chen Yanshun, met with several high-level Samsung executives last week, including TM Roh, who heads Samsung’s DX and MX divisions.

What was on the table? Everything from small-sized OLED panels for Galaxy smartphones to large LCD panels for TVs. If the discussions move forward, we could be witnessing the rekindling of a strategic partnership that had once looked beyond repair.

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Smartphones

Samsung has previously sourced OLED panels from BOE—but only for its budget Galaxy smartphones. That partnership came to a halt after the patent conflict escalated, pushing Samsung to switch to alternative suppliers like Tianma for limited OLED panel requirements.

This time, however, BOE reportedly wants to move beyond entry-level models. They’re hoping to supply OLED panels for more premium Galaxy devices. Whether Samsung agrees to this is still unclear, but if it happens, it could significantly reduce the company’s dependence on in-house and South Korean supply chains for displays.

BOE is no stranger to high-end clients. It already supplies OLED screens to brands like Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo, and even plays a limited role in Apple’s supply chain for iPhones.

Televisions

When it comes to TVs, the discussion appears to be more straightforward. BOE is keen to increase the number of LCD panels it supplies to Samsung. Before the fallout, the Chinese display maker was shipping roughly 10 million panels annually. That number dropped drastically to around 1 million units due to the legal dispute.

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If the new talks go well, we could see those numbers climb back up again. Given the rising costs of components globally, Samsung might be motivated to re-establish BOE as a primary LCD panel source for its smart TVs.

Here’s a quick comparison of the before-and-after situation:

Strategy

One of the underlying reasons for these renewed talks might be the ongoing global RAM shortage. As memory prices continue to surge, OEMs are looking for other ways to keep production costs under control. That’s where BOE comes into the picture—offering potentially lower-cost display solutions without compromising on scale.

Samsung is likely playing it smart. By reintroducing BOE into its supply chain, even partially, it creates pricing leverage against its other suppliers. It also gives the company more flexibility in how it manages costs across devices—be it smartphones or televisions.

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Uncertainty

While the meetings are confirmed and the interest from BOE is obvious, it’s still unclear how far Samsung is willing to go. Will they limit BOE to lower-tier products again? Or will they gamble by putting BOE panels in their flagship devices?

The quality of BOE’s OLED panels has improved over time, and its client list is growing. However, Samsung has always maintained high quality standards, especially for its premium Galaxy phones. A final decision may depend on extensive testing, quality control, and of course, pricing.

This situation is also a reflection of how global supply chains are evolving. Old rivalries may be put aside when cost pressures mount and market dynamics shift.

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