Sam Oliver
Despite being fierce competitors and opponents in the courtroom, Apple and Samsung remain important partners, with Samsung reportedly supplying more than half of all high-resolution Retina displays for Apple's full-size iPad last quarter.
Samsung is said to have shipped 5.2 million 9.7-inch Retina displays to Apple in the first quarter of calendar 2014, according to a report highlighted by CNet. That was reportedly good for 62 percent of full-size iPad shipments in the three-month span.
Apple currently sells two high-resolution iPad models at that size: The iPad Air, its current-generation tablet starting at $499, and the iPad with Retina display, a legacy model priced at $399.
Samsung's gains in supplying large iPad displays came at a cost to competitor LG Display, which saw its share of Apple's components drop from 61 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013 to 38 percent in the first quarter of 2014.
Being a key display supplier to Apple is only part of the story, as Samsung is also responsible for building all of Apple's custom A-series processors to date. Those chips — including the latest-generation A7 found in the iPhone 5s, iPad Air, and iPad mini with Retina display — are manufactured by Samsung at its chip fabrication facility in Austin, Tex.
There have been ongoing rumors for years claiming that Apple is looking to remove Samsung from its supply chain, because of the company's stature as a competitor, and Apple's ongoing lawsuits accusing the company of stealing its designs. In particular, it's been claimed for some time that Apple hopes to switch production of its A-series chips to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., lessening its reliance on Samsung.
Reports have claimed that TSMC and Samsung will share production of Apple's next-generation "A8" processor this year. However, similar claims have been made for some time without yet coming to pass.
Christine McKee
Andrew Orr
Charles Martin
Marko Zivkovic
Wesley Hilliard
16 Comments
Apple is going with the best manufacturer for its displays. If it happens to be Samsung, so be it. The Apple vs Samsung court battle was Jobs' pursuit, IIRC Tim Cook didn't want any part of it -- and this shows that he isn't going thermonuclear. With that being said, I'm all for Apple seeking out whatever's in its best interests.
Shock horror Apple goes to the company that can supply what it needs.
[quote name="Mazda 3s" url="/t/179448/samsung-once-again-apples-top-supplier-of-9-7-ipad-retina-displays#post_2532210"]Apple is going with the best manufacturer for its displays. If it happens to be Samsung, so be it. The Apple vs Samsung court battle was Jobs' pursuit, IIRC Tim Cook didn't want any part of it -- and this shows that he isn't going thermonuclear[/quote] The thermonuclear comment was re: Google/Android - not Samsung displays.
Well, if Samsung supplies the best screens available, so be it, and let Apple order all the screens they need from them. Even for their A-series chips, it doesn't matter if there's a (patent) lawsuit being fought concurrently. With Apples' 64-bit design Samsung never knew what hit them, resulting in their release of a 32-bit smartphone to answer Apples' 5s. Lawsuits will continue to be fought, parts will be ordered from direct competitors and the evolution simply continues. I for one am glad Apple is at the forefront of innovation, because when looking at their competitors products, both software and hardware, I just wouldn't know what to use. So, Apple, thank you for your excellent products. (not sure if it's ok to post this post; it is completely OT as the article is about Samsung displays)
In business, there are no friends or enemies. Just mutually useful alliances, or not.