Samsung and BOE May Renew Display Partnership After Year-Long Dispute

Samsung is reportedly preparing to restart its business relationship with Chinese display maker Beijing Orient Electronics (BOE). According to industry reports, the two companies are in talks for BOE to supply small-sized OLED panels for Galaxy smartphones and large LCD panels for Samsung smart TVs.

If the deal moves forward, it would mark a major turnaround after a year-long cooling of ties caused by a bitter patent dispute between BOE and Samsung Display.

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Top Executives Meet to Discuss New Supply Deal

South Korean publication DealSite reports that BOE Chairman Chen Yanshun recently met with senior Samsung executives, including TM Roh, President and Head of Samsung’s DX Division and MX Business.

Sources familiar with the matter say the discussions covered both:

• Large LCD panels for televisions, and
• Small OLED screens for mobile devices

The meetings reportedly took place last week and signal serious intent from both sides to rebuild their partnership.

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BOE Looking Beyond Entry-Level Galaxy Phones

BOE had previously supplied OLED displays for Samsung’s lower-end Galaxy smartphones. However, that partnership collapsed last year after the patent conflict escalated. Following the fallout, Samsung sourced limited OLED volumes from Chinese manufacturer Tianma.

Now, BOE is pushing for a stronger comeback.

According to the report, the company is seeking to supply displays not just for budget models but potentially for higher-end Galaxy smartphones as well. While there is no confirmation that Samsung has agreed to this expanded role, the negotiations indicate a possible shift in Samsung’s sourcing strategy.

BOE already supplies OLED panels to major smartphone brands including Oppo, Huawei, and Vivo, and is also believed to be a limited supplier for certain iPhone models.

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TV Panel Volumes Could Rise Again

BOE is also requesting a significant increase in the number of LCD panels it supplies for Samsung TVs.

Before the patent dispute, BOE was delivering nearly 10 million LCD panels per year to Samsung. After relations deteriorated, volumes reportedly dropped to just 1 million units annually.

The renewed talks could restore BOE as one of Samsung’s major display suppliers in the television segment.

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Global RAM Shortage Adds Strategic Pressure

The timing of these negotiations appears closely linked to the ongoing global RAM shortage, which has forced many device manufacturers to either cut costs or raise product prices.

Industry analysts suggest Samsung may be diversifying its supplier base to keep display costs under control and protect profit margins. Whether this strategy will fully offset rising memory prices remains uncertain.

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What This Means for Samsung

If the partnership resumes, Samsung could gain:

• More pricing leverage in the display supply chain
• Improved cost control for smartphones and TVs
• Greater flexibility amid global component shortages

For BOE, the deal would mark a major comeback into one of the world’s most influential electronics ecosystems.