Samsung Electronics will use Chinese vendor CSOT’s organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel for its upcoming Galaxy M41 smartphone, TheElec confirmed on Monday.
It will mark the first time that the South Korean tech giant uses OLED panels not produced by affliate Samsung Display for its Galaxy series of smartphones.
Galaxy M41 will launch in India and other emerging economies this month.
Its predecessor, the Galaxy M40, is being sold via Amazon India for 17,999 Indian rupees.
M40 had a 6.3-inch Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel but its successor M41 will have a 6.67-inch OLED panel. Resolution (1080x2340) and screen ratio (19.5:9) will remain the same.
Samsung’s move seems to designed to offer strong specs in its low-end smartphone line-up while controlling cost. CSOT’s 6.67-inch flexible OLED panel is already being used in Xiaomi Mi10 series and Motorola Edge.
Samsung was also testing Chinese vendor BOE’s OLED for potential use in Galaxy M41 as well, people familiar with the matter said.
BOE and CSOT can expect further OLED panel supply deals with Samsung for future Galaxy M and Galaxy A series if their deal this time around goes well, they said.
The two Chinese display makers have supplied their LCD panels for both smartphone series in the past.
Their clinching Samsung Electronics’ orders will also intensify price competition with mobile OLED panel market leader Samsung Display.
Samsung Display has been the exclusive vendor of OLED panels for Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy smartphone series until now.
Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics has sent request for quotation to BOE for its Galaxy S series launching next year. It hasn’t sent quotation to Samsung Display as of June, which likely means BOE will win some orders for next year’s Galaxy S series.
The pressure is on for Samsung Display, which is halting LCD production within the year. It has to rely on OLED panels aimed at smartphones until it secures new sales with its upcoming QD-OLED panels.
