Apple has been trying to be less dependent on Samsung components for years now, but ditching its rival has been a lot more difficult than imagined, mostly because there’s not a single company that can churn out displays and RAM like Samsung.
A new report from NPD DisplaySearch claims that Apple’s dependency on Samsung displays has only deepened recently, thanks to shortcomings by LG Display and other manufacturers as the iPad mini 2 launch looms ahead.
LG Display is Apple’s major display supplier, but in April and June Samsung supplied more 9.7-inch panels for the iPad 4, according to the report. Apple’s purchases from Samsung have increased quarter-to-quarter since January, with its most recent order weighing in at 4.1 million units—an 80% jump from the 2.3 million units it ordered in the first quarter.
Samsung is also expected to replace AU Optronics as a supplier of the 7.9-inch displays for the iPad mini, but it’s not clear whether they will be Retina displays or not. LG is also Apple’s top supplier for iPad mini displays and is also expected to supply panels for the iPad mini with Retina display.
Source: NPD DisplaySearch
Via: CNET