Supply-chain sources say that Apple is in negotiations with Samsung for lower pricing on the OLED screens the Korean company is making for this year’s iPhones.
Apple’s negotiating position appears to have both strengths and weaknesses at present …
On the plus side, Apple would be offering Samsung much higher production volumes, says the Digitimes report.
On the downside, Apple’s plans to make two rival suppliers bid for the business seems to have hit a snag. The company had originally planned to split OLED orders for this year’s iPhones between Samsung and LG, but a recent report suggests that LG is struggling to hit production targets. The WSJ report said that it was uncertain whether LG would even be in a position to be a minority supplier this year.
There have been relatively wide-ranging estimates of the sum Apple pays to Samsung for each iPhone X display. Today’s report says that Apple is seeking a reduction from $110 to $100.
Apple is expected to launch three new iPhones this year:
- A successor to the 5.8-inch iPhone X
- A 6.5-inch ‘iPhone X Plus’
- A cheaper 6.1-inch model with a similar design but LCD screen
