Samsung has been buying OLED and LCD panels from China's BOE for a few years now. These panels are used in smartphones and TVs. However, it looks like the company won't be buying display panels from BOE next year.
According to a list obtained by TheElec, Samsung has removed BOE from its official suppliers' list, which means that the company won't buy any products from the Chinese firm. This is due to recent royalty payment issues from BOE. The South Korean firm reportedly requested BOE to pay royalty fees for using Samsung's name in its marketing, but BOE declined. Since then, Samsung has reduced buying display panels from BOE.
Now, Samsung's recent suppliers list suggests that BOE is not a part of the company's plan. BOE's OLED panels are usually used in Samsung's affordable and mid-range smartphones, while LCD panels are used in the company's affordable TVs. Now, the company has increased orders to buy display panels from CSOT and LG Display.
Various companies, including Apple and Samsung, are reducing their reliance on Chinese firms due to geopolitical tensions surrounding China. It was recently reported that Apple has stopped buying NAND chips from China's government-funded firm YMTC. Instead, the company will buy NAND chips from Samsung and SK Hynix.