According to a report by Korea Economic Daily, Both Korean companies have cumulatively supplied the iPhone maker 8.5 million OLED panels for new iPad Pro models which are rumoured to launch later this month after beating their Chinese rivals.
The report cited sources in the display industry to reveal that Samsung Display and LG Display are expected to supply 4 million and 4.5 million cells of OLED panels for the new 11- and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, respectively, this year.
How much Apple paid Samsung and LG for OLED displays
As per the data by global display industry tracker Omdia’s, the price for 11 and 12.9-inch OLED panels are expected to be $290 and $390 per unit, respectively. This suggests that the total value Apple may have paid Samsung and LG for the new iPad Pro displays is estimated at $2.9 billion.
Both companies are expected to mass-produce their respective OLED panels for the iPad Pro at their Gen 6 fabs.
Samsung, LG’s win over its Chinese rivals
China’s top display maker BOE Technology Group took over the global OLED market for foldable phones with the largest 42% share in the final quarter of last year.
To take on its Chinese rivals, Samsung and LG have shifted their focus to information technology (IT) OLED panels from the ones needed for TV and smartphones. The IT OLED panels are mainly used in tablet PCs and laptops.
The Korean display majors’ bet paid off by winning all the panel orders for the new iPad Pro models after beating Chinese peers, including BOE.