A new report coming in from market research firm DisplaySearch (via CNET and ZDNet Korea), shows Samsung was Apple’s biggest supplier of 9.7-in iPad display panels in the first quarter of 2014. The South Korean firm shipped 5.2 million units of the Retina display panels that were used in the iPad Air and the 4th generation iPad.
MacRumors reports that Samsung’s panels accounted for 62% of Apple’s 9.7-inch displays, while longtime partner LG Display shipped 3.2 million displays to account for 38% of the total.
Apple reportedly chose Samsung as their primary iPad display partner back in August 2013, and October saw reports that Apple had turned to Samsung to produce displays for the Retina iPad mini, in the face of the struggles that Sharp and LG Display were experiencing with low yield numbers.
Apple has long been reported to be looking for ways to reduce its dependence on Samsung as a component supplier, due to their rivalry in the mobile device market, and due to their battles in the courtroom. However, Apple has as yet been unable to find reliable suppliers that can replace the South Korean firm in a satisfying way.
