Samsung is to use from 700,000 to 1,000,000 LCD panels from rival LG Display in sizes of 40″ and 60″, starting in July, according to a report in Business Korea. The deal has been done following the decision by Sharp to stop supplying panels to Samsung (Sharp Shuns Samsung TV Panel Business) at the end of 2016.
Analyst Comment
Business is business, and Samsung’s Visual Display (TV) group has always bought plenty of panels from other suppliers. However, it’s hard to believe that LG Display will make VA panels for Samsung, and so will, presumably, supply IPS panels. They will look different in the showroom, so we wonder whether Samsung will limit the use of these panels to particular territories, to limit the dilution of their differentiation over the higher on-axis contrast of VA technology.
