Apple Turning to Samsung as Low Display Yields for Retina iPad Mini Continue

[MacRumors]

A new report from Japanese business newspaper Nikkei [Google Translation] (via CNET) has shed light on the production issues surrounding the forthcoming Retina iPad Mini, with Apple now turning to rival Samsung as suppliers Sharp and LG Display have failed to produce an adequate supply of displays for the new tablet.

Apple CEO Tim Cook stated earlier this week during the company's fourth quarter earnings call that that it was "unclear whether we will have enough for the quarter or not," with a report on Wednesday stating that Sharp's low yield of displays was reportedly tied to the shortage.

It was notably reported back in August that Samsung had become the primary iPad display supplier, as the Korean company along with LG and Japan Display was said to be supplying 7.9-inch panels for the next-generation iPad mini. The Wall Street Journal also commented in July that the Retina iPad mini would use screens from Samsung, LG, and Sharp.

Apple has been reported to be seeking to reduce its reliance on Samsung as a component supplier due to continuing tensions between the two companies as they have increasingly become top competitors in the mobile device market. However, it has been reported for several months now that Apple would be returning to Samsung as a display supplier due to its technological advantages and production capacity.

While supplies of the Retina iPad mini will be constrained, supplies of the iPad Air are expected to be more plentiful, with the company will offer same day in-store pickup for orders of the new full-sized tablet. As noted by Apple during the introduction of the second-generation iPad mini, a Retina display has been one of the most requested features for the smaller iPad since its release last year.

Article Link: Apple Turning to Samsung as Low Display Yields for Retina iPad Mini Continue

 

[MultiMediaWill]

Apple and Samsung relationship of peace.

 

[Aluminum213]

Time for apple to pony up big to Samsung


Apple is basically paying Samsung the settlement they lost to apple

 

[Killa Aaron]

Time for apple to pony up big to Samsung


Apple is basically paying Samsung the settlement they lost to apple

Actually, Samsung used their own money to make displays and chips for their competitor while not costing Apple a dime if you catch my drift?

 

[Brandon263]

Samsung is evil.

 

[cycomiko]

Samsung is evil.

yet the iphone and ipad is full of evil product.

 

[happywaiman]

yet the iphone and ipad is full of evil product.

And that's the reason why Samsung are evil.
Copy after release, that's bad.
Copy by being frienemy, that's evil.

 

[kalsta]

iPad Mini display yields, and the quality of MacRumors page one comments… at least one of them is improving.

 

[FelixAng]

So Samsung can just dilly-dally at hold iPad mini screens hostage? This is an odd relationship, Mr. Cook.

 

[HiRez]

Again. Please start making your own displays, Apple! Put a tiny fraction of that $150B to work.

 

[macchiato2009]

Why is Apple simply not recognizing that they cannot get rid of Samsung as a supplier

these past years, all new product shortages have proven that current suppliers are not as reliable as Samsung

if Apple wasn't so stubborn, sales would have been much higher and customers not so disappointed about shortages

 

[zombierunner]

yup they claim to make hardware and software .. well the screen is part of the hardware yes?

Again. Please start making your own displays, Apple! Put a tiny fraction of that $150B to work.

 

[lk400]

So Samsung can just dilly-dally at hold iPad mini screens hostage? This is an odd relationship, Mr. Cook.

I think Samsung's display unit would put making dolla dolla bills well ahead of any emotional response based on competition with another segment of the company.

 

[lk400]

Again. Please start making your own displays, Apple! Put a tiny fraction of that $150B to work.

Money doesnt buy experience - you cant just instantly learn best practice of how to do some specialist task like high yield production of precision products like an LCD screen just because you have money. It would take 5 - 10 years to build up enough experience to meet Samsung's current level. And, as the past few years have shown, building LCD screens is a low profit ultra competitive industry where even the big Japanese players who have been at it for decades took massive losses and eventually exited the business. To put cash reserves into such an industry would be a very bad business decision - high risk and very low return.

 

[osx11]

Isn't the iPad Mini Retina Display the same ppi as the iPhone 5/5C/5S ?

Why is it so hard to make that same display larger?

 

[olowott]

The unhealthy relationship - just crazy!

 

[everything-i]

Again. Please start making your own displays, Apple! Put a tiny fraction of that $150B to work.

Given that Sharp and LG with all their years of experience in making these things are having manufacturing and yield issues what makes you think that Apple can do any better. Apple are a product design and marketing company primarily, they don't do manufacturing as its just not practical and there are better companies out there they can use for that.

 

[cdmoore74]

Isn't the iPad Mini Retina Display the same ppi as the iPhone 5/5C/5S ?

Why is it so hard to make that same display larger?

It's not that easy if it's never been done before in a consumer grade product. There are no other 8" inch tablets with that same ppi so your basically creating a new display from the ground up. Nexus 7 was the first tablet with that ppi but it's 7" with a different aspect ratio.

 

[ValSalva]

What does this mean for the end user? Does one buy early or should one wait until Samsung displays are in the iPad Mini? As much as it pains some people that Apple's biggest hardware rival makes a lot of their components, Samsung displays are the best.

 

[macs4nw]

Money doesnt buy experience - you cant just instantly learn best practice of how to do some specialist task like high yield production of precision products like an LCD screen just because you have money. It would take 5 - 10 years to build up enough experience to meet Samsung's current level. And, as the past few years have shown, building LCD screens is a low profit ultra competitive industry where even the big Japanese players who have been at it for decades took massive losses and eventually exited the business. To put cash reserves into such an industry would be a very bad business decision - high risk and very low return.

Precisely! At first glance making all your own components sounds like a great idea, as far as controlling your own destiny, and being totally independent from third party suppliers is concerned, however most manufacturers realize that vertical integration is not necessarily a very cost effective, not to mention a very risky, business strategy. Making such things as LCD screens, is best left to others.

 

[locust76]

So Samsung can just dilly-dally at hold iPad mini screens hostage? This is an odd relationship, Mr. Cook.

Yes, because Samsung would be producing the displays for free and would have nothing to gain from producing a lot of them and making sure Apple can move a bunch of units.

 

[iAlphard]

Money doesnt buy experience - you cant just instantly learn best practice of how to do some specialist task like high yield production of precision products like an LCD screen just because you have money. It would take 5 - 10 years to build up enough experience to meet Samsung's current level. And, as the past few years have shown, building LCD screens is a low profit ultra competitive industry where even the big Japanese players who have been at it for decades took massive losses and eventually exited the business. To put cash reserves into such an industry would be a very bad business decision - high risk and very low return.

I agree with you. Samsung had been producing displays since 90's era, maybe even more early for TVs. I remember Samsung CRT, they were quality rock solid for gaming. True 120 Hz, 0 ms delay time. You can't just underestimate their experience. And not only displays they also produced memory, HD, processor and suceeded.

 

[G51989]

Again. Please start making your own displays, Apple! Put a tiny fraction of that $150B to work.

Not gonna happen, they don't have the experience, the engineers, nor the supply line, or production plants to make it happen in anything less than 10 years.

 

[osofast240sx]

Time for apple to pony up big to Samsung


Apple is basically paying Samsung the settlement they lost to apple

that's a different division of Samsung. What your implying is childish

 

[osofast240sx]

Not gonna happen, they don't have the experience, the engineers, nor the supply line, or production plants to make it happen in anything less than 10 years.

Plus it's not cost effective to invest in old screen technology.