Samsung starts buying Chinese display panels for its mid-range smartphones

Samsung is shifting part of its screen sourcing for mid-range phones from its in-house display arm to a Chinese supplier. A report from Korea says Samsung Electronics has placed an order for about 15 million panels from CSOT, a display maker owned by TCL. Those panels will reportedly go into the upcoming Galaxy A57 and other unnamed mid-range models.

The CSOT screens cost at least 20% less than panels from Samsung Display. The company appears to be using the cheaper parts to offset higher memory prices and keep overall device costs in check, rather than raise phone prices in the crowded mid-range market.