Samsung may ditch in-house display driver chips for galaxy s27

While the Galaxy S27 series is still months away, rumors are already swirling about its components and features. A recent report suggests Samsung may make a significant change by swapping out an important part to cut costs.

Display driver ics could get the boot

DDI stands for Display Driver IC, a small but crucial component that acts as a middleman between the processor and display panel. It interprets display data and dictates details like color, brightness, and more to the screen. Samsung typically uses in-house DDIs from its System LSI division in the Galaxy S and Z lines, but a ZDNet report indicates this might change for the S27 series.

According to the report, Samsung's MX division, responsible for manufacturing smartphones, is considering third-party DDIs for the vanilla S27 and S27 Plus models. The Ultra and new Pro options would allegedly stick with Samsung's in-house supply. The reason? Cost-cutting due to rising component prices, particularly memory chips, driven by the AI boom.

Several suppliers are in the running, including Anapass, DB Global Chip, Wonik D2I, and Taiwan-based Novatek. The MX division will compare the quality and performance of third-party options before making a final decision.

Not alone in cost-cutting

Samsung isn't the only one feeling the squeeze. The upcoming Google Pixel 11 series may debut at a $100 higher price point than its predecessors, while Apple CEO Tim Cook has hinted at no further price increases being feasible, suggesting the iPhone 18 series could also see an uptick in pricing.

Display Quality Worries

Fans of Samsung's renowned display quality might be nervous about the prospect of third-party DDIs. However, the MX division will test these options against their in-house offerings before making a move, suggesting they won't compromise on quality.