- Huawei can now buy displays from Samsung, according to a new report.
- The company was previously able to buy displays from BOE, so not much will change for day-to-day operations.
- This is the first piece of good news related to the Huawei ban in a while.
The U.S. government’s ban on Huawei prevents the company from buying components from several large retailers. However, it looks like the US has given the green light to a component manufacturer: Samsung Display.
According to Yonhap news (about SamMobile) Samsung’s display department can now sell OLED smartphone panels to Huawei. It is not yet clear when or how Samsung received this approval from the U.S. government, as the Huawei ban statutes previously prevented it.
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However, this is unlikely to change much for Huawei’s situation. The company never lost access to BOE when it came to billboards, so didn’t necessarily need Samsung. However, Samsung is world famous for its display quality which is helpful for Huawei. In addition, Huawei displays from multiple sources are always good for product integrity.
Regardless, this is good news for Huawei at a time when good news is hard to come by.
Huawei displays from Samsung
The Huawei ban is based on the idea that the company could use its products to spy on other nations. Given that it would be incredibly difficult to use a smartphone display for this alone, it makes sense that the US would allow Samsung to look into Huawei for these products.
Unfortunately, Huawei really needs a company to develop chipsets with. With all major distributors – with the exception of MediaTek – blocked by the Huawei ban, Huawei can no longer produce its Kirin chipsets. This will make it incredibly difficult for Huawei to even make smartphones. Even if it is possible, they won’t look very much like the Huawei phones we’re used to.
Perhaps, in the context of Samsung’s delivery of Huawei displays, this news is a sign that the tide is turning. Huawei could certainly use more good news.