Samsung Could Skip Samsung Display for Galaxy A57 and S26 FE

Samsung could make a notable change in its mid-range smartphone lineup this year. Moreover, this change might be a big move that Samsung has ever made. Samsung could use cheaper OLED panels from CSOT for Galaxy A57 and Galaxy S26 FE. The former has now launched in Thailand.

Rising memory prices are squeezing smartphone costs

According to a new report from The Elec, Samsung plans to use cheaper OLED panels from CSOT for the Galaxy S26 FE and Galaxy A57. This move appears to be a response to rising component costs. In particular, memory chips have become significantly more expensive across the industry.

Memory prices have been climbing quickly due to high demand from AI infrastructure and data centers. Those increases affect the entire smartphone supply chain, including companies like Samsung.

To keep prices competitive, Samsung reportedly decided to cut costs elsewhere in the hardware stack. One of the easiest ways to do that is by sourcing display panels from cheaper suppliers. This change replaces the previous strategy of relying entirely on its own display division.

Seemingly, chinese OLED panels are about 20% cheaper

The report claims that panels from China Start Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT) cost around 20% less than Samsung’s own OLED screens used in mid-range Galaxy devices today. If Samsung adopts these displays for the Galaxy S26 FE and Galaxy A57, the company could significantly reduce production costs. At the same time, it would still offer OLED screens.

This strategy would help Samsung maintain competitive pricing in markets where buyers pay close attention to value. These markets include India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.

Samsung Display remains one of the world’s most advanced OLED manufacturers. Therefore, relying on third-party panels represents a noticeable shift in strategy. However, smartphone makers often mix suppliers to control costs. They also do this to secure enough production capacity. Even Apple, for example, sources displays from multiple companies.

If the reports are accurate, Samsung may simply be balancing cost savings with acceptable display quality for devices that target the mid-range market rather than the premium flagship segment. For most users, the change may not be immediately noticeable. OLED technology has matured across the industry. Also, Chinese suppliers have significantly improved panel quality in recent years. 

Still, Samsung fans will likely watch closely to see whether these devices deliver the same display performance the brand is known for.