Samsung appears to be sticking with its usual display sourcing for the base Galaxy S27 after a potential BOE deal fell through. The shift would keep BOE from supplying what would’ve been Samsung’s first third‑party OLED screens on a Galaxy S flagship—at a mome
The base Galaxy S27 was supposed to be the one moment Samsung finally loosened its grip on flagship screens. Instead, the plan to use BOE displays has apparently collapsed—meaning Samsung’s next mainstream flagship could stay more expensive than many hoped.
Rumors first surfaced a few weeks ago that the base Galaxy S27 might use an OLED panel from Chinese display maker BOE. If true, it would’ve been the first time Samsung used a non‑Samsung screen in its Galaxy S lineup, after years of relying on in-house displays.
Those hopes now look dashed. ET News reports that a potential deal for BOE to supply screens for the base Galaxy S27 has fallen through, citing industry sources. One industry insider, quoted by the outlet, said: “BOE has halted development of the Galaxy S27 OLED.”
The possibility didn’t start in the middle of nowhere. Back in May. the rumor wave began again: Samsung was apparently said to have sent a Request For Information (RFI) to BOE about these displays. It continued right up to TM Roh’s visit to BOE in China a few days before the latest reporting—another sign Samsung was exploring the idea. But BOE has evidently terminated the project.
The reason matters, even if the details don’t fully surface. ET News wasn’t able to confirm a specific trigger for the cancellation. but it reported there was “resistance” inside Samsung Electronics and Samsung Display. The outlet added that it was difficult for Samsung Display to accept that its key partner and parent company would use screens from a rival firm.
That tension is easier to understand when you look at what Samsung already does elsewhere. Samsung already uses screens from rival companies on its cheaper phones, even if the Galaxy S line has historically stayed in Samsung’s own supply chain.
BOE’s spotty track record on high-end displays is part of the background too. The reporting notes that BOE has traditionally lagged behind Samsung in display quality on high-end devices. But it also points out the base and Plus Galaxy S models don’t offer the cutting-edge screens you’d expect in the most premium tier—so quality concerns may not be the decisive factor here.
Price, though, was always the lure. BOE is widely believed to offer cheaper displays than Samsung Display. That pricing advantage would’ve helped Samsung fight price hikes—especially as RAM and storage costs continue to rise.
And there’s a timing problem Samsung can’t ignore. The reporting also ties the BOE angle to the lead-up to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro launch. which is believed to come with a major price increase compared to Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. With that kind of cost pressure looming. the idea of a cheaper screen would’ve been one of the few levers left.
The chain of events now looks like a straight line: the BOE development gets halted, the deal doesn’t proceed, and the base Galaxy S27 stays on track to avoid that cost relief. In practice, that means more room for the final price to drift upward when other components are already getting pricier.
BOE’s halted Galaxy S27 OLED development doesn’t change the phone’s existence. It changes what could have been a key bargain point. If a cheaper display was meant to help keep the base Galaxy S27’s costs—and ultimately its pricing—under control. it’s no longer in play. Don’t be surprised, the reporting warns, if the base Galaxy S27 ends up more expensive.
Samsung Galaxy S27 BOE OLED screens TM Roh Samsung Display Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro mobile components costs smartphone pricing