Samsung’s looking in the mirror for second Galaxy XR display supplier

It's been relatively quiet on the XR front lately, but if it all goes according to expectations, Samsung will release the Galaxy XR headset this year. In the meantime, the company is reportedly trying to solidify its supply chain and is looking in its backyard for a second display manufacturer.

The Samsung Galaxy XR should feature high-density OLEDoS (OLED on Silicon) screens manufactured by the same company Apple relied on for the Vision Pro: Sony. However, Samsung has bigger plans and wants its display arm to be a part of the project.

Although Sony will initially be the primary OLEDoS vendor for the Galaxy XR headset, reports (via The Elec) say that the Korean tech giant is considering adding Samsung Display to the supply chain. This move could have multiple benefits.

First, it's usually a good idea to diversify the supply chain and avoid putting all your eggs in one basket, proverbially speaking. Sony is already an Apple supplier but has reportedly rejected Apple's request to expand its XR display manufacturing facilities. If the market grows, Sony's production capacity may be limited.

Second, by adding its display arm to the Galaxy XR OLEDoS supply chain, Samsung can increase its chances of becoming an OLEDoS display supplier for other XR brands — maybe even Apple.

Initially, Samsung won't manufacture the Galaxy XR in large quantities. The 2025 batch is said to top out at around 100,000 units. However, if the Galaxy XR catches on and helps the headset market grow, it makes sense for Samsung to want a backup plan for its supply chain and to want to become a supplier itself.

So, the idea that Samsung might be aiming for a two-pronged strategy for Galaxy XR OLEDoS panels makes a lot of sense, especially in this context. The Galaxy XR will be the first Android-powered XR headset, developed in collaboration with Qualcomm, which supplies chips, and Google, which supplies the operating system.

Only time will tell how the market will receive this new device, but you can bet all three companies hope to make a dent in the emerging XR market.

According to recent reports, Samsung may launch the Galaxy XR headset in October this year.