We concluded our May report by wondering if Apple's move was just a stop-gap measure to get them through a season or the beginning of a new longer term relationship with Samsung Display. Today we got some answers.

The news site Korea IT News reported that as of June 13, Samsung Display is to supply 7.9-inch retina display with 2048×1536 resolution and 9.7-inch narrow bezel retina display to Apple from the 3rd and 4th quarters, respectively.

The respective displays are to be used for iPad Mini 2 (Retina) and the upcoming iPad 5. Apple is to launch the iPad Mini 2 with a resolution upgraded to QXGA quality in the 3rd quarter, and is also preparing iPad 5 with a narrow bezel for enhanced recognition degree.

As the relationship between the two companies seems to have been improved, the panels from Samsung Display are expected to be used for future new products of Apple. Since the Retina version of the iPad, Samsung Display had been sidelined from Apple's new product development projects, allegedly because of Samsung's lawsuit against Apple and Cooks reshuffle of supply chain.

However, the report states that "the relationship seems to have been restored after Apple suffered from the yield and quality problems that bogged Sharp of Japan and AUO of Taiwan."

LG Display had been consistently increasing its supply to Apple and was expected to remain as their first line vendor of Apple. However, as Samsung Display started to supply its products for Apple's new products for the second half this year, the competition between the two major display suppliers is expected to get more intense.

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