[News] China’s CSOT Reportedly Set to Supply Flexible OLEDs for Samsung Galaxy A57 for the First Time

Chinese display maker CSOT is reportedly expanding its role in Samsung Electronics’ smartphone OLED supply chain. According to South Korean outlet The Elec, sources say China’s CSOT is set to supply OLED panels for Samsung Electronics’ upcoming Galaxy A57 smartphone for the first time. The Galaxy A5 series represents Samsung Electronics’ highest-spec lineup in the mid-range segment, and Samsung Display has been the sole OLED supplier for the series to date.

Samsung Electronics is considering a dual-sourcing strategy for OLED panels used in the Galaxy A57, as the report notes. Under the plan, panels would be supplied by both Samsung Display and CSOT, though Samsung Display is still expected to account for the larger share of supply.

Samsung Reportedly to Expand Flexible OLED Use in Mid-Range Models

As the report points out, beginning with the Galaxy A57, Samsung Electronics plans to transition from rigid OLED panels to flexible OLED panels, which use bendable polyimide substrates, offering greater design flexibility and enabling slimmer bezels. However, the additional processing steps involved make flexible OLEDs more expensive to manufacture, the report adds.

To remain competitive in the mid-range smartphone segment, Samsung Electronics is said to have asked suppliers to price flexible OLED panels for the Galaxy A57 at levels comparable to the rigid OLED panels previously supplied by Samsung Display, with CSOT reportedly offering more aggressive pricing, the report points out.

As Samsung Electronics moves to adopt flexible OLEDs in the Galaxy A57, it aims to keep cost increases in check amid rising prices for components such as memory, the report adds. The report also notes that Samsung faces mounting pressure to expand its use of flexible OLEDs, as Chinese smartphone brands already deploy the technology in devices priced at $200—or even as low as $150—supported by competitively priced supplies from Chinese panel makers.

Galaxy A57 Supply Seen as Volume Breakthrough for CSOT

The Galaxy A5 series is one of Samsung Electronics’ highest-volume mid-range product lines. In 2026, Samsung plans to ship around 20 million units across the Galaxy A series, including new models such as the A57 and older models like the A56. As the report highlights, the A57 alone is expected to account for shipments in the mid-teens millions.

As a result, for CSOT, securing a role in the mass production supply of Galaxy A57 OLED panels would open the door to significantly higher shipment volumes, as the report points out. Until now, CSOT and BOE Technology Group have supplied only limited volumes of OLED panels for Samsung’s lower-priced Galaxy M and Galaxy A series models.

In terms of timing, the Galaxy A57 is expected to launch in February 2026—around a month earlier than the A5 series’ typical March release window, according to SammyGuru.

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(Photo credit: Samsung)