Apple Orders Three Million iPad Screens at $80 a Pop

Apple has placed an order with Samsung for three million iPad displays for US$80 a pop, making the contract worth some $240 million. The Korean Times reported the deal, and quoted an official who said that each iPad display costs five times as much as an iPhone display.

“Samsung Electronics has won a contract worth $240 million from Apple to supply 3 million LCD panels used in the iPads,” an unnamed source told The Korean Times. “The most expensive component in the iPad is the display and touch-screen interface that costs $80 for all models. The 9.7-inch display is more than twice the size of the iPhone 3GS screen and costs five times as much.”

The report also added a sidenote that Samsung is also in discussion with Apple for a display order for the next update to the iPhone. Those displays would be made by Samsung Mobile Displays, which is a joint venture owned by Samsung Electronics and Samsung SDI.

“As far as I know, Apple will use the LCD panels for its next iPhone models. We are receiving related orders from Apple,” the same unnamed executive told the paper.