Samsung Electronics and LG Display, the world's two largest makers of liquid crystal displays (LCDs), are reportedly close to securing orders from Apple. Apple is looking for advanced LCD displays that will be part of its next version tablet computers.

Citing "industry sources" in S. Korea, the Korean Times today reported that Apple has started quality testing Samsung and LG's LCDs at one of its laboratories in China. Samsung and LG were required to produce screens with better picture quality and density, capable of delivering a display resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels with a 4:3 aspect ratio, according to the report. The LCD displays will be used in the upcoming iPad 3 tablets.

The deal comes as Apple has been looking to reduce its dependence on Samsung to provide key components such as flash memory chips, processors and LCDs.

Until now, Apple has been buying DRAM, NAND flash and other components from Samsung, which also makes Apple-designed A4 and A5 processors on a foundry basis. However, Apple has recently shifted much of its chip orders to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

Despite the cooperation on memory and processors, Apple and Samsung have been engaged in numerous lawsuits related to patent infrigments.