Even though Apple and Samsung are fighting bitterly in the courtroom, they still keep a close supplier/customer relationship with each other. The California-based company is committed to buy components from the Korean company, worth at least $9.7 billion. It will reach up to $11 billion by the end of this year, which will be driven in part by the new iPad, more MacBook Air units utilizing Samsung solid-state drives and a smaller iPad, an anonymous Samsung executive told the Korea Times.

Apple had bought components from Samsung for $7.8 billion in 2011. “The amount of the current contract is around $9.7 billion,” the executive told the Korea Times, but “is expected to rise to $11 billion by the end of this year as Apple is planning to release a smaller iPad, probably with a 7.85-inch screen, and to sell more of its MacBook Air PCs using Samsung’s faster solid state drive storage.”

Moreover, Apple is expected to increase its purchases from Samsung in the next two years. 2014 is the final year covered in Apple’s current supplier agreement with Samsung.

According to Slashgear, Samsung has provided NAND flash memory, mobile processors, displays and more already, and the Korean firm might also provide new PLS-based LCDs for the smaller iPad.

Apple has also expressed interest in OLED technology. “Samsung is putting huge resources into becoming the world’s first OLED panel supplier to Apple for use in i-branded devices” the executive said. “Apple has the intent to use Samsung’s OLED technology, however, Apple doubts the output commitment for OLED screens by Samsung.”

The rumor about the iPad Mini has been circulating around the Internet for some time, but only Apple knows the truth.

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