As reports persist that the iPad Mini 2 with Retina will not arrive until March or April 2014, Apple is reportedly bringing back Samsung to its supply chain, specifically to provide the high-resolution display panel for the small iOS 7 tablet.

Apple, according to reports by ETNews in South Korea, is easing out AU Optronics from its Mini 2 production landscape following the latter's failure "to meet the supply deadlines or to develop an LCD with high penetration rate."

It appears that AU Optronics is not up to the current tasks as "Apple plans to apply oxide semiconductor LCD to iPad Mini 2 ... because it gives the advantage of saving electricity," the same report added.

Poised to take place of the Taiwanese supplier is Apple's chief rival, Samsung, which the U.S. tech giant has been gradually pushing out of its supply chain environment following years of closely working together.

Samsung supplied the A-series chips and other components used by Apple in the early versions of iPhones and iPads. The two, however, had a falling out as Samsung's Galaxy mobile devices started eating away big chunks of market formerly dominated by iOS gadgets.

The quarrel between the tech giants escalated into courtroom battles around the world as they asserted patent ownerships of technologies employed on both Galaxy and iOS devices. In particular, Apple has accused Samsung of 'slavishly copying' the design and functions of the iPhones and iPads.

Now, it seems the rivals are ready to make amends. "Apple may have felt comfortable in allegedly dropping AUO as an LCD supplier because of an improved relationship with Samsung Display," Apple Insider said in a report.

In fact, Samsung Display, a division of Samsung, is all set to mass produce an LCD display that meets the requirements of Apple - having a Retina display quality with energy efficiency - and the two are gearing to enter into an agreement, the Apple-centric tech site added.

Despite the supposed deal, there was no indication that consumers will get an iPad Mini refresh anytime this year. For Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities, the Mini 2 will have to wait until March or April 2014. The delay, he added, is due to production glitches.

However, the release date that the analyst has pegged for next year will mark the arrival of the two iPad Minis - one with Retina display and other with a slightly lower price. But the latter, Mr Kuo noted, will not be necessarily cheaper than the first iPad Mini, which has a starting price of $329.