The OLED-Info newsletter, March 2017
Published: Tue, 04/04/17
Samsung announces the Galaxy S8 and S8+
Samsung announces its latest flagship phones, the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. Both phones sport what Samsung brands as an Infinity Display - a curved flexible Super AMOLED that is almost without any bezels. Samsung did not release an edition with a non-flexible rigid OLED, but this isn't really a surprise.
The Galaxy S8 has a 5.8" Quad HD+ (2960x1440, 570PPI) OLED while the S8+ has a larger version (6.2") but with the same resolution (529 PPI). Both phones feature a 10nm Octa-core 64bit CPU, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, microSD slot, IP68 water and dust resistance, Android 7.0, Samsung Bixby assistant and a Dual-Pixel 12MP OIS camera. Both phones will launch globally on April 21st 2017.
New AUO AMOLEDs at the OLED marketplace
Taiwan's AU Optronics started to mass produce smartphone-sized OLED panels back in August 2014, but the company later changed its focus to wearable and VR panels. AUO production capacity is relatively low at its AFPD Gen-4.5 LTPS fab in Singapore, but we now hear reports that AUO's yields have been improving.
In fact AUO has managed to lower the prices of its AMOLED displays, and has now resumed production and sale of smartphone sized OLEDs, especially its 4.97" 720p (1280x720) on-cell touch AMOLED. AUO also started shipping a new square 1.3" (active area 23.28x23.28 mm) panel with a resolution of 240x240 (261 PPI). Let us know if you are interested in obtaining AUO's latest AMOLED panels, or browse for other OLEDs at our extensive OLED catalog.
OLED Microdisplay updates
It seems like the OLED microdisplay market is heating up. Kopin recently announced its entry into this market, and on March 13 the company announced its first design win. eMagin is also gearing up to increase production capacity as it hopes to provide OLED microdisplays to consumer AR and VR HMDs.
BOE Technology and OLED Microdisplay maker OLiGHTEK announced a new joint-venture to produce OLED microdisplays for the consumer VR and AR markets. The new company will be established in Kunming, Yunnan, and will have an annual production capacity of a million OLED microdisplays. For more information on this interesting new venture, click here.
IHS and DSCC - latest market estimates
IHS says that demand for flexible OLED is sharply increasing and in Q3 2017 the company expects revenues of flexible OLEDs to surpass those of rigid OLEDs for the first time. Flexible AMOLED revenues in Q3 will reach $3.2 billion while those of rigid (glass-based) OLEDs will reach $3 billion. Flexible AMOLED revenues will continue to climb throughout 2018 and reach about $4.5 billion in Q4 2018.
Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) released some very interesting information regarding the mobile OLED market. DSCC expects mobile AMOLED demand to grow from almost 400 million panels in 2016 to almost 1.2 billion in 2021. Samsung Electronics, who's already using AMOLED displays in almost 80% of its smartphones will not increase its AMOLED orders by a lot, but shipments will grow dramatically to other players led by Apple, Huawei and Oppo. For more information from DSCC regarding the OLED production market, click here.
Samsung demonstrates new OLED tech
According to the Korea Herald, Samsung Electronics demonstrated several new display technologies in a private room during the Mobile World Congress. All of these technologies are expected to enter production within the next year or two, according to the source quoted by the report. Samsung's new technologies include a 1200PPI VR AMOLED, polarizer-free OLEDs and blue light free OLEDs.
The high resolution displays are a step forward from the 806 PPI ones demonstrated last year, while removing the polarizer will enable brighter and more efficient displays. Read more here about Samsung's exciting new achievements.
The OLED Handbook, 2017 edition
We're happy to announce the seventh edition of The OLED Handbook, the most comprehensive resource on OLED technology, industry and market - now updated for 2017. The OLED industry grows and changes very fast, and the new edition include new details on the OLED mobile display market, Apple's OLED plans, new production fabs in China, OLED TVs, flexible OLEDs and more.
The OLED handbook has been read by hundreds of display engineers, business developers, researchers, equipment vendors, OLED material companies, private investors and others who wished to learn more about OLEDs today and in the future. We truly believe that it is the best introduction to OLED displays and lighting. Click here to learn more and download the new edition!
OLED-Info's market reports updated to March 2017
A few weeks ago we published new versions of our market reports - that cover the transparent, automotive, microdisplay, VR/AR and flexible OLED markets. OLED-Info provides comprehensive niche OLED market reports, and our reports cover everything you need to know about the niche market, and can be useful if you want to understand how the OLED industry works and what this technology can provide for your own industry. The reports are now updated to March 2017.
Our updated report list:
Sony sold over 900,000 PS-VR HMDs within four months and is on track to surpass its initial expectations
Kateeva's current headcount has reached 330 people as orders for its YieldJet systems soared.
LG's new Valve StreamVR powered headset uses dual 3.64-inch 1440x1280 90Hz AMOLED panels produced by LGD (probable plastic OLEDs).
LG is starting to roll-our and ship its newest OLED TVs, starting with the entry-level OLEDC7
Sumitomo's new plans is expected to start operating in 2018 and will have an annual capacity of 100 million panels.
Sony announced the prices of its OLED TVs: $4,999 for the 55" model and $6,499 for the 65" one. The TVs will ship in April or early May
Our premium article from March 11 discuss the current status of the flexible OLED market
First-O-Lite embarked on a new health-lighting based strategy, our premium article provides all the details
The new Japanese company will focus on OLED lighting for automotive applications and combine KM's and Pioneer's technologies
Light Polymers is developing products based on lyotropic liquid crystals for several applications - including OLED displays.
According to reports Samsung is accelerating its OLED capacity expansion as demand for OLED panels rises
Japan-based JOLED shows several new printed OLED panels, including 21.3-inch 4K medical monitors and Full-HD Flexible AMOLEDs
Samsung's latest flagship phone sports an infinity-display 5.8-inch 2960x1440 flexible Super AMOLED
Samsung's latest large flagship phone sports an infinity-display 6.2-inch 2960x1440 flexible Super AMOLED
A luxury Android Wear 2 smartwatch with a round 1.39-inch 400x400 AMOLED display
An Android smartphone with a 5.5-inch FHD Super AMOLED display
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