The OLED-Info newsletter, November 2017
Published: Mon, 12/04/17
The iPhone X OLED is the world's best mobile display
Apple started shipping its first OLED phone, the iPhone X, and both consumers and display experts say that these OLED display is the best mobile display ever. Display calibration and testing experts from DisplayMate confirm that the OLED (5.8" 1125x2436) outperforms Samsung's own displays. The iPhone X has a Samsung-made display, but Apple's uses its own precision calibration that transforms the OLED hardware into a superbly accurate and high performance display.
Tom's guide also tested Apple's new iPhone, and comparing it to the Galaxy Note 8 (6.3" 2960x1440) and the Google Pixel 2 XL (LGD 6" 2960x1440 P-OLED) the reviewer finds that Apple's OLED is superior to the OLEDs used by the other phones, especially if you want a realistic color reproduction. Apple's OLED is brighter, has better viewing angles and features a better white balance point.
Apple actually admitted that burn-in could occur in the iPhone X OLED - it warns users that “image persistence” or “burn-in” is an "expected behavior".
Looking ahead into 2018, KGI securities estimates that Apple will launch three new iPhone models in 2018. Two of these will sport OLED displays, the 5.8" and 6.5" models. According to Kuo, all of Apple's iPhones in 2018 will have the same full-screen notched design used in the iPhone X.
Kateeva updates on its OLED Ink Jet printing technology
OLED ink-jet developer Kateeva made several interesting updates regarding its OLED Ink Jet printing technologies. First up, the company formally introduced its inkjet equipment for large-area RGB OLED emitter deposition. Kateeva brands its new line as YIELDJet Explore and these systems are targeted for R&D lines and pilot lines.
Kateeva offers two systems, the Explore, which is used for early development and small panels (up to 200 mm substrates) and the Explore Pro which can be used to produce panels up to 55" in size (this is still a development/pilot system, though). Kateeva announced that it has shipped four Explore systems in 2017, and it expects to ship three additional systems by Q2 2018.
Kateeva also announced that it has acquired a large portfolio of over 600 patents, covering inkjet equipment and related processes used to manufacture OLEDs and other displays. The portfolio includes patents issued in the US, China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
IKEA launches its first OLED lamp
IKEA launched its first OLED lamp, the Vitsand - a chandelier with 7 OLED panels. The Vitsand provides 700 lumens at 2700K. Each panel is about 77 lm/W (total 7W). The lamp is dimmable, and the panels unfortunately cannot be replaced.
The Vitsand is now available in IKEA Europe for €199. It is great to see OLED lighting enter a retail store like IKEA, even though the price is still very high. The panels are likely made by LG Display.
On OLED TV vs LCD TV price gap
IHS estimates that production costs of 55" 4K OLED TVs have declined 55% from the beginning of 2015 to Q2 2017. IHS estimates that it costs $582 for LGD to produce a 55" OLED panel, and the price will continue to drop to reach $242 in 2021. In early 2017 the cost of a 55" OLED TV is about 2.5 times the production cost of an equivalent 4K LCD TV panel. The price gap has narrowed as it was 4.3 times back in Q1 2015. The price in material cost is currently around 1.7 times - but other factors such as yields and depreciation increase LGD's production costs.
Tracking the price of the TVs on the market, UBI Research shows how the price gap keeps getting lower - to the point that there is not much difference between a high end Samsung QLED TV and LG's entry-level OLEDC7 OLED TVs. In December 2016, the price gap between a 65" LG OLED TV to a 65" Samsung SUHD TV was about $1,000. The price gap as of today is only about $300. The price gap for a 55" TV is even lower (around $200).
OLED shipments rise, how will 2018 look like?
OLED production capacity and shipments is growing very quickly, and IHS estimates that OLED smartphone panel revenues reached a record $5.11 billion in Q3 2017 (up 32.4% from the previous quarter). SDC's market share is 98.% and is actually expected to grow in Q4.
IHS however is cautious about the demand for flexible OLED displays. According to IHS, demand for flexible OLED displays is growing at a slower pace than expected - and also at a slower rate than its supply, and as a result the supply in 2018 will be 44% lower than the demand. IHS says that second-tier flexible OLED makers will find the situation especially bad in 2018 and face seriously low fab utilization, as smartphone brands only adopt flexible OLEDs in the highest-end products and these opt for the best flexible AMOLEDs on the market (made by SDC).
Looking further into the future, IHS estimates that SDC will retain its RGB OLED market lead, and will more than double its production capacity by 2022. IHS analysis into the Chinese OLED market is interesting and well worth a read.
BOE is considering its third flexible OLED line
Last month BOE started to produce flexible OLED displays at its Chengdu B7 fab, and according to ETnews the company is aiming to become a future Apple supplier and so is planning ambitious flexible OLED capacity expansion.
BOE's B7 fab, the company's first flexible AMOLED line, will have a full capacity of 48,000 6-Gen substrate per month (this will only be achieved in the first half of 2019). In October 2016 BOE announced another 6-Gen OLED fab (the B11 line) in Mianyang. The Miangyang fab will have a similar capacity and will initiate production in 2019.
Now ETNews reports that BOE is also discussing a third flexible OLED line, which will be its B12 line. The B12 line will be used to produce both flexible and foldable OLED displays, and its location hasn't been set yet (it is likely to be Chongqing). Apparently this is still an early stage plan and BOE did not yet decide on the fab capacity or investment.
BOE is said to be already in talks with Apple - this was actually reported back in early 2017. Of course it is quite likely that Apple is in talks with all display makers regarding a possible future OLED supply agreement.
OLED microdisplay maker eMagin announced that it has signed a development and licensing agreement with a tier-one consumer electronics company permitting it to use its direct-patterned OLED microdisplays
UDC's revenues reaches $61.7 million in Q3 2017, with net income of $13.5 million. UDC's material sales increase 100% from Q3 2016.
Reports from Taiwan suggest that ITR's EOSRL aim to establish a pilot line for Micro-LED displays that will start production in Q3 2018
SmartKem did not name this company, but they did say that the company produces both LCD and AMOLED displays
The consortium managed to produce the first microdisplay samples at satisfactory yields, and it is now improving these yields.
China-based Sigmaintell estimates that LGD OLED shipments reached 1.2 million in Q3 2017
Reports from Korea claim that as samsung seeks to regain its premium-TV market share, it accelerates its Micro-LED TV program and is set to launch its first product, a 150-inch set, in early 2018
Sony's 2017 edition of its AI robot dog companion uses two small round OLEDs that blink and wink
Mid-range smartphones that feature 6-inch and 6.43-inch 1080x2160 AMOLED displays
A premium standalone VR headset build on HTC's Vive Wave VR platform, using high resolution AMOLED display (no specs yet)
A flagship Android smartphone with a 6.01-inch 1080x2160 Optic AMOLED display
A mid-range smartphone with a 6-inch 1080x2180 AMOLED display
A high-end large smartphone that features a 6.43-inch 1080x2160 AMOLED display
A high-end smartphone that has a 6.01-inch 1080x2160 AMOLED display
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