The OLED-Info newsletter, April 2021
Published: Mon, 05/03/21
Will Samsung Electronics start using LGD's OLED TV panels?
According to an interesting report from Korea, Samsung Electronics is discussing a potential supply agreement with LG Display for WOLED TV panels. Samsung is aiming, according to the report, to buy 1 million OLED TV panels in 2021, and 4 million (around 50% of LGD's capacity!) in 2022. This development, if true, may have a major impact on the industry, and may spur LGD (and other OLED makers) to accelerate OLED TV production and capacity expansion plans.
Read the full story with Samsung's interesting OLED TV history.
OLED market updates
Here are the latest OLED market updates from April 2021:
- OLED production will grow 94% in Q2 2021, as demand for OLED panels increases
- Omdia: 3,000 rollable TVs to ship in 2022 and 672,000 in 2027
- Xiaomi: we sold over 40,000 Mi Mix Fold smartphones within one minute
- DSCC sees OLED microdisplays shipments rising from under 1 million in 2020 to over 19 million in 2026
Notion Systems and Scrona to dramatically improve OLED inkjet printing
Inkjet printing system developer Notion Systems announced a global strategic partnership with Scrona, a developer of ultra-high resolution EHD (electrohydrodynamic) print heads. Using the new print heads, Notion Systems will be able to offer OLED material printing with dramatically improved resolution and throughout - at the micron and sub-micron scale.
Notion Systems says that the new technology has the potential to replace many conventional production steps in microfabrication of display devices. Indeed one of the major hurdles for inkjet printing adoption is the relatively low display density limitation of current printing technologies.
TCL shows a smartphone concept that includes a rollable and foldable OLED display
Chinese smartphone producer TCL unveiled an interesting new smartphone concept called the Fold ‘n’ Roll. As you can see in the video that TCL released, the device has a 6.87-inch OLED display when fully folded. It can open up (out-folding) into a 8.85-inch display, and then it can open even further to a 10-inch tablet-like device using a rolling mechanism. The display itself is produced by TCL's CSoT subsidiary.
SDC to sample QD OLED modules by June 2021
In 2019 Samsung Display formally announced its decision to invest $10.85 billion in QD-OLED TV R&D and production lines. It was reported before that SDC is started to produce panel prototypes, and is on track to start mass production in Q3 2021.
According to a new report from Korea, SDC is set to begin producing full module prototypes in June this year. In addition SDC had to increase the brightness of its panels as TV makers said it is not enough for premium TV adoption. SDC will produce both TV and monitor prototypes, which it will send to potential customers (such as Samsung Electronics, Sony, and Chinese TV makers). When customers approve the prototypes, SDC will be ready for commercial production.
Skyworth launches a 65-inch bendable OLED TV
China-based TV maker Skyworth announced two exciting new OLED TVs. First up is the the Skyworth W82, which is the world's first bendable TV, that can change from a flat screen to a curved one (with a curvature radius of 1000R), which Skyworth says is suitable especially for gamers. The W82 sports a 65-inch 120Hz WOLED TV panel andwill start shipping in May 2021 in China for 29,999 Yuan (around $4,575).
Next up is the Skyworth W92, a 88-inch 8K (7680x4320) 120Hz OLED TV, that features Skyworth's AI Picture Quality Engine 8K version, two MEMC chips and Crystal Sound OLED (or, as Skyworth calls it, Audio Glass Sound).
OLED-Info's OLED Market Reports updated to April 2021
Today we published new versions of our market reports - that cover the flexible, microdisplays and automotive 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 April 2021.
TCL said in a recent press conference that the company plans to start producing OLED TV panels in 2023. These OLED panels will be printed using an inkjet printing process.
LG Electronics announced that it will close its mobile phone business unit. LG has lost around $4.5 billion in its smartphone business over the past five years.
Nippon Shokubai showcases its fiber-type OLED lighting panels in a textile exhibition in Japan
Korea-based OLUM Material announced a new FMM technology for OLED production, which the company refers to as Unit-Cell FMM, which enables high-efficiency deposition (and patterning) of evaporated OLED materials.
Universal Display and LG Display announced that the companies have extended their long-term agreements, which will run for five years.
Audi unveiled a new concept electric car, the A6 E-tron, with OLED taillights, which will enter production in 2023.
An interesting interview with SID's Exhibition Chair, Harit Doshi
LG Display announced its financial results for Q1 2021. The company reported sales of $6.2 billion, an operating income of $469.5 million and net profit of $238 million.
A range of 13-inch laptops with optional 13.3-inch 3452x2160 (3.5K) OLED displays
The Galaxy book Pro and Pro360 are light Windows 10 laptops with 13.3-inch or 15.6-inch FHD AMOLED displays
The new flagship smartphones from Sony, all with AMOLED displays
A high-end gaming smartphone with a 6.92-inch 144hz HDR10+ 1080x2460 AMOLED display
The Gigabyte AORUS FO48U is a large gaming monitor that features a 48-inch 120Hz 4K WOLED panel
The latest smartphone family wtih Xiaomi use 6.67-inch 120Hz HDR10+ 1080x2400 Super AMOLED displays
A smartphone family with 6.67-inch 120Hz HDR10+ 1080x2400 AMOLED displays
The Q3 Pro 5G uses a 6.32-inch 120Hz 1080x2400 Super AMOLED display
A fitness tracker with an AMOLED display
A universal lighting and camera control device, with a 1.4-inch 400x400 round AMOLED display
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