September was an exciting month for OLED TVs, what with the IFA conference and several new prototypes. So first of all, LG unveiled the world's largest OLED panel at IFA, a 77" curved UHD (4K) WRGB OLED prototype. Large OLEDs may be closer then we think, as it seems that LG is getting ready to release a 75" OLED in Europe.

LG also unveiled a new 55" OLED TV, the GALLERY OLED TV (55EA8800). This is a wall-mountable Full-HD flat 55" OLED TV which is quite similar to the 55EM9700. It also offers 2.2 channel sound system in the frame using LG's new Canvas Speakers and a special Gallery mode. The Gallery OLED will launch in Europe for €8,999.

Finally, LG slashed the price of their 55" curved OLED TV to $9,999 in the US (down from $14,999). DisplayMate tested the TV, and after spending two weeks measuring it, he stated that "the picture quality is absolutely stunning" and this TV, even though it's a first generation OLED TV, outperforms all LCD and Plasma TVs.

Samsung is also getting ready to launch 4K OLEDs. The company showed both flat and curved prototypes. If we learned anything from the past, it's likely that Samsung won't let LG go ahead and launch new OLED panels and not follow suit.

Beside the Korean companies, there were three other companies showing OLED TV panels. Panasonic showed the same 56" 4K printed OLED prototype shown at CES (they also had some OLED Lighting panels on display). Chinese makers Haier and Seiki showed OLED panels of their own, it's not clear who actually produced those panels (my bet is on LG Display).

In early September, Samsung launched the Galaxy Note 3 - a new edition of Samsung's successful Phone/tablet device that sports a 5.7" Full-HD Super AMOLED display (386 PPI), a 2.3 Quad-Core CPU (or a 1.9Ghz octa-core in some markets), 3 GB of RAM, 32/64GB of storage, a 13 MP camera (will be capable of 4K videos in some markets) and Android 4.3. Samsung managed to pack all this in a phone that is smaller and lighter than the Note 2.

DisplayMate got their hands on a pre-release unit and they put the unit through extensive testing. The conclusion? This is the best performing OLED display ever and it beats LCDs across the board!. The most notable advancement in this new panel is the high brightness. It can achieve 660 cd/m² in high ambient light. It's not just 55% brighter than the Note 2, it's actually the brightest display ever tested at DisplayMate. DisplayMate says that this new OLED now exceeds the performance of the best LCDs in every aspect except price: brightness, contrast, color accuracy, color management, picture quality, screen uniformity and viewing angles. Read more here about DisplayMate's Note 3 display test .

Korea media reports that Samsung will announce a new premium-edition Galaxy Note 3 phone on October 25 - with a YOUM display. Two Samsung officials later confirmed those reports. First up was mobile strategic marketing chief, D.J. Lee that said that a new phone with a curved display will be introduced in South Korea in October. Park Sang-jin, Samsung SDI's CEO told reporters that the new device will use a plastic OLED display.

It makes sense for Samsung to use YOUM panels in a limited-edition premium phone at firs as flexible OLED supply will be very limited at first. Some suggest that Samsung will only be able to make a few hundred-thousand 5" panels a month at first.

Korea's Chosun Ilbo claims that Apple decided to use a flexible plastic-based OLED panel in their upcoming smartwatch. Apple is developing three models, it seems, with 1.3", 1.4" and 1.5" displays. They already produced a prototype 1.5" device. Chosun is quoting "industry sources" in their short article.

So, is it likely that this rumor is true? First of all, we know that Apple is interested in flexible OLEDs. In August 2011 Apple filed a patent that describes a flexible screen that can turn into a warp-around bracelet using a bi-stable spring (see image above). The patent specifically mentions OLED emissive technology. In April 2013 Apple posted a new job opening - they were looking for a "Display Specialist to lead the investigation on emerging display technologies such as high optical efficiency LCD, AMOLED and flexible display". In past years Apple filed several OLED patents (and specifically several flexible OLED ones ).

Apple may opt for flexible PMOLEDs, but these aren't in production yet (the most advanced development seems to be at Futaba and Pioneer). Both Samsung and LG are developing flexible AMOLEDs and seem to be on the verge of mass production. But I really doubt it that these two companies will supply Apple and not use the first batch of those revolutionary displays in their own products.

About four months after LG launched the world's first curved TV (the 55" 55EA9800 OLED TV), both Samsung and Sony launched curved LCDs at IFA, showing us that LCDs can also curve. Samsung actually announced two UHD prototypes, in 55" and 65".

Sony's S990A curved LED-backlit LCD is 65" in size, and "only" Full-HD. It features the color-enhancing Triluminos display technology (QDVision's Quantum-Dot films). Sony's TV is closer to market - in fact the company already accepts pre-orders in the US for $4,000. It will ship in late October 2013.

Veeco announced that is it going to acquire privately held Synos Technology who designs and manufactures Fast Array Scanning Atomic Layer Deposition systems (FAST-ALD) for flexible OLED displays. Veeco will pay $70 to $185 (there are performance milestones).

Veeco said that Synos' first pilot production system has been installed and the manufacturing ramp is currently expected to begin in 2014. According to Wedbush, this system has been installed at Samsung who is testing this technology for their flexible YOUM OLED panels. We know that Samsung is evaluation UDC's single-layer encapsulation technology as well.

Two weeks ago we launched a new service in collaboration wiht Global IP News- The OLED Patent Newsletter. This is a daily subscription-based service that provides news about OLED-related patent applications, grants and expiration monitoring from over 85 countries (including the US, EU, China, Japan and Korea).

The OLED Patent newsletter costs $300 per year, but if you subscribe until the 15th of October, you will get the special launch price - only $200 for the first year! (yes, a 34% discount!). We also offer 2 weeks free trial. More information can be found here.