UK-based advanced materials company Smartkem announced its next-generation Mini-LED backlight technology at International Display Workshops 2025, held at the Hiroshima International Conference Center in Japan from December 3 to 5.
At CES 2026, it became clear that automotive display technology has emerged as a core competitive factor amid the broader transition of vehicles from mere means of transportation to intelligent living spaces. As the shift toward autonomous driving and Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) accelerates, the amount of information and content required inside vehicles continues to increase.
BOE has reportedly completed internal lighting for its 8.6-generation (2290×2620 mm) IT OLED production line, known as B16, which is currently under construction in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The project, launched in March 2024 with a total investment of 63 billion RMB (approximately 12.4 trillion KRW), is progressing rapidly and is designed to support a monthly capacity of 32,000 glass substrates.
China’s display industry has set a milestone beyond leading global production volume, advancing toward self-reliance in core material technologies. Tsinghua University and Visionox officially announced the successful mass production of Phosphor-assisted Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Sensitized Fluorescence (pTSF) technology
Minimalism in automotive displays has gained even more traction amidst the shift from traditional physical button-centric control systems to a “digital-based single interface.”
According to UBI Research’s quarterly publication, the OLED Display Market Tracker, OLED panel shipments for smartphones and foldable phones are expected to reach approximately 900 million units in 2025. By shipment share, Chinese panel makers are projected to account for about 50.8% of the annual total, nearly matching the level of Korean manufacturers.
Samsung Display announced that it has received the Minister’s Commendation at the “Korea Technology Award” for its development of the world’s first 160PPI (Pixels Per Inch) QD-OLED for high-resolution monitors and 4,000-nit QD-OLED for high-brightness TVs.
The rapid expansion of the AI and XR device market has intensified competition in next-generation microdisplay technologies. According to a new report published by UBI Research titled ” XR Industry Trends and OLEDoS Display Technology & Industry Analysis” XR headset shipments are expected to exceed 10 million units by 2025.
In the 2025 TV market, the proliferation of large-size RGB Mini-LED products has significantly broadened technological options. Manufacturers, led by TCL and Hisense, have actively expanded their product lineup to 85- to 115-inch sizes, increasing affordability in the ultra-large market.
A comprehensive review of major AR glasses released between 2023 and 2025 confirms that the global XR market is rapidly restructuring around ultra-lightweight AR glasses based on Micro-LED technology. Notably, lightweight AR glasses combining Micro-LED and waveguide technology have been successively launched, primarily in China.
TCL CSOT’s T8 project, the world’s first Gen 8.6 inkjet printing (IJP) OLED mass-production line, has officially entered the equipment-ordering phase. Following a series of IJP OLED and oxide TFT roadmap disclosures at DTIC 2025 that demonstrated the company’s technical readiness, the project is now showing visible progress on the investment timeline as well.
The OLED market in 2024 and 2025 witnessed marked changes in both the demand structure by application and the supply structure by panel manufacturer. The smartphone-centric demand base became more robust, while major Korean and Chinese panel manufacturers, leveraging their distinct strengths, expanded their market contributions, leading to continued diversification in the OLED industry.
The development of Micro-LED-based smartwatches has continued since 2020 through prototype exhibitions, and their high brightness characteristics led to high expectations for commercialization. Previously, companies like KONKA, AUO, Innolux, and Apple had attempted development or commercialization.
Japanese premium helmet manufacturer Shoei has set a new standard in the smart helmet market by announcing the GT-Air 3 Smart, the world’s first fully integrated augmented reality head-up display (HUD) helmet, developed in collaboration with French augmented reality specialist Airight. The core feature of this new product is its HUD, which utilizes Sony’s OLEDoS microdisplay.
According to UBI Research’s recently published OLED Emitting Material Market Tracker, global OLED panel makers recorded USD 521 million in emitting material purchases in the third quarter of 2025, marking a 6.2% increase QoQ.
On November 18th, the 2025 Tianma Microelectronics Global Innovation Conference (TIC 2025) was held in Wuhan, under the theme of “Innovation, New Horizons.” UBI Research summarized the key findings and technological trends presented at the event.
At the 2025 Tianma Microelectronics Global Innovation Conference (TIC 2025) held on November 18, Tianma garnered attention from the industry by unveiling its Micro LED technology roadmap and future strategy.
According to UBI Research’s recently published report, “Beyond Mobile: IT OLED Technology and Industry Analysis,” global shipments of IT OLEDs are expected to more than double from 24 million units in 2025 to 53 million units in 2029. The report states that OLED adoption in tablets, notebooks, and monitors is entering a structural growth phase over the next four years.
TCL CSOT is further solidifying its presence in the next-generation near-field display market and driving changes in the AR and VR ecosystem. Unveiled at the 2025 Global Display Ecology Conference, the two latest micro-displays – a silicon-based Micro LED that delivers ultra-high resolution and a glass-based Real RGB OLED that achieves high PPI – target key requirements for the development of AR and VR devices, respectively.
China’s display panel industry is accelerating its transition to PFAS-free production in response to the European Union’s (EU) strengthened regulations on PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, persistent harmful chemicals).
Peugeot has unveiled its new “Polygon” concept car, a model that embodies the brand’s future design direction and signals a major leap forward in next-generation automotive displays.
At the 2025 China International Import Expo (CIIE), Tianma Microelectronics Co. (Tianma) garnered attention from the industry by unveiling its latest Micro LED transparent display technology.
In 2025, the smart wearable device market is undergoing a new transformation, with AR/XR smart glasses advancing toward commercialization. Goertek, an audio, optical, and microelectronics manufacturer, has established several new companies and acquired businesses this year targeting its AR/VR operations.
ASUS’s gaming brand, ROG, recently released its 27-inch gaming monitor, the ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W, featuring LG Display’s latest 4th-generation white OLED panel.
BOE will convert its Beijing B1 (LCD) line to complete an early-stage 12-inch silicon-based Micro OLED (OLEDoS) production cleanroom and establish a mass production system based on 5K resolution.
According to UBI Research’s recently published Small OLED Display Market Tracker, global shipments of OLEDs for foldable phones continued to show weak year-on-year performance for three consecutive quarters.
Tianma is rapidly strengthening its competitiveness in the IT and industrial display markets by significantly expanding the capacity of its 8.6-generation LCD production line, TM19, located in Xiamen.
At the 2025 World Display Industry Innovation and Development Conference held in Chengdu, China, Chenxian Optoelectronics unveiled the world’s first 270-inch TFT-based Micro-LED display.
The global shipment of OLED notebooks in 2025 is expected to reach about 10 million units, remaining at a similar level to the previous year.
Starting in 2024, Google has intensified its strategic push into smart AR glasses. Notably, with the announcement of its collaboration with U.S. AR company Magic Leap on October 29 this year, Google is strategically shifting beyond simply building a software platform to aiming for an integrated solution encompassing optics, displays, and manufacturing.
TCL’s AR brand RayNeo launched its latest AR glasses, the Air 4 Pro, in October 2025. It is pursuing a differentiated strategy in the global AR market by leveraging high-frequency PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) dimming technology and AI-based image optimization.
The presence of OLED technology in the global automotive display market is expanding rapidly. According to UBI Research’s “Q4 Display Market Tracker,” shipments of automotive OLED displays reached approximately 2.5 million units in 2024, and the cumulative shipments as of Q3 2025 have already totaled around 2.7 million units.
A joint research team led by Professor Takuji Hatakeyama from the Department of Chemistry at Kyoto University, in collaboration with JNC Co., Ltd., has developed a novel ‘Double Borylation’ synthetic strategy and successfully realized a world-leading pure Deep Blue OLED emitting material.
China’s panel industry is accelerating its restructuring around OLED technology through large-scale investments. BOE and HKC are each stepping up efforts to enhance OLED technologies for smartphones and IT applications, while establishing dual production systems that encompass both LTPS and OLED, aiming to strengthen their positions in the global display market.
On October 23, consumer AR brand RayNeo held an autumn new product launch event and officially released its fourth-generation AR glasses, the ‘RayNeo Air 4 series’. The standard edition is priced at 1,599 yuan (approximately 320,000 KRW), while the Pro edition is priced at 1,699 yuan. Sales have already commenced on e-commerce platforms.
According to UBI Research’s Q4 Mid- to Large-Size OLED Display Market Tracker, the mid- to large-size OLED market in Q3 2025 rose 11% QoQ in shipments and 7.2% QoQ in revenue.
TCL CSOT officially announced the commencement of construction for its 8.6-generation printed OLED display panel production line (T8 Project) in Guangzhou Province on October 21, 2025. This starts approximately one month ahead of the original schedule, with a total investment of 29.5 billion yuan (approximately 5.4 trillion won).
The iPhone 18 will feature a new type of OLED backplane technology called LTPO+. While existing LTPOs employed a hybrid structure using oxide semiconductors only for the switching TFT, LTPO+’s key feature is the switch to oxide TFTs for both the switching TFT and the driving TFT.
The global display industry is taking different strategic directions in the race to commercialize Micro-LED, the next generation of technology, and the evolution of Micro-LED is being realized not through “falling prices” but through “market diversification.
The Chinese display materials company EMT is expanding its sales on two major axes: OLED emitters and LCD color-filter materials. This year, EMT’s total revenue is about ¥400 million (RMB), of which the organic emitter business accounts for about ¥200 million and the LCD color-filter RGB material business also accounts for about ¥200 million.
Global big tech companies are forming a full-scale competitive landscape in the next-generation wearable device market. Samsung Electronics plans to unveil its “Project Moohan” Galaxy XR headset this month.
Meta officially announced its new products at the Meta Connect 2025 event on the 18th of last month (the 17th in US time), and began launching the Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses—its first consumer glasses to bring a display—in the US at the end of September.
The luxury car market is emerging as a new stage for display innovation. Rollable OLED displays are gaining attention as a key technology for achieving both minimalism and cutting-edge sensibilities in vehicle interiors, and major manufacturers such as Hyundai Mobis and Forvia are competing to apply this technology to luxury vehicles.
According to the “OLED Display Market Tracker,” published quarterly by UBI Research, Korean panel manufacturers saw a significant increase in smartphone and foldable phone panel shipments in the third quarter.
Apple plans to apply under-display camera technology differently depending on the device type in its next-generation iPhone lineup, slated for release in 2026. According to industry sources, the iPhone 18 series will feature an under-display infrared (IR) camera, while the foldable iPhone, scheduled for release at the same time, will feature an under-display selfie camera.
On September 25th, Xiaomi unveiled three new smartphones, the Xiaomi 17 Series (Regular, Pro, and Pro Max). TCL CSOT has announced that it will exclusively supply all displays (front + back) of the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.
The world’s first Micro-LED smartwatch has arrived, sparking a new wave of change in the wearable display market. While Garmin’s Fenix 8 Micro-LED is hailed as a new milestone in wearable display technology, analysis suggests a full-scale market shift will still require time.
The automotive OLED display market is expected to ship approximately 3.8 million units this year, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24% through 2030. However, true growth is likely to begin after that point. While OLED has proven its technological prowess in the smartphone and TV markets, it is only just beginning to gain traction in automotive displays.
At Meta Connect 2025 on Sept. 18 (local 17), Meta announced its first display-bringing consumer smart glasses, the Meta Ray-Ban Display. The product is an intermediate step between the existing Ray-Ban AI glasses and the Orion AR glasses unveiled last year and will be available in the U.S. market later this month.
[BOE IPC 2025] BOE, 17inch Rollable Portable Device
[BOE IPC 2025] BOE, 17inch AI Rollable Integrated Solution
BOE showcased a 10.18-inch triple-fold panel for foldable smartphones at its IPC (International Partner Conference) 2025. The panel has already been applied to Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate and is confirmed to be adopted in the successor model Mate XTs Ultimate, which is scheduled for release at the end of September.
Meta held its Meta Connect 2025 event on the 18th (U.S. time: 17th) and officially announced several new products. Meta signaled a smart glasses boom, confirming its first consumer smart glasses with a display will launch in the U.S. later this month.
BOE will convert the clean room of its fifth-generation B1 LCD line in Beijing, China, to create an OLEDoS (silicon-based OLED) production infrastructure.
According to the Q3 Emitting Material Market Tracker recently published by UBI Research, Korean panel makers maintained their lead over Chinese competitors in total OLED emitting material purchases in the first half of 2025.
Samsung Display unveiled its next-generation automotive OLED technology and its new automotive OLED brand, “DRIVE™,” at IAA Mobility 2025, the world’s largest mobility exhibition held in Munich, Germany.
Chinese Micro-OLED specialist SIDTEK is moving forward with a new production base investment in Nanchong, Sichuan Province. The company aims to complete the main production building by the end of 2025, initiate pilot production by late 2026, and enter full-scale mass production in 2027.
Sony Honda Mobility (SHM) will be incorporating a micro-LED-based Media Bar into its Afeela electric vehicle, slated for release in 2026.
ams OSRAM, a global leader in automotive lighting and optical semiconductors, has recently expanded its scope beyond simple light source supply to include automotive interior displays and smart surface solutions. The company unveiled its next-generation interior display concept, ALIYOS™ technology, and showcased a prototype at the Vehicle Display Interface exhibition and conference held in Detroit, USA, on September 9th and 10th.
The 26th China International Optoelectronic Expo (CIOE) was held at the Shenzhen International Convention Center on September 10, 2025. At this exhibition, new Micro-LED-based AR products from companies like JBD and Goeroptics were prominently unveiled.
Apple could include a 24-megapixel under-display camera (UDC) in next year’s iPhone Fold, enabling a fully all-screen design without a dynamic island or notch, according to a JPMorgan report.
[VDI 2025] BOE, Automotive Display
[VDI 2025] Tianma, Automotive Display
[VDI 2025] Tianma, 8inch Micro-LED HUD
[VDI 2025] AUO, Micro-LED 3D HUD
[VDI 2025] AUO, 47inch P2P
[VDI 2025] Hongqi, 14.2inch rollable OLED provided by Forvia
The 26th China International Optoelectronics Exhibition (CIOE) opened at the Shenzhen International Convention Center on September 10, 2025. This expo, the world’s largest, attracted over 3,800 participating companies.
According to the recently published “2025 OLED Component and Materials Report” by UBI Research, the market for cover windows used in foldable and rollable OLED devices is projected to exceed USD 700 million by 2029.
At the “2026 Display Strategy Seminar,” UBI Research analyst Junho Kim stated, “China’s BOE has started supplying LTPO OLED panels for the iPhone 17 Pro from August 2025, expanding its position as a supplier within Apple’s premium lineup.”
The convergence of AI and AR technology advancements has led to a growing trend of AI/AR glasses being released, continuing from last year into the present. Meta is expected to announce its next-generation product, the ‘Hypernova’ smart glasses (Meta Celeste), at the Meta Connect 2025 conference scheduled for the 17th of this month (US time), drawing significant attention. Rumors suggest the display applied to the glasses will be an LCoS microdisplay panel.
UBI Research has released the “2025 OLED Components and Materials Report”. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of key components and material technologies and markets in response to the expanding demand for OLEDs in smartphones, foldable phones, tablets, laptops, TVs, and automotive displays.
The automotive display market has been rapidly changing in recent years, and Mini LED technology is at the center of this transformation. While some premium brands are embracing OLED for its design freedom and black expression, the overall trend is leaning toward Mini LED, which boasts price competitiveness, durability, and high brightness.
As the launch of the iPhone 17 series approaches, Samsung Display, LG Display, and BOE are accelerating their efforts in iPhone panel production. Samsung Display and LG Display are maintaining steady growth, while China’s BOE is seeking to expand its market share by supplying panels for the Pro models.
At the business forum of K-Display 2025, held from August 6-9, China’s TCL CSOT said it will announce its investment plans for an eighth-generation inkjet OLED production line.
A new competitive landscape is forming in the premium TV market. Samsung Electronics, Hisense, and Sony are competing to launch RGB Mini LED TVs, challenging the OLED-dominated market.
Shanghai JBD Company announced on August 21 that it has successfully completed a B1 round of investment worth hundreds of millions of yuan. The funds from this round of investment will primarily be used for research and development of core technologies in MicroLED micro-displays, expanding production capacity, and deepening ecosystem collaborations.
At IMID 2025, held from August 19 to 22, LG Display delivered a keynote speech on “Beyond Screen: Display as Cognitive Interface.” Displays are rapidly evolving beyond simple tools for showing information into gateways for communication between humans and artificial intelligence (AI). In his keynote speech at IMID 2025, Choi Hyun-chul, Executive Vice President of LG Display, emphasized, “The advancement of AI is transforming displays from mere visual output devices into cognitive interfaces that understand human emotions and intentions.”
At the business forum of K-Display 2025, held from August 6-9, China’s SIDTEK discloses OLEDoS mass production status and future expansion strategy. In addition to announcing the start of mass production at its Wuhu facility, SIDTEK also announced that it has completed the groundbreaking of an additional factory and is preparing for a third facility.
LG Electronics is transitioning its Micro-LED signage products from conventional printed circuit boards (PCBs) to glass-based low-temperature polycrystalline silicon (LTPS) thin-film transistors (TFTs), and LG Display is partnering with the company.
At DIC Forum 2025, Tianma presented its Micro-LED technology development achievements under the theme of “Micro-LED Display – A New Opportunity for In-Vehicle Displays,” including a roadmap from 2017 to 2026 and the status of development and production establishment.
LG Display participated in ‘K-Display 2025’ held at COEX in Seoul for three days starting on the 7th, and unveiled a wide range of innovative display technologies and products covering large, small, and automotive displays.
According to the “2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trend Report” recently published by Ubi Research, Micro-LED, which is touted as a “game changer” in the next generation display market, is on a full-scale growth trajectory.
Samsung Display unveiled an innovative product at the K-Display 2025 exhibition that will change the game in the next-generation smartwatch market. The 6,000nit class smartwatch Micro-LED display presented at the show boasts the highest level of brightness of any wrist watch display announced to date.
From August 7 to 9, at the DIC EXPO 2025 (Display Innovation China), BOE unveiled its LTPO OLED technology development roadmap. The presentation provided a clear view of the company’s technological evolution, starting with the commercialization of LTPO 1.0 in 2021 and leading up to the upcoming launch of the next-generation LTPO 2.x in 2025.
[DIC EXPO 2025] BOE, 17-inch Rollable OLED
[DIC EXPO 2025] Visionox, World’s First Flexible AMOLED Sliding Automotive Center Console
[DIC EXPO 2025] Visionox, R3 Fully Integrated Flexible AMOLED Rollable Technology
[DIC EXPO 2025] NEG, Ultra thin glass for chemical strengthening
From August 7 to 9, the 2025 International Display Technology and Application Innovation Exhibition (“DIC EXPO 2025”) was held at the New International Expo Center. At this exhibition, Tianma showcased advanced display technology products across its entire product range.
[DIC EXPO 2025] TCL CSOT, 219-inch Micro-LED (288 tiled 8.89-inch panels)
[DIC EXPO 2025] Visionox, 135 inch P0.7, Micro-LED(TFT)
[DIC EXPO 2025] TCL, Partioned Frequency 6.73 inch Smartphone
[DIC EXPO 2025] Visionox, Shy Tech Automotive OLED 400nit with 50% Transmittance Film
At the K-Display 2025 Business Forum held from August 6 to 9 last week, Seongchan Cho, Vice President of Samsung Display, delivered a presentation titled “Display Paradigm Shift with AI,”
At DIC EXPO 2025 in Shanghai, China, EverDisplay Optronics (EDO), a leading Chinese AMOLED specialist, set up a large booth and showcased its extensive OLED product portfolio. While EDO is a relatively rare participant in major international display exhibitions, it highlighted its latest products and technologies at this year’s DIC EXPO, demonstrating a strong commitment to market expansion.
San’an Optoelectronics, China’s largest LED epitaxial wafer and chip manufacturer, announced that it will acquire Lumileds, a Dutch LED specialist, for $239 million in cash.
[K-Display 2025] bsk ,Transparent OLED
[K-Display 2025] LG Display, Zero Bezel AM Micro-LED Display
[K-Display 2025] LG Display, Stretchable Micro-LED Display