As China’s display industry expands beyond LCD into OLED, Micro-LED, IT, and automotive displays – broadening its presence and influence in the global market – the background behind its growth and its future development direction have been outlined.
As the industry moves from Level 2 driver assistance to Level 3 (L3, conditional automation), the role of in-vehicle displays is rapidly shifting from convenience and infotainment toward safety-critical HMI (human–machine interface).
At CES 2026, next-generation optics technologies capable of bringing significant change to the AR glasses industry were unveiled. Moving beyond the display competition that previously focused on image quality and brightness, optics technology—which determines wearability akin to actual eyeglasses and outdoor usability—is now emerging as the new battleground.
Global OLED monitor shipments in 2025 are estimated at approximately 3.2 million units, marking a sharp year-on-year increase. According to UBI Research’s Mid- to Large-Sized OLED Display Market Tracker, OLED monitor shipments in 2025 rose by about 64% from 1.95 million units in 2024.
Samsung Display announced on the 21st that it is supplying three types of automotive OLEDs for Zeekr’s luxury flagship SUV, the ‘9X’. Zeekr is the premium electric vehicle brand of Geely, the flagship automaker of China’s Geely Group.
The focus of smartphone OLED technology development is shifting from resolution and driving technology to attempts to simultaneously apply new light-emitting materials and tandem stack (layered) architectures.
TCL CSOT has successfully supplied flexible OLED panels to Samsung Electronics smartphones for the first time. According to industry sources, TCL CSOT has begun supplying flexible OLED panels for the Galaxy A57 model and produced approximately 400,000 panels by 2025. Full-scale mass production is expected to expand from 2026, centered on Galaxy A57-bound products.
On January 6, CES 2026 officially opened in Las Vegas, the United States. At this year’s exhibition, automotive displays clearly demonstrated their evolution beyond simple information panels into core interfaces that integrate and intelligently orchestrate the in-vehicle experience.
At CES 2026, while Samsung Electronics and Hisense positioned RGB Mini LED as the top tier of their existing QLED lineup, TCL presented a diametrically opposed strategy, placing Super Quantum Dot (SQD)—an evolution of QD technology—at the core of its flagship offerings.
At CES 2026, RGB Mini LED emerged not as a single technology trend, but as a symbolic technology demonstrating the maturation of the premium TV market and the different approaches being adopted by each manufacturer.
The display lineup unveiled by Samsung Electronics at CES 2026 focused on form factor innovation that considers usability in actual home and commercial environments, alongside the stabilization of next-generation panel technology.
At CES 2026, various XR devices and related display products were introduced. For XR headsets, LCD offers advantages in supply chain stability and cost, along with relatively easier productization. Valve’s Steam Frame utilizes dual 2160×2160 LCD panels, emphasizing affordability for gaming and practical use.
At CES 2026, LG Display presented a so-called “two-track” approach for its OLED TV panel strategy. One track focuses on a premium strategy emphasizing top-tier image quality, while the other targets the mass market with Special Edition OLEDs that improve cost and power efficiency.
Samsung Display announced on the 7th that it has jointly developed ‘SmartPower HDR™’, a technology capable of reducing OLED emission power consumption by up to 22% in laptop HDR mode, in collaboration with Intel.
On January 5, 2026, the day before the opening of CES 2026, LG Electronics held a World Premiere event in Las Vegas, USA, and announced its AI-centric technology strategy and key product directions. The World Premiere was introduced as LG’s annual event held the day before the opening of CES, and this year’s event also included presentations and demonstrations related to robots, displays, home appliances, and mobility.
At CES 2026 Media Day press conference in Las Vegas on January 5th, Sony Honda Mobility reiterated its long-term vision of transforming mobility from a simple means of transportation into a “Creative Entertainment Space.”
At Samsung Electronics’ “The First Look” event held ahead of CES 2026, SW Yong, head of the Visual Display Business Division, redefined the role of TVs and displays, moving beyond simply “devices that display images” to becoming “entertainment companions” that understand the user’s daily context and suggest actions.
Chinese display materials supplier Xian Smart Material (思摩威) is rapidly increasing its supply share to major panel makers, centered on TFE (Thin Film Encapsulation) ink. Founded in 2017, the company has developed and manufactured TFE ink, low-temperature Over Coat (OC), organic insulating layers, and binders, and is understood to have invested RMB 350 million to build a new manufacturing plant.