Graphic showing the strategic pillars of Korea, China, and Taiwan in the Micro LED industry.

Global Micro-LED Competitive Landscape Reshaped… A Critical Moment for Korea’s Strategy

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The Micro-LED industry is no longer at the stage of being merely a “next-generation display technology candidate.” The discussion has moved beyond technical feasibility to a phase of full-scale, nation-level competition over who can secure mass-production experience and supply-chain leadership first. While China and Taiwan are simultaneously advancing markets and technologies through distinct strategic approaches, Korea—despite its clear strengths—is increasingly viewed as accumulating risk factors related to the speed and direction of industrialization.

Infographic comparing Micro LED strategies: Korea (Technology), China (Mass Production), and Taiwan (Ecosystem)

Comparison of national strategies for Korea, China, and Taiwan as the Micro LED market enters the mass production phase. (Created by ChatGPT)

China’s Micro-LED strategy can be summarized as “speed and scale.” Backed by strong policy support from both central and local governments, investment is being made across the entire value chain, from LED chips and transfer processes to backplanes, modules, and end products. Large panel makers are leading system integration and application-market development, while LED chip suppliers are rapidly improving supply stability through capacity expansion and cost reduction. Rather than targeting perfect products from the outset, China is securing volume in relatively low-entry-barrier markets such as large-format signage and commercial displays, using these deployments to improve yields and accumulate process know-how. This approach is particularly threatening, as it enables rapid narrowing of technology gaps in the short term while building cost competitiveness over the mid to long term.

Taiwan is building its Micro-LED competitiveness through a different path. Centered on panel makers, Taiwan benefits from a tightly connected industrial structure linking LED chip suppliers, driver IC companies, packaging firms, and equipment vendors, enabling a step-by-step expansion focused on high resolution and high reliability. In particular, the mass-production experience accumulated in small-size, ultra-high-resolution applications is considered a key asset of Taiwan’s ecosystem. Rather than pursuing immediate large-scale output, Taiwan prioritizes process stability and quality credibility, then gradually expands into high-value applications such as wearables, XR, and automotive displays—an approach that translates into strong competitiveness in terms of technological trustworthiness.

By contrast, Korea’s Micro-LED industry is increasingly criticized for lacking clear direction relative to its potential. Korea possesses a strong foundation applicable to Micro-LEDs, including process expertise accumulated through OLED and LCD production, competitive materials and equipment capabilities, and strengths in system semiconductors. However, at the industrialization stage, large-scale mass-production investment remains limited, technology development is fragmented across companies, and clear target markets have yet to be firmly defined. Even when R&D results exist, technological advantages can quickly lose significance if the linkage to products and markets is weak. Micro-LED is an industry where yield and cost structure are decisive, and the gap between “having technology” and “having industrial competitiveness” is particularly wide.

There is also a risk of strategic confusion if Micro-LED is viewed simply as a replacement for OLED. Micro-LED differs fundamentally from OLED in manufacturing methods, cost structures, and supply-chain composition. It is not merely a display technology but a system-level industry that integrates semiconductors, optics, equipment, and software. As a result, the success formulas that proved effective in the OLED era cannot be directly applied. From the outset, focused choices regarding applications, form factors, and process segments are required. While China and Taiwan continue to accumulate mass-production experience in their own ways, if Korea maintains a wait-and-see posture, market leadership is likely to shift outward naturally.

What Korea’s Micro-LED industry needs now is not technological optimism, but a sober strategic reset. Rather than attempting to attack the entire market at once, Korea must establish clear mass-production references in areas where it can secure competitive advantage, and then design expansion strategies based on those footholds. At the same time, without concrete collaboration structures and customer-validated demonstrations among materials, equipment, component, and set makers, the industrial ecosystem will inevitably remain fragmented.

Joohan Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research, notes: “Micro-LED is still a market whose outcome has not yet been decided, but those who secure mass-production experience and supply-chain leadership will also lead subsequent application expansion. If Korea does not act now, it risks drifting away from the center of the market despite having strong technology.”

Joohan Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research (joohanus@ubiresearch.com)

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Conceptual illustration of the iPhone Air display market showing Samsung and LG as primary suppliers and BOE as a future contender.

iPhone 18 Air Maintains a Conservative Display Strategy… COE Adoption Delayed

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The iPhone 18 Air supply chain led by Samsung and LG Display, with BOE expected to enter after 2028

Samsung and LG will dominate the iPhone 18 Air supply chain as it retains existing panels, while BOE’s entry with COE tech is expected after 2028. (Created by Google Gemini 3)

The iPhone 18 Air, scheduled for release in the second half of 2026, is reportedly being developed with the same OLED panel used in its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Air. Rather than changing the panel itself, Apple is leaning toward a strategy that replaces only part of the module while reusing the existing panel. The fact that inventory of the previous-generation panels still remains is also believed to have influenced this decision.

Specification changes are likewise expected to focus more on usability improvements than on a full overhaul of display specifications. Industry sources suggest that the iPhone 18 Air will feature a dual-camera setup and increased speaker capacity. As a result, the Air model is likely to enhance overall product appeal by optimizing key components, without undergoing major structural changes.

This approach is closely linked to the timeline for adopting COE (Color on Encapsulation) technology. While COE application had previously been discussed for iPhones around 2027, current expectations point to a delay, pushing adoption to 2028 or later. In particular, the iPhone 17 Air series reportedly recorded annual panel shipments only slightly above 10 million units—the lowest volume among the iPhone lineup—making early adoption of new processes and technologies a potential burden. Given the limited volume of the Air series, prioritizing stable supply and cost efficiency over taking early process-transition risks appears to be a natural decision.

The panel supply chain is expected to remain centered on Samsung Display and LG Display, as in previous years. OLED panels for the iPhone 18 Air are likely to be supplied by Samsung Display and LG Display, while BOE is widely seen as having a low likelihood of entering the supply chain at this stage. BOE is preparing to supply Apple OLED panels with COE applied from 2028 onward, and accordingly, expectations are that BOE’s participation in supplying panels for the Air series would also come after 2028 at the earliest.

Changes in the launch strategy are also drawing attention. Starting with the iPhone 18, the “normal” model is expected to move away from the traditional simultaneous fall launch alongside other models. Instead, it is likely to be released together with the iPhone e series in the first half of the following year, with two models launching simultaneously. By reorganizing the lineup on a semiannual basis, Apple appears to be aiming to spread demand more evenly and improve efficiency in production and inventory management across models.

Junho Kim, Analyst at UBI Research (alertriot@ubiresearch.com)

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Timeline chart showing the release schedule of AI and AR glasses from major tech companies.

AI/AR Glasses Trends and Future Outlook

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Meta’s Ray-Ban Display smart glasses, launched in 2025, recorded significantly higher-than-expected demand in the US market, marking a crucial turning point for AI glasses with display functionality entering the mainstream market. CES 2026 further highlighted the industry’s accelerating growth. Over 50 companies showcased AI/AR hardware products and related technology solutions. The smart glasses exhibition was vibrant, featuring not only eyewear product companies like RayNeo, Lenovo, Rokid, INMO, and XREAL, but also component suppliers like Himax, Cellid, JBD, Goertek.

Since the latter half of last year, Ubi Research has been analyzing trends and company technology developments related to AI/AR glasses and microdisplays. Alongside CES 2026, we aim to examine where the recent trends and technological direction of AI/AR glasses are heading. First, the global smart (AI/AR) glasses market landscape, led by Meta, is expected to see intensified competition starting in the latter half of this year with the participation of more big tech players. According to announcements and media reports in 2025, Snap, Google, and Apple have signaled roadmap-like developments for their AI/AR glasses. Snap’s Specs and the ‘Aura’ project glasses from Google and Xreal are scheduled for release this year, 2026. Samsung launched the Galaxy XR headset in October 2025 and is developing an AI/AR-based smart glasses project. Alibaba also announced its ‘Quark AI Glasses’ and began sales in the Chinese market in November 2025. The global smart glasses market has seen a full-scale entry. Apple, recognizing limitations in the weight and price of its existing Vision Pro, is reportedly shifting strategy toward developing lightweight AI/AR glasses suitable for everyday consumer wear. There is even mention of a possible introduction as early as 2026. Behind the AI/AR glasses push, big tech companies are pursuing strategies to secure platform dominance for their respective independent AI technologies.

Estimated roadmap for AI and AR glasses releases by Big Tech companies like Meta, Apple, Google, and Samsung from 2025 to 2028

Global AI/AR glasses development roadmap showing intensifying competition from 2026 with entries from Big Tech firms like Meta, Google, and Apple. (Source: UBI Research)

The smart glasses industry has reached a turning point in its technological evolution. The era of competing on performance specifications in the lab has passed, and the focus has shifted to market and industry fundamentals: mass production that is commercially viable for consumers. Regarding trends in AI/AR glasses performance, first, we are seeing an increase in products that reflect consumer-desired features at achievable technological stages, rather than focusing solely on display elements or the ultimate AR implementation. For example, products are getting closer to consumer needs through features like hands-free texting, hands-free calling, and simple operation via smart rings and wristband sensors. Furthermore, products like the RayNeo X3 Pro introduced at CES 2026 integrate an eSIM communication module and 4G protocol support. This enables functions such as making and receiving calls, multi-mode AI, real-time AI translation, and streaming music playback without requiring a phone connection. AI/AR glasses are progressively establishing themselves as devices fulfilling the role of a Super Intelligent Assistant in daily life. Another trend is the ‘form factor differentiation and product diversification’ strategy for smart glasses. For example, manufacturers are addressing the consumer market with two distinct product series: models without displays and models with displays. These can be broadly categorized into glasses focused on outdoor visibility and ultra-lightweight design with built-in AI functionality, and glasses designed for high-definition large-screen replacement and movie viewing. The former primarily uses LCoS and Micro-LED displays, while the latter mainly employs Micro-OLED displays. Notably, nearly all companies entering the AI glasses market operate both product lines simultaneously. This is because there are significant differences in the user needs they fulfill, usage environments, core values, and aspects like glasses weight and price positioning. Ray-Ban Meta is a typical AI glasses product emphasizing high-definition filming, AI multi-mode understanding, and audio capabilities, priced at $299. Conversely, Ray-Ban Display is a display-centric AR glasses product emphasizing information display, interaction, and immersive sensory experiences, priced at $799. Rokid also addresses consumers with three product families.

Rokid's three glasses product lines segmented by consumer needs: AI-only, lightweight AR (Micro-LED), and immersive AR (Micro-OLED)

Rokid’s AI/AR glasses lineup demonstrating a ‘form factor differentiation’ strategy based on usage scenarios and display integration. (Source: Rokid/UBI Research)

In the market perspective, AI glasses have established themselves as a flagship product due to their relatively low price, ease of mass production, and user-friendly habits. However, their lack of visual information provision may make them less appealing compared to AR/VR solutions, potentially putting them at a competitive disadvantage against other wearable devices. AR glasses with displays are expected to initially target niche markets, gradually increasing their market share as costs decrease and technological advancements occur. Augmented Social: Increased utilization is anticipated across diverse fields including social interaction, education, industry, and commerce. Furthermore, the advancement of AR glasses necessitates the concurrent development of optical systems that are highly light-efficient, low-loss, and lightweight. At CES 2026, next-generation optical technologies capable of bringing significant change to the AR glasses industry were unveiled. For all-day wear glasses, products utilizing low-power, lightweight, and compact LEDoS technology are expected to increase, and they are anticipated to gradually evolve into products featuring wide fields of view (FOV) through high-resolution panels. According to Ubi Research’s analysis, the future of AR glasses lies in the convergence of micro-displays and optical technologies, supported by the stabilization of the material and component supply chain and continuous technological advancement.

Namdeog Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research (ndkim@ubiresearch.com)

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Conceptual illustration showing bright, vivid deep-blue screens, representing the future of OLED technology.

SNU-Samsung Electronics SAIT, Elucidate Next-Gen OLED Material Design Principles for Extending Deep-Blue OLED Lifetime

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A research team led by Professor Jaesang Lee at Seoul National University (SNU) and the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) have identified key device design principles to extend the lifespan of ‘Deep-Blue OLEDs,’ a core technology for next-generation displays.

This study is significant as it quantitatively analyzes the causes of degradation in high-efficiency blue devices—which had been unclear until now—and implements devices with significantly improved lifespans based on these findings.

In the current OLED display market, green and red pixels already utilize high-efficiency phosphorescent (PH) emitters, but blue OLEDs remain stuck with low-efficiency 1st-generation fluorescent emitters. While high-efficiency blue materials and devices are being researched, they face difficulties meeting industrial requirements due to short lifespans.

High-efficiency Phosphorescent (PH) and Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence (TADF) emitters, considered as alternatives, suffer from the disadvantage of lower color purity due to broad emission spectra. Securing efficiency, stability, and color purity simultaneously in Deep-Blue OLEDs remains a long-standing challenge for the OLED industry.

The SNU-Samsung research team focused on Phosphor-Sensitized Fluorescence (PSF) technology as a promising alternative.

Diagram illustrating the exciton energy transfer and RISC activation mechanism in Deep-Blue OLED devices identified by SNU and Samsung.

Structural diagram of the energy transfer path (FRET dominant) and RISC activation energy design principles, key to lifespan extension in PSF devices. (Source: Advanced Optical Materials)

To understand the complex exciton transfer processes within PSF devices, the team combined cryogenic (135K) analysis with modeling and identified two key factors affecting lifetime.

First, they confirmed that a higher ‘Reverse Intersystem Crossing (RISC)’ activation energy in the final MR-TADF emitter is advantageous for device lifetime. High activation energy inhibits the generation of high-energy excitons capable of breaking molecular bonds, thereby helping to increase device durability.

Second, they proved that designing devices so that ‘Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)’ dominates over ‘Dexter transfer’ in the energy transfer path extends lifetime. In an environment where FRET is dominant, the accumulation of unnecessary triplet excitons within the emitter is prevented, reducing degradation.

Applying these design principles, the research team achieved a T90 lifetime of 141 hours at a luminance of 1,000 nits (cd/m²) while maintaining deep-blue color coordinates (CIE_y < 0.15). This result is approximately 4-fold improvement compared to existing unoptimized comparison devices (35 hours).

This research is evaluated as a meaningful step toward the commercialization of Deep-Blue OLEDs, as it provides important clues to improve the lifetime problem of blue OLEDs—previously considered a material limitation—through the control of internal energy flow within the device.

The results of this study were published in the latest 2026 issue of ‘Advanced Optical Materials,’ a renowned journal in the materials and optics field (Adv. Optical Mater. 2026, e03267).

Conceptual image of futuristic displays incorporating next-generation long-lifespan Deep-Blue OLED technology.

Future concept of vibrant, long-lasting next-gen Deep-Blue OLED displays enabled by the SNU-Samsung research breakthrough. (Created by Gemini)

Changho Noh, Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

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Charts displaying Samsung Display and LG Display's dominance in the 2025 OLED revenue market.

UBI Research Q1 ’26 Market Tracker: Samsung 48% Revenue Share, LG Display 21%…China Expands Shipment Share

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According to UBI Research’s Q1 2026 Market Tracker report, the 2025 OLED panel market maintained a clear leader: Samsung Display held the No. 1 position with a 38% share by shipments and a 48% share by revenue. BOE ranked second in shipments at around 14%, while LG Display ranked second in revenue, with its revenue share rising sharply from 14% in 2024 to 21% in 2025. The combined shipment share of Chinese panel makers expanded from roughly 47% in 2024 to above 50% in 2025, intensifying volume competition. However, while “volume expansion” accelerated, “value (revenue) leadership” remained clearly concentrated among the top players.

Pie charts comparing 2025 global OLED panel shipments and revenue share by company

2025 OLED market statistics showing Korean dominance in revenue (Samsung 48%, LG 21%) despite growing shipment volumes from Chinese makers. (Source: UBI Research)

Samsung Display not only recorded the largest shipment share but also showed a revenue share that significantly exceeded its shipment share, reinforcing its value leadership through a premium product mix and strong pricing power. The fact that it maintained a wide revenue gap even as Chinese makers expanded structurally in shipments indicates that the 2025 OLED market was not merely a shipment-driven contest, but one in which value continued to be redistributed toward higher-end products.

LG Display’s rise in revenue share from 14% to 21% was driven by simultaneous shipment growth across key application segments in 2025. OLED panel shipments for smartwatches increased from 28.51 million units in 2024 to 38.76 million units in 2025; monitor panels grew from 0.28 million to 0.40 million units; and TV panels rose from 5.24 million to 6.35 million units. In other words, LG Display achieved meaningful volume growth in wearables (smartwatches) while also expanding shipments in monitors and TVs, creating a broader base for revenue contribution. In particular, smartwatches, monitors, and TVs tend to show wider ASP dispersion depending on specifications and lineup positioning, making shipment growth more likely to translate into revenue-share gains. As a result, LG Display moved up to No. 2 in revenue in 2025, strengthening its presence in the market regardless of its shipment ranking.

BOE maintained second place in shipments at 14%, underscoring its role as a key driver of China’s expanding OLED supply. However, with LG Display taking second place in revenue, the market’s profit structure continued to be shaped primarily by premium product segments and pricing competitiveness. While China’s influence has grown on a shipment basis, revenue remains concentrated among top-tier suppliers—highlighting a widening gap between “volume expansion” and “value capture.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President at UBI Research, commented, “The key variable going forward is how quickly Chinese panel makers can move beyond shipment growth to improve their high-value product mix and pricing competitiveness.” He added, “At the same time, a key point to watch will be how long Korean suppliers can sustain their revenue advantage by leveraging portfolio strength spanning premium smartphones, wearables, IT, and large-area OLED.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

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Exterior of the CODA office in Beijing, where the interview on China's display strategy took place.

The Present and Future of China’s Display Industry… CODA: “Sustained Innovation through Korea–China Cooperation Is Key”

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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.

On January 23, our publication visited the Beijing office of CODA (China Optics and Optoelectronics Manufactures Association LCB) and met with Xinqing Liang Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary General, Chunming Hu, Executive Vice Secretary General, to discuss the overall state of China’s display industry and the role of CODA. CODA is a national-level industry organization representing the “new-type display” industry, a term that encompasses all flat panel displays developed after CRT, and plays a role spanning industrial policy, technology, markets, and international cooperation.

Exterior view of the China Optics and Optoelectronics Manufactures Association LCB (CODA) office in Beijing

The CODA office in Beijing, serving as a hub for China’s display industry policy and international cooperation. (Source: CODA)

“China’s Growth: Combined Effects of Objective and Subjective Factors”

Secretary General Liang explained that the current state of China’s new-type display industry is “the result of a combination of objective and subjective factors.” From an objective perspective, he noted that the development of China’s display industry followed the general trend of technology diffusion and industrial value-chain migration observed during the globalization process. From a subjective perspective, Chinese entrepreneurs continuously pursued development strategies centered on investment and innovation, maximizing corporate vitality, which in turn led to the formation of regional industrial clusters and the realization of economies of scale.

“Being No.1 Was Not the Goal, but the Result… The Starting Point Was Resolving the ‘Panel Shortage’”

Liang emphasized that becoming the world’s largest display-producing country was not an initial goal for China’s industry, nor is it a goal in itself going forward. The fundamental reason China began to foster the new-type display industry in earnest was to address the “panel shortage” that emerged during the technological transition from CRT to LCD. After more than 20 years of sustained effort, China not only resolved this issue but also made meaningful contributions to the stable development of the global display industry. As a result, the global new-type display industry has been able to maintain continuous growth.

“In a Reorganization of Globalization, the Next Challenges Are ‘Technology Creation’ and the ‘Supply Chain’”

He pointed out that the global economic structure is currently undergoing a reorganization of globalization, which is also affecting the healthy and sustainable development of the new-type display industry. China’s display industry still has areas that need improvement in terms of technology creation capabilities and the completeness of the supply chain, including core materials and equipment. Strengthening these areas is necessary to secure technological leadership, expand application fields, and build a safer and more efficient industrial ecosystem. He added that China’s future development goal is to play a greater role in elevating the global display industry to a new stage by fostering a sound competitive environment in the global market.

CODA: “Serving Members and Government”… A Bridge for International Exchange Platforms

Regarding CODA’s role, Liang explained that since the establishment of its dedicated secretariat, CODA has consistently adhered to the principle of “serving members and government” as a national-level industry organization. CODA has maintained an approach centered on “product orientation, internationalization, specialization, and market focus,” building various international exchange platforms and serving as a bridge connecting stakeholders inside and outside the industry.

He noted that CODA’s core role has been to comprehensively, timely and profoundly grasp trends and developments across markets, technology, competition, investment, and trade in the new-type display industry. This information has served as important reference material for member companies’ strategic decision-making and for government industrial policy formulation.

“Conditions for Sustainability… Balance across Technology, Market, Competition, Investment, and Trade”

Liang stressed that healthy and sustainable development is a common challenge faced not only by China but by the global new-type display industry as a whole, requiring collective efforts from the global industry. He stated that sound and sustainable development depends on maintaining balance across five dimensions: technology, market, competition, investment, and trade.

From a technological standpoint, China’s industry defines TFT-LCD and AMOLED as the “two mainstream technologies.” Over the next three to five years, TFT-LCD is expected to remain a key technology for absorbing excess capacity and mitigating volatility, while AMOLED will play a central role in reshaping competitive dynamics through technological innovation. He emphasized that new display technologies require repeated and continuous innovation, and that proactive, in-house innovation will determine the industry’s sustainability.

In parallel, China’s industry has identified MLED, microdisplays, e-paper, and laser displays as future-oriented technologies and is promoting industrialization with a five- to ten-year outlook. On the market side, China aims to leverage its large-scale domestic market and infrastructure to expand applications into automotive, industrial control, medical, and public electronics sectors.

From a competition perspective, Liang stressed that fair and orderly competition is inseparable from the industry’s sound and sustainable development, with “fairness, order, openness, and inclusiveness” as core principles. China has already implemented measures to curb redundant investment and disorderly capacity expansion, and plans to further strengthen intellectual property protection while advancing standardization and integration.

From an investment perspective, he explained that China will maintain a “counter-cyclical investment” approach, expanding integrated investments centered on new technologies, new processes, and new materials, while accelerating the commercialization of R&D outcomes. In terms of trade, China emphasizes the global nature of the new-type display industry and intends to expand cooperation with overseas partners.

CODA: “Platform Function”… Addressing Common Challenges and Reflecting Industry Needs

Regarding the role that industry organizations such as CODA can uniquely play in the next stage of China’s display industry, Liang highlighted the importance of the “platform function.” He explained that the core characteristic of such platforms is commonality: resolving common industry problems, recognizing shared challenges, organizing collective experience, clarifying industry trends, and reflecting common demands in policy and the market.

CODA has consistently adhered to the principles of “productization, internationalization, specialization, and marketization,” and believes that recognizing the prosperity of the global industry as its own responsibility is a critical foundation for the healthy and sustainable development of China’s industry.

“Sustained Innovation through Korea–China Cooperation Is Key”… Emphasizing Shared Global Challenges

In closing, Liang delivered a message to global industry stakeholders watching China’s display industry and CODA. He emphasized that the display industry has already formed a massive global market and supplies products that are essential worldwide. The display industry has developed primarily around Northeast Asia, during which China and South Korea have established themselves as the most important production bases. Within this context, it is expected that the roles China and South Korea will play in the global display industry will become even more significant going forward.

He stressed that cooperation between China and Korea – particularly at the corporate level – is critically important going forward. Through cooperation, sustained innovation can be achieved, strengthening industrial competitiveness. Ultimately, he said, joint efforts between the two countries should contribute to making human life more convenient and improving quality of life overall, which he described as a personal vision.

He also referenced his past interactions with LG Display and Samsung, expressing a desire to further expand Korea–China cooperation based on these experiences. At the same time, he acknowledged that China faces challenges such as excess capacity and redundant investment, and emphasized that it is important for both countries to work together to provide high-quality products to the global market, achieve healthy and orderly development, and foster a fair and well-ordered competitive environment.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

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CYVISION 3D AR-HUD augmented reality display projected onto a road, showing a bright red "NO ENTRY" warning sign and lane guidance.

As Level 3 Autonomous Driving Expands, AR-HUD and DMS Emerge as Core Pillars of “Safe Takeover”

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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). In L3, the vehicle performs the driving task within a defined ODD (operational design domain), but the driver must retake control when the system requests a takeover. What the driver is told, when they are told it, and how clearly it is communicated during this takeover window directly affects safety. As a result, both the display systems that deliver these messages and DMS (driver monitoring systems) that verify driver readiness are becoming increasingly important.

Summary table of Level 3 autonomous driving deployment status and plans by major automakers

Roadmap for Level 3 autonomous driving deployment by Hyundai, Kia, and Sony Honda Mobility, accelerating from 2026. (Source: UBI Research)

L3 commercialization has already begun, but most deployments operate under strict constraints such as geofencing (limited to specific road sections), speed caps, and restrictions related to road type, weather, and traffic conditions. Consequently, the perceived quality of L3 depends not only on autonomous driving performance itself, but also on how clearly the system communicates when L3 is available, why it becomes unavailable, and when a takeover is required. L3 cannot be completed by driving algorithms alone; information architecture that enables drivers to instantly understand system status, limitations, and takeover requests is emerging as a core success factor.

From this perspective, AR-HUD (augmented reality head-up display) is one of the most intuitive ways to communicate takeover requests and hazard context. Because drivers may be disengaged from the driving task during L3 operation, relying only on a cluster or center display can delay attention recovery and situational awareness. AR-HUD can reinforce takeover requests by overlaying guidance directly in the driver’s forward field of view, while spatially aligning hazards such as construction zones, blocked lanes, or stopped vehicles to help the driver quickly understand not only that a takeover is needed, but also why. As L3 expands to broader and more complex scenarios, AR-HUD requirements become more stringent, including high luminance for daytime readability, low latency, stable registration to minimize drift, and consistent optical performance across different driver heights and seating positions. In effect, AR-HUD is moving beyond a convenience feature toward a safety-grade display interface.

CYVISION's 3D AR-HUD intuitively displaying driving paths and hazard warnings (NO ENTRY) on the road

AR-HUD technology demo intuitively conveying hazard situations to the driver during Level 3 control handover. (Source: CYVISION)

DMS functions as a safety layer that determines whether the driver is in a condition to execute a takeover request in L3. While the driver can delegate the driving task to the system in L3, they must still be able to take over within a defined time window when requested. This requires verification that the driver is awake and capable of perceiving the road environment. DMS assesses driver availability using signals such as gaze direction, eyelid behavior, head pose, and distraction indicators. If the driver is not attentive, takeover requests may be issued earlier and escalated more aggressively. If the driver fails to respond, an additional safety scenario is designed to transition toward a minimum risk maneuver (MRM). For these reasons, DMS is becoming a key component that completes the functional safety logic of L3 beyond mere regulatory compliance. Alert delivery is also being reinforced through multi-channel redundancy, combining the cluster, center display, and AR-HUD with audio, haptics, and ambient lighting.

At CES 2026, this trend was further illustrated through the convergence of DMS and display technology. LG Display showcased an Under-Display Camera (UDC) concept for DMS implementation, presenting a direction in which the camera is placed beneath the display to enable driver monitoring while maintaining a seamless cockpit design. In particular, applying UDC to an OLED cluster could integrate driver gaze and attention monitoring without visually exposing the camera module, offering a solution that supports both minimalist interior design trends and rising safety requirements.

LG Display's OLED Cluster with Under Display Camera (UDC) and DMS features unveiled at CES 2026

LG Display’s UDC technology secures both seamless design and Driver Monitoring System (DMS) by embedding the camera under the display. (Source: LG Display)

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President at UBI Research, emphasized that the transition to L3 elevates display performance into a part of system safety performance. He noted that cockpit displays must be engineered not as infotainment devices but as safety systems, encompassing safety-message prioritization, deterministic and predictable behavior, cybersecurity, and graceful degradation under failures. He also added that L3 competitiveness is not determined solely by how long a vehicle can drive itself, but by how accurately it guides the driver, prepares them, and enables a safe and reliable takeover when responsibility is handed back. In this context, if AR-HUD serves as the front-facing interface that delivers takeover messages most rapidly, DMS becomes the essential safety element that validates driver readiness to execute those messages, and the combination of UDC-based DMS with an OLED cluster presented at CES 2026 symbolically demonstrates the direction of L3 cockpit evolution.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

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Concept illustration of next-generation AR glasses featuring advanced waveguide and dimming lens technology.

The Evolution of Optical Technologies for AR Glasses at CES 2026… Next-Generation Displays, Emphasis on Stabilizing the Component Supply Chain and Optical Solutions

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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. The convergence of ‘Waveguide’ technology and ‘Smart Dimming’ technology to realize true daily AR glasses is drawing attention.

The AR optics market is led by ‘Birdbath’, which boasts high light efficiency (around 20%) and the best compatibility with OLEDoS, and ‘Waveguide’, which achieves the thinnest profile most similar to glasses when applied to LCoS/LEDoS. Until now, while waveguides could achieve a perfect form factor, their low light efficiency (around 1%) caused blurry outdoor displays, limiting their use primarily to text-focused smart glasses.

At CES 2026, LUMUS announced its new product ‘ZOE’, featuring proprietary geometric waveguide technology. ZOE expands the field of view (FOV) beyond the previous 30-degree limit to over 70 degrees. This enables immersion beyond simple text notifications, allowing for video viewing and multitasking. Notably, LUMUS improved upon the inherent issues of conventional diffractive waveguides—specifically ‘color uniformity degradation’ and ‘low efficiency’—through its geometric reflective structure design.

Manufacturing process of LUMUS's next-generation reflective waveguide lenses

Manufacturing process of LUMUS’s proprietary reflective (geometric) waveguide lenses, achieving over 70-degree FOV. (Source: LUMUS)

Of course, the drop in optical efficiency when implementing a 70-degree ultra-wide angle remains a challenge. To address this, the industry is adopting ‘Dimming Lenses’ as a solution. Instead of simply increasing the panel’s brightness, these lenses block external light to enhance the contrast ratio. At CES 2026, dimming lens technologies were showcased, including Optiple’s ultra-fast LC film with a 0.1-second response time and Povec’s electrochromic technology, which now offers a 1-second response time while maintaining natural color transitions. Even if the dimming lens blocks only half of the external light, it can save 20-40% of the energy the display needs to consume.

For the long-term development of smart AR glasses with high viewing angles and immersive visuals, the development of next-generation optical systems must proceed in parallel. These include Freeform Prism Combiner, Birdbath Slim, Pin Mirror, and Holographic methods, which offer high light efficiency, low loss, and lightweight capabilities.

According to UBI Research’s analysis, the solution to the display technology competition surrounding OLEDoS, LEDoS, and LCoS lies in convergence with optical technology, coupled with stabilizing the supporting material and component supply chain and enhancing core technological capabilities. This is because even innovative optical solutions like high-efficiency waveguides cannot fully realize their potential without high-performance materials and a robust component ecosystem. Market supremacy will now be determined not by mere panel specifications, but by who first secures the ultra-competitive technological edge achieved through the perfect trinity of ‘panel-optics-materials’.

Future concept image of next-generation AR glass optical technology presented at CES 2026

Future concept of next-generation AR glasses where panel, optics, and material technologies are perfectly fused. (Created by Gemini)

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶Industry Trends and Technology of Micro-LED Displays for XR Report

▶XR Industry Trends and OLEDoS Display Technology & Industry Analysis Report

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

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Bar chart showing the rapid increase in OLED monitor shipments from 2026 to 2030.

OLED Monitor Market Sees Rapid Growth… Shipments Up 64% in 2025

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Global OLED monitor panel shipment forecast graph from 2026 to 2030

OLED monitor market trends with over 50% growth expected in 2026, following a 64% surge in 2025. (Source: UBI Research)

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 Medium & Large OLED Display Market Tracker, OLED monitor shipments in 2025 rose by about 64% from 1.95 million units in 2024. Growth of more than 50% is also expected in 2026, positioning OLED monitors as the fastest-growing application segment within the mid- to large-sized OLED industry.

This strong growth is closely linked to strategic shifts by panel makers. Samsung Display is focusing on expanding shipments of OLED panels for monitors—centered on its QD-OLED mass production lines—where unit prices and profitability are relatively higher than for TV panels. As adoption of QD-OLED expands across premium gaming monitors and creator-focused products, monitors are taking up an increasing share of Samsung Display’s mid- to large-sized OLED strategy.

LG Display is also maintaining its supply of WOLED TV panels while intensifying efforts to expand OLED monitor shipments. After beginning OLED monitor panel supply at around 100,000 units in 2023, LG Display increased shipments to roughly 200,000 units in 2024 and is estimated to have reached about 400,000 units in 2025. In 2026, shipments are expected to continue rising through new customer acquisitions and improved line utilization.

Behind the panel makers’ growing focus on OLED monitors rather than TVs are production efficiency and profitability considerations. On 8.5-generation glass substrates, TV panels typically achieve a utilization rate of around 60–70%, and even with MMG (Multi Model Glass) technology applied, utilization often remains near 80%. In contrast, monitor panels—based on IT-standard sizes such as 27-inch and 34-inch—can be laid out to achieve utilization rates exceeding 90%. Moreover, on a price-per-area basis, OLED monitor panels offer relatively higher profitability than TV panels, making them an attractive option in terms of both line efficiency and margins.

This trend is not limited to Korean manufacturers. Chinese panel makers are also accelerating their entry into the IT OLED market. BOE is gradually increasing shipments of IT OLED panels, while TCL CSOT is planning shipments of OLED monitor panels based on its in-house inkjet-printed OLED technology. Over the mid to long term, the entry of Chinese players is likely to enhance both price competitiveness and product diversity in the OLED monitor market.

Changwook Han, Vice President of UBI Research, commented, “In the mid- to large-sized OLED market, panel makers’ strategic focus is gradually shifting from TVs to monitors.” He added, “OLED monitors offer both high glass utilization and a relatively stable profit structure.” He further noted, “Not only Korean companies but also Chinese panel makers are actively entering the OLED monitor market with their own technologies, and the OLED monitor segment is expected to continue growing as applications expand across gaming, creator, and premium IT devices.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶ Quarterly Small OLED Display Market Tracker Sample

▶Quarterly Medium & Large OLED Display Market Tracker Sample

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Samsung Display Supplies 3 Types of Automotive OLEDs for Zeekr’s Flagship SUV ‘9X’

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Supplying CID∙PID and RSE… ‘9X’ ranks #1 in 500,000 Yuan-class SUVs for two consecutive months starting November

□ Optimized large-screen OLED for 6-seater space completes interior befitting a luxury SUV

□ 16-inch CID and PID each feature ▲thin bezels and ▲True Black, realizing a natural large screen resembling a single panel

□ OLED’s inherent wide viewing angle, high contrast ratio, and perfect True Black… transforms vehicle into a high-class cinema space

□ First OLED supply for Zeekr ‘009’ model in ’24… Strengthening continuous cooperative relationship

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. Samsung Display began full-scale OLED supply in the second half of ’25, once again proving its leadership in the premium automotive display sector.

The Zeekr ‘9X’ is a popular model that has ranked first in sales in the 500,000 yuan (approx. 100 million KRW) class large SUV sector in China for two consecutive months since last November. Samsung Display is supplying a total of three types of OLEDs for this vehicle: ▲16-inch CID (Center Information Display), ▲16-inch PID (Passenger Information Display), and ▲17-inch RSE (Rear Seat Entertainment).

The 16-inch CID and PID, arranged side-by-side from the driver’s seat to the passenger seat, allow users to enjoy a natural, large screen that looks like a single panel thanks to OLED’s unique ▲thin bezels and ▲True Black. They can also be utilized as independent screens according to taste or necessity.

In particular, the 17-inch RSE mounted on the vehicle ceiling attracts attention with the ‘Wing-Style Sliding Screen’, jointly developed by Samsung Display and Zeekr for the first time in the world. The ‘Wing-Style Sliding Screen’ allows the screen position to be adjusted via rails on the left and right sides of the vehicle interior, capable of moving up to 88cm between the second and third rows. This perfectly compensates for the issue where fixed RSE displays in 3-row, 6-seater SUVs are not well visible from the third row. Additionally, the 17-inch large screen, combined with OLED’s inherent wide viewing angle, high contrast ratio, and perfect ‘True Black’, instantly transforms the 6-seater SUV into a high-class cinema space.

Choi Yong-seok, Vice President of Automotive Sales at Samsung Display, stated, “Samsung Display’s automotive OLED is the optimal solution for completing a high-class mobility experience, equipped with high brightness as well as perfect True Black image quality.” He added, “We will continue to introduce high-performance products with differentiated value to strengthen partnerships with global automaker clients and lead the growth of the automotive OLED market.”

Xu Yun, Head of Zeekr Intelligent Technology R&D, said, “Through Samsung Display’s OLED, considered the best, we were able to realize a luxurious cinema space and interior befitting the 9X,” adding, “Especially, the large screen optimized for the 6-seater space will provide a special driving experience to customers.”

Meanwhile, Samsung Display has maintained a cooperative relationship with Zeekr since first supplying OLED panels for the ‘009’ model in ’24. Zeekr, which is growing rapidly in the global EV market, is drawing consumer attention by implementing a digital cockpit based on high-performance driving capabilities and premium displays in the ‘9X’, a 6-seater flagship SUV concentrated with cutting-edge technology.

Tianma SLOD device showing 96% BT.2020 coverage at CES 2026.

Chinese panel companies increasingly adopting tandem structure/PSF-based OLED technology for smartphones

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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. Recently, Chinese panel companies like Tianma, BOE, and Visionox have successively unveiled next-generation OLED technologies combining PSF (Phosphor-Sensitized Fluorescence) series emitting materials—a fourth-generation OLED technology—with tandem structures at major exhibition stages such as CES 2026 and Display Week 2025. These technologies collectively aim to achieve ultra-wide color gamut, high brightness, and improved power efficiency.

At CES 2026, Tianma demonstrated its NFT (New Fluorescence Technology) and SLOD (Stacked Layer OLED Device) concepts applying PSF principles. NFT enhances energy transfer efficiency while maintaining the color purity of fluorescence-based emitting materials. Combined with the SLOD structure, it emphasizes optimizing low-voltage CGL (Charge Generation Layer) and emitting unit designs. According to Tianma’s explanation, SLOD technology is closer to a direction of boosting efficiency by co-designing the light-emitting material–CGL–stack structure, rather than simply expanding the stacking of layers in a Tandem structure.

Tianma's SLOD and 96% BT.2020 Coverage Device displayed at CES 2026

Tianma showcases its SLOD (Stacked Layer OLED Device) achieving 96% BT.2020 color coverage at CES 2026. (Source: Tianma)

BOE exhibited a smartphone OLED solution at Display Week 2025 that combines a Tandem (2-stack) structure with COE (Color filter on Encapsulation) on PSF-based light-emitting materials. BOE demonstrated a direction to achieve a color gamut approaching BT.2020 through spectrum width reduction (FWHM reduction) and peak coordinate shift, while simultaneously improving efficiency and lifespan by lowering current density at the same luminance through the Tandem structure. This is evaluated as an example proposing the light-emitting material, structure, and optical elements as a single integrated package. Meanwhile, Huawei officially announced the Mate 80 RS, featuring BOE’s PSF-based light-emitting material combined with a Tandem (2-stack) structure, in late November 2025, with sequential launches beginning in late November. The industry notes that this timing marks the beginning of ‘Tandem OLED + BT.2020’ specifications being applied to actual flagship products. This is interpreted as a case where the commercialization of technology combining high-color-purity new light-emitting materials (PSF/TADF/pTSF series) with Tandem architecture is spreading in earnest.

Visionox also officially declared the mass production success of pTSF (Phosphor-assisted Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Sensitized Fluorescence), its fourth-generation OLED light-emitting technology, at a technology forum jointly held with Tsinghua University in December 2025.

According to UBI Research’s analysis, applying next-generation high-color-purity emitting materials and tandem structures in smartphones is evaluated as a powerful means to mitigate OLED’s physical limitations. However, expanding layered structures and introducing new materials may lead to increased costs, yield management challenges, and greater difficulty in driving and calibration. There is also the possibility that ultra-wide color gamut and ultra-high brightness could become excessive specifications relative to the average user’s perceived experience. The industry views the recent trend not as a complete shift, but rather as a phase where certain technologies are entering mass production and being selectively adopted.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025-2026 Beyond Mobile: IT OLED Technology and Industry Analysis Report

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TCL CSOT signage representing the company's entry into the Samsung Galaxy supply chain.

TCL CSOT Supplies Flexible OLED to Galaxy A57 for the First Time, Marking Entry into Samsung Electronics’ Supply Chain

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Samsung Galaxy A56 smartphone (Source: Samsung Electronics)

Samsung Galaxy A56 smartphone (Source: Samsung Electronics)

TCL CSOT company logo and booth

TCL CSOT successfully enters Samsung’s supply chain. (Source: TCL CSOT)

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.

Historically, the Galaxy A series mainly adopted rigid OLED panels, with Chinese panel makers such as BOE Technology Group having supplied panels in the past. However, as Chinese OLED suppliers streamlined their smartphone rigid OLED lines and Samsung Electronics shifted to single sourcing from Samsung Display for the Galaxy A series, rigid OLED panels for the A series were effectively supplied exclusively by Samsung Display for a period.

With the decision to apply flexible OLED starting from the higher-tier Galaxy A57, Samsung Electronics is understood to have adopted TCL CSOT’s panels to reduce panel costs for the Galaxy A series.

In volume terms, however, the initial supply remains limited. TCL CSOT’s smartphone OLED shipments in 2025 are estimated at approximately 81 million units, meaning the 400,000 units for the Galaxy A57 account for only about 0.5% of its total shipments. The gap is even more pronounced when compared with the volume supplied by Samsung Display to the Galaxy A series.

Nevertheless, the achievement is viewed as notable given the symbolic significance of entering Samsung Electronics’ supply chain and the potential for future expansion in mid-range smartphone lineups.

Currently, Xiaomi is TCL CSOT’s largest customer, accounting for more than 50% of its smartphone panel shipments, followed by Vivo, Motorola, and Huawei.

Industry observers are closely watching whether the Galaxy A57 supply will serve as a catalyst for TCL CSOT to gradually expand its flexible OLED supply opportunities within Samsung Electronics’ mid-range smartphone lineup. While initial volumes are modest, securing Samsung Electronics as a customer is seen as a factor that could enhance TCL CSOT’s competitiveness in the smartphone OLED market over the longer term.

Junho Kim, Analyst at UBI Research (alertriot@ubiresearch.com)

▶ China Trends Report Inquiry

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LG Display's Dual View technology allowing different content for driver and passenger, symbolizing the shift to cockpit platforms.

CES 2026: The Evolution of Automotive Displays, Beyond Screens to Platforms

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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. Alongside advances in OLED, Micro LED, and Mini LED technologies, innovations in form factors, transparency, and AI-driven interaction converged to define the future direction of the smart cockpit.

Korean companies highlighted their technological competitiveness by focusing on ultra-large displays, form flexibility, and differentiated user experiences. LG Display redefined the vehicle interior as a continuous digital space by showcasing its pillar-to-pillar (P2P) OLED display extending from the driver’s side to the passenger side. The single-panel P2P OLED, reaching up to 51 inches, delivers high resolution and excellent touch sensitivity while addressing concerns over image quality degradation in large-format displays. LG Display also unveiled a sliding OLED concept that can retract into the dashboard, presenting a cockpit vision in which screen size and function adapt dynamically to driving conditions. In addition, automotive OLEDs incorporating under-display camera (UDC) technology and Dual View functionality emphasized a direction in which a single screen can provide different information simultaneously to the driver and the passenger.

LG Display's 12-inch UDC IR OLED Cluster and Dual View Display showing different content to driver and co-driver

LG Display’s Dual View technology providing different information to driver and co-driver, featured with UDC cluster. (Source: LGD)

LG Electronics showcased applications of transparent OLED based on LG Display’s panel technology, presenting the potential of “invisible interfaces” in automotive displays. Transparent OLED technology enables both open visibility and information display, demonstrating its potential expansion into future applications such as HUDs, panoramic displays, and in-vehicle and vehicle-to-outside communication.

LG Electronics' Transparent OLED Windscreen and Side-Window display concept for vehicles

LG Electronics’ Transparent OLED Windscreen and Side-Window solutions displaying info while maintaining openness. (Source: LGE)

Samsung Display also emphasized spatial efficiency and installation flexibility through layout-adaptive automotive OLED solutions. Its 18.1-inch “Flexible L” center information display can be bent into an L-shape to conform to dashboard structures, while the 13.8-inch passenger information display (PID) can be hidden beneath the dashboard when the seat is unoccupied, enhancing space utilization. Samsung Display further highlighted the integration of a robust OLED panel with a 500R curvature on a glass substrate, achieving both visual sophistication and ease of installation.

Chinese companies placed strong emphasis on ultra-large integrated displays and advanced HUD technologies, showcasing their system-level integration capabilities alongside aggressive performance specifications. BOE introduced its HERO 2.0 smart cockpit, emphasizing scenario-based in-vehicle experiences centered on displays. The Micro LED PHUD panoramic head-up display, delivering up to 50,000 nits of brightness, ensures high visibility even under strong ambient light and integrates AI-based voice and gesture recognition to further enhance cockpit intelligence. HERO 2.0, which also includes a 15.6-inch UB Cell central display, an AI audio system, and an integrated digital broadcasting function, clearly illustrates BOE’s strategy of transforming vehicles from transportation tools into living spaces. At the same time, BOE highlighted low-power IGZO oxide displays and carbon-reduction achievements, reinforcing its commitment to environmentally sustainable manufacturing.

Demo of BOE's HERO 2.0 Smart Cockpit featuring Micro LED Panoramic HUD

BOE demonstrating the HERO 2.0 Smart Cockpit with a 50,000-nit Micro LED Panoramic HUD. (Source: BOE)

TCL CSOT made a strong impression with its 28-inch inkjet-printed OLED applied to a sliding center console and curved armrest, demonstrating notable innovation in form factor design. At its booth, TCL CSOT also conducted live demonstrations of a projection-based HUD (P-HUD). The HVA Ultra P-HUD projects information onto the vehicle’s front windshield using a multi-LCD projection structure, positioning itself as either a replacement for or a complement to conventional dashboard displays. This demonstrated TCL’s strategy of pursuing cockpit integration not only through large OLED panels but also through HUD solutions.

HVA Ultra P-HUD (Panoramic HUD) projection demo displayed at TCL CSOT booth

TCL CSOT’s Panoramic HUD solution projecting info on the windshield to replace dashboards. (Source: TCL CSOT)

Tianma presented a next-generation cockpit centered on a 49.6-inch C-shaped panoramic display positioned as an information hub, integrating the instrument cluster, center display, passenger display, and side-mirror areas into a single visual architecture. By leveraging more than 210,000 independent dimming units to achieve a 100,000:1 contrast ratio and suppressing reflectance to below 0.55 percent, Tianma emphasized both readability and safety in ultra-large displays. The company’s multi-screen ecosystem, including a 43.7-inch IRIS PHUD panoramic display, a flexible pull-out display, and a small OLED integrated into the steering wheel, highlighted its strengthening capabilities in system-level cockpit design. Visionox also showcased a dynamic bending display using dual flexible AMOLED panels, presenting an approach that simultaneously improves the stowability and visibility of large screens.

Tianma's 43.7-inch IRIS Panoramic HUD and integrated cockpit display revealed at CES 2026

Tianma’s next-gen cockpit and Panoramic HUD system integrating instrument cluster and center display. (Source: Tianma)

Taiwanese companies pursued differentiation through transparent displays and system integration. AUO, through its subsidiary AUO Mobility Solutions, showcased transparent Micro LED displays, INVISY stealth displays, and an AI-based cockpit domain control platform, defining displays as core nodes connected to vehicle computing systems. The integration with a glass-substrate satellite antenna suggested a future in which automotive displays are directly linked to external networks. Innolux emphasized integrated cockpit solutions combining visual and audio technologies through collaboration with CARUX and Pioneer, and unveiled an ultra-high-brightness Micro LED HUD delivering 50,000 nits of direct brightness and 10,000 nits in reflected image brightness, highlighting stable HUD performance even under extreme conditions.

AUO's automotive Transparent Micro LED display showcased at CES 2026

AUO’s Transparent Micro LED display presented as a key node connecting vehicles with external networks. (Source: AUO)

From the automaker perspective, the direction of change was equally clear. BMW presented a panoramic HUD concept for its next-generation iX3, proposing a future HUD architecture that utilizes the entire windshield as an information interface and emphasizing tighter integration between display technology and vehicle design.

BMW iDrive Surround View System and Panoramic HUD concept demonstrated at the booth

BMW’s futuristic Panoramic HUD and iDrive system utilizing the entire windshield as an information interface. (Source: BMW)

Commenting on the automotive display trends observed at CES 2026, Changwook Han, Executive Vice President at UBI Research, stated, “Automotive displays have entered a phase of cockpit platform competition, where form factors, systems, AI, and content converge, rather than remaining a field of individual component competition.” He added, “The advancement toward ultra-large displays, transparency, and sophisticated HUDs will ultimately serve as key indicators of how deeply display makers can engage in shaping the user experience of automakers.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trends Analysis Report

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Table comparing TCL's SQD-Mini LED technology with RGB Mini LED displays from Samsung and Hisense.

TCL defines SQD(Super Quantum Dot )-Mini LED as its flagship at CES 2026

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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. This signals a shift in the competition within the LCD-based ultra-large premium TV market, which is expected to expand around RGB backlighting. It also marks a stage where the role and status of QD are being redefined.

Specification comparison table of TCL SQD-Mini LED (X11L), Hisense RGB Mini LED (116UX), and Samsung Micro RGB TV (130")

Comparison of TCL’s SQD-Mini LED flagship strategy against RGB approaches from Samsung and Hisense at CES 2026. (Source: UBI Research)

TCL’s decision to showcase SQD-Mini LED as its flagship at CES 2026 reveals an intent to redefine the very concept of QD. Whereas QD was primarily perceived as a “material that expands color gamut,” TCL has repositioned Super Quantum Dot (SQD) as the core technology responsible for ‘color purity and control stability’ as QD evolves toward high brightness and ultra-high zone-count local dimming.

As Mini LED TVs evolve with ultra-high zone-count local dimming and ultra-high brightness, phenomena like color blooming/color crosstalk at high-brightness boundaries become more sensitive, not just simple brightness bleed (halo). TCL has prioritized addressing this issue in its flagship models, proposing a solution combining SQD (High-Purity QD) + filter + color purity algorithms.

TCL positioned SQD-Mini LED not as a new technology, but as an extension of the Halo Control System introduced at CES 2025. At CES 2025, TCL defined Halo not as a single backlight issue, but as a systemic challenge requiring a holistic solution encompassing optical distance (OD), drive timing, backlight control precision, local dimming algorithms, and panel characteristics. The key change at CES 2026 is that while maintaining this framework, the flagship’s problem definition has been expanded to a dual challenge of “brightness blooming + color blooming.”

Diagram of TCL's Halo Control System technology designed to manage light bleeding and color blooming

TCL’s Halo Control System addresses picture quality issues by integrating backlight control with advanced optical structures. (Source: TCL)

What’s interesting is that TCL didn’t deny the RGB trend itself. TCL positioned RGB Mini LED as a high-end lineup beneath its flagship SQD-Mini LED. This approach directly impacts consumer experience. High-end TV buyers care not only about the impact of ‘peak moments’ but are more dissatisfied when quality falters during specific content (subtitles, night scenes, high-contrast edges, fast-moving sports/gaming scenes). TCL’s decision to anchor SQD in its flagship models is interpreted as a strategic choice to align with premium buyers’ psychology—prioritizing “minimum dissatisfaction” over “peak perceived quality.”

At CES 2026, LG Display emphasized that OLED TVs offer more stable control over light and color compared to LCD-based premium TVs. This highlights the awareness that as competition intensifies in high brightness and ultra-high zone-count local dimming, ‘consistency of control’ could emerge as the core premium value, surpassing ‘highest specs’.

The premium TV market is expected to evolve into a multi-front competition for some time, with RGB-based (LCD) models offering perceived impact, QD/SQD models emphasizing color purity and control stability, and OLED maintaining its self-emissive control advantage. Ultimately, the decisive factor will not be competition over single metrics (brightness, number of dimming zones), but rather how stably light and color are maintained across diverse content environments as experienced by consumers, thereby minimizing dissatisfaction risks.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025-2026 Beyond Mobile: IT OLED Technology and Industry Analysis Report

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CES 2026: The Evolution of RGB Mini LEDs and Manufacturer Strategies

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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. Amidst the existing competitive landscape centered on QD Mini LED and OLED, RGB Mini LED emerged as an attempt to go beyond the competition of “brightness and number of zones” and redesign the color production method and control structure itself. However, the significance of RGB Mini LED revealed at CES 2026 differed significantly across companies.

 

Samsung Electronics: Micro RGB Reshaping Neo QLED’s Flagship Position

Samsung Electronics redefined the pinnacle of its LCD premium strategy at CES 2026, highlighting its 130-inch Micro RGB TV. Micro RGB utilizes micrometer-sized RGB LEDs as backlights and employs a structure that independently controls R, G, and B. This approach differs from blue LED-based QD Mini LED (Neo QLED) in its color production method. Samsung’s Micro RGB is positioned not as a technology intended to directly replace OLED, but rather as a strategic technology to reclaim the ultra-large premium segment, where Neo QLED struggled to expand. Specifically, in the ultra-large market (100 inches and above), the company aims to redefine LCD’s strengths, such as high brightness potential and durability (avoiding burn-in concerns), as “ultra-premium,” while prioritizing color reproduction and control precision to reset the standard for the upper end of the premium market. Samsung has announced plans to focus on 130-inch displays, but expand to 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-, 100-, and 115-inch lineups by 2026, demonstrating its strategy to gradually expand Micro RGB beyond its flagship lineup.

Samsung Electronics' 130-inch Micro RGB TV unveiled at CES 2026

Samsung’s 130-inch Micro RGB TV, redefining the ultra-large premium market and positioning itself at the top of the Neo QLED lineup. (Source: Samsung Electronics)

LG Electronics: OLED for Flagship, Micro RGB evo for Ultra-Premium LCD

LG Electronics unveiled its RGB Mini LED under the name Micro RGB evo at CES 2026, revealing its strategy to further layer its premium TV portfolio. LG’s key strategy is to maintain the status of OLED. In other words, OLED remains the absolute flagship in terms of picture quality and brand symbolism, and the company defines Micro RGB evo not as a replacement technology for OLED, but as an “ultra-premium LCD” positioned between OLED and QNED (QD Mini LED-based premium LCD).

Micro RGB evo features LG’s α AI processor integrated into an RGB backlight-based LCD structure, enhancing color accuracy and tone reproduction. LG has emphasized “Triple 100% Color Coverage,” which 100% covers BT.2020, DCI-P3, and Adobe RGB. Unlike QD Mini LED, which has primarily competed on the basis of “brightness, local dimming, and price-to-performance ratio,” Micro RGB evo is seen as an attempt to redefine the premium upper echelon by emphasizing “color accuracy and control precision.” At CES 2026, LG unveiled 100-, 86-, and 75-inch product lines. This strategy aims to capture ultra-large and premium demand from LCD while maintaining OLED’s top-tier position. This strategy reorganizes its premium lineup into a three-tier structure: OLED (top-tier), Micro RGB evo (ultra-premium LCD), and QNED (QD Mini LED).

LG Electronics' 100-inch Micro RGB evo TV displayed at CES 2026

LG’s 100-inch Micro RGB evo TV, positioned as a ‘Super Premium LCD’ between OLED and QNED lines. (Source: LG Electronics)

Hisense: RGB Mini LED Built on QD Mini LED

Hisense further evolved its RGB Mini LED strategy at CES 2026. While CES 2025 showcased its technological direction with the debut of its RGB Mini LED TV, CES 2026 emphasized its position as a premium product with its improved second-generation RGB Mini LED. At this exhibition, Hisense showcased its 116-inch RGB Mini LED flagship (116UXS), once again highlighting “RGB backlight-based color control” as a key differentiating factor in its ultra-large premium lineup. Of particular note is the 4-subpixel (RGB+Cyan) backlight structure, which adds cyan to RGB. Hisense has adopted this approach to not only expand the color gamut but also further enhance color resolution and color control precision. This is interpreted as an evolved design that mitigates color boundary and fringing issues that can arise with existing RGB structures and maintains color purity even in ultra-high brightness ranges. Strategically, for Hisense, RGB Mini LED is not a replacement for QD Mini LED. QD Mini LED (U8/U9 series) remains the core technology responsible for sales volume and price competitiveness, while RGB Mini LED (including RGB+Cyan) serves as a symbolic flagship, targeting ultra-large, ultra-premium models.

Hisense's 116-inch 4-subpixel RGB Mini LED TV revealed at CES 2026

Hisense’s 116-inch flagship RGB Mini LED TV featuring RGB+Cyan structure for enhanced color control precision. (Source: Hisense)

TCL: RGB Mini LED as an “Optional High-End”, SQD Mini LED as the Top-of-the-Line

TCL showcased RGB Mini LED TVs at CES 2026, but did not promote it as its core flagship technology. TCL has adopted a strategy of maintaining SQD Mini LED as its top technology, while positioning RGB Mini LED as an optional complement to its high-end lineup. This approach appears to reflect an intention to moderate the adoption rate of RGB backlighting while acknowledging its potential, taking into account structural complexity, cost, and tuning difficulty.

In terms of RGB Mini LED products, TCL presented its lineup with the RM9L, a product line focused on ultra-large screens extending to 85, 98, and 115 inches. Furthermore, TCL emphasized high brightness (up to 9,000 nits) and high-zone (local dimming) configurations through RGB Mini LED, demonstrating its commitment to securing a presence in the ultra-large premium LCD market. However, RGB Mini LED is not the sole top-tier technology within TCL’s overall portfolio; rather, it serves as a complement to TCL’s flagship strategy, which focuses on SQD Mini LED.

TCL's lineup of 115, 98, and 85-inch RGB Mini LED TVs showcased at CES 2026

TCL’s RGB Mini LED TV lineup offered as a high-end option, supporting up to 9,000 nits brightness. (Source: TCL)

Shenzhen MIC: Entering the Premium Market with a 65-inch True RGB Mini LED

SMIC officially announced its entry into the premium TV market at CES 2026, unveiling a 65-inch RGB Mini LED TV. This product features a True RGB backlight, where the R, G, and B elements directly emit light, emphasizing its exceptional color purity, 100% satisfying the BT.2020 color gamut without a filter. Specifically, the company boasted that it simultaneously achieves a brightness of over 4,000 nits and OLED-level black expression through precise control via thousands of local dimming zones. Furthermore, the company emphasized durability, eliminating burn-in concerns due to the absence of organic materials. Furthermore, SMIC explained that its proprietary RGB-dedicated AI chipset optimizes image quality. SMIC plans to launch this model in the second half of 2026, fully targeting the premium TV market.

Comparison demo of 65-inch standard Mini LED (left) vs. True RGB Mini LED (right) at SMIC booth

SMIC’s 65-inch True RGB Mini LED comparison demo, achieving 100% BT.2020 without filters, signaling entry into the premium market. (Source: SMIC)

UBI Research Executive Vice President Changwook Han explained, “RGB Mini LED at CES 2026 is closer to an indicator of how far the premium TV market has come rather than a ‘next-generation TV technology.’ Mini LED has reached its limit of numerical expansion, and OLED is also having difficulty covering all segments. RGB Mini LED is the clearest example of how each company is redefining its portfolio in the meantime. Ultimately, RGB Mini LED at CES 2026 is most appropriately interpreted as a technological signal confirming that the premium TV market has entered a multi-strategy phase rather than a single evolutionary path, rather than declaring a new standard.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025-2026 Beyond Mobile: IT OLED Technology and Industry Analysis Report

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[CES 2026] LG Electronics, 136 inch Micro LED TV

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[CES 2026] LG Electronics, A massive art installation Wireless Wallpaper TVs, ‘LG OLED Evo’

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[CES 2026] SAMSUNG, Panel Comparison for Writing Sensation

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Samsung 130-inch Micro RGB TV showcasing (a) Timeless Frame and (b) Layered Wall design concepts.

At CES 2026 Samsung Electronics’ Next-Generation Display Strategy Revealed

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Focus on Product Completeness and Premium Design

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. It is analyzed that Samsung Electronics has secured a level of completeness suitable for commercialization by supplementing technical challenges with mechanical engineering and design through its 130-inch Micro RGB TV, 140-inch Micro LED TV, and transparent Micro LED displays.

Targeting the B2C Market with Diversified Design Options: 130-inch Micro RGB TV

With this 130-inch Micro RGB TV, Samsung Electronics has solidified design choices tailored to the installation environment, going beyond just technical specifications. The two design concepts revealed at the Unpacked event present how this product can be applied to actual residential spaces.

First, the Timeless Frame is characterized by emphasizing frame elements so that the display is perceived as an independent piece of furniture (Object). On the other hand, the Layered Wall design is designed to provide a sense of unity, like architectural interior materials, by reducing the visual gap between the wall and the display. This appears to be a strategy to optimize hardware configurations to match consumers’ interior tastes and installation environments in the ultra-high-end display market.

Exhibition view of the 130-inch Micro RGB TV featuring (a) Timeless Frame and (b) Layered Wall designs (Source: Samsung Electronics)

Exhibition view of the 130-inch Micro RGB TV featuring (a) Timeless Frame and (b) Layered Wall designs (Source: Samsung Electronics)

Converting Structural Limitations of Modular Construction into Features: 140-inch Micro LED TV

The 140-inch Micro LED TV functionally reinterprets the structural characteristics inherent in modular (tile) displays. Typically, the tiling method of connecting multiple panels has the disadvantage of increased side thickness due to driver components and thermal design.

Samsung Electronics introduced a design that utilizes this side area as an extended display zone rather than leaving it as dead space. By utilizing it as an information bar that displays ambient light synchronized with the main screen or provides simple information such as video descriptions, they have reduced the visual burden caused by the thickness and increased hardware utility. This is an engineering solution that goes beyond simply hiding a disadvantage to converting it into a new user experience (UX).

Operational view of the side extension display area on Samsung's 140-inch Micro LED TV

The 140-inch Micro LED TV reinterprets modular thickness as an information display area, enhancing hardware utility. (Source: Samsung Electronics)

Securing Transparency to Enhance Spatial Value: Transparent Micro LED

The Transparent Micro LED display focused on delivering information while maintaining the openness of the space based on high transmittance characteristics.

Unlike conventional displays that block the view with a black screen when the power is turned off, the Transparent Micro LED sought harmony with the surrounding interior through a bezel-less design and high transparency. Samsung emphasized that this is a solution that can minimize visual obstruction and create a luxurious atmosphere in luxury residential spaces or high-end retail stores. This demonstrates that the display can function as an architectural and interior element beyond a simple output device.

Samsung Transparent Micro LED display demo at CES 2026 showing high transparency and information overlay

Transparent Micro LED display delivering information while maintaining spatial openness with high transparency and bezel-less design. (Source: Samsung Electronics)

Regarding this, UBI Research Analyst, Joohan Kim evaluated, “Samsung Electronics is focusing on securing a level of product completeness suitable for actual mass production rather than simply showing off Micro LED and Micro RGB technologies”.

He specifically assessed that “they have presented a concrete product roadmap capable of appealing to the premium consumer market by complementing physical hardware limitations, such as thickness or installation constraints, with design and mechanical engineering”.

Joohan Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research (joohanus@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

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[CES 2026] LG Electronics, 100-inch Micro RGB evo

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[CES 2026] LG Electronics, 77 inch Transparent OLED

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[CES 2026] LG Electronics, Hyper Radiant Color Tech_The Next OLED TV

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[CES 2026] SAMSUNG, 130-inch Micro RGB (Layered Wall Type)

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Graphic illustrating the split between XR devices using OLEDoS/LCD and AR glasses using Micro-LED/LCoS.

XR Devices and Smart Glasses Exhibition Trends at CES 2026: Display Technologies and Product Line Diversification

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At CES 2026, various XR devices and related display products were introduced.

Summary table of display specifications and technology types for key XR and AR glasses at CES 2026

CES 2026 display trends showing clear technology segmentation (LCD, OLEDoS, Micro-LED) based on device characteristics (VR/MR, AR Glasses).

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.

Conversely, OLEDoS is emerging as a key differentiator in premium XR (VR/MR) and AR glasses for video viewing. During CES 2026, Pimax highlighted Crystal Super micro-OLED for its sharpness and immersion. Among panel manufacturers, Samsung Display unveiled a 1.4-inch, 5,000 PPI-class RGB OLEDoS not just as a panel exhibit, but in a headset demo form.

Samsung Electronics’ ‘Galaxy XR’ was selected as a CES Innovation Awards 2026 Honoree, incorporating white OLEDoS from Sony and Samsung Display.

The AR glasses segment featured two product types: see-through AR glasses based on waveguides and AR glasses focused on video viewing.

In see-through AR glasses, micro-LED projectors and LCoS are competing based on their distinct advantages. JBD introduced an ultra-compact full-color AR projector with its Hummingbird II Polychrome Projector, a CES Innovation Awards 2026 winner. Cellid presented its 2026 reference design combining a micro-LED projector with its own waveguide, explaining its approach to simultaneously achieve lightweight and optical performance.

The LCoS camp attempts differentiation by quantifying outdoor readability and efficiency. Himax and AUO demonstrated maximum brightness, output, and efficiency while driving front-lit LCoS (720×720) at 200mW, presenting it as an integrated solution combined with AUO’s waveguide. This trend indicates that the AR glasses market is shifting beyond individual component specification competition towards proposing and evaluating systems that bundle projectors, waveguides, and driving conditions.

AR glasses for video viewing prioritize immersive viewing experiences, emphasizing perceptible metrics like resolution, FOV, refresh rate, and connectivity first. Xreal unveiled its entry-level Xreal 1S priced at US$449. This represents a $50 price reduction from the previous model, the $499 Xreal One, enhancing accessibility. Key display specifications have been improved: 1200p resolution (up from 1080p), 700 nits brightness, a 52-degree field of view, and a 120Hz refresh rate. Competitiveness is further strengthened by adding various new features like auto-dimming and 2D-3D conversion.

According to UBI Research, at CES 2026, XR devices will differentiate themselves by using LCDs for entry-level products, while premium VR/MR devices and AR devices for video viewing will adopt OLEDoS. Meanwhile, see-through AR devices will see competition between micro-LED projectors and LCoS at the system level (display, optics, and driver).

Visual segmentation of display technology ecosystems for XR devices (LCD, OLEDoS) and AR glasses (See-Through, Media Viewing)

Next-gen wearable display ecosystem dividing into OLEDoS for Premium VR/MR and Micro-LED/LCoS for See-through AR. (Created by ChatGPT)

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶XR Industry Trends and OLEDoS Display Technology & Industry Analysis Report

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

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LG Display showing off its "Advanced New META" OLED technology with 4,500 nits brightness at CES 2026.

LG Display’s Two-Track Strategy for OLED TVs Presented at CES 2026, Simultaneous targeting of the premium market with leading-edge technology and the mass market with ‘Special Edition’ OLEDs

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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. Through comparative demonstrations at its invitation-only exhibition booth, LG Display emphasized that these two strategies are designed to address different market demands.

At the heart of the premium strategy is a next-generation OLED TV panel utilizing a 4-stack tandem WOLED structure with MLA (Micro Lens Array). LG Display achieved a peak brightness level of 4,500 nits with this structure and conducted a direct image quality comparison demonstration with an RGB Mini LED TV featuring approximately 3,000 dimming zones. The company explained that this comparison was not simply a competition of brightness figures, but rather intended to showcase the fundamental differences in color reproduction methods and dimming structures.

LG Display's world's first 4,500-nit Tandem WOLED TV panel unveiled at CES 2026

LG Display’s next-gen OLED TV achieves a world-first peak brightness of 4,500 nits, delivering superior premium picture quality. (Source: LG Display)

The demonstration highlighted that while RGB Mini LED offers improved color reproduction compared to conventional LCDs, its structural characteristics, particularly the local dimming method, can lead to color accuracy issues under certain conditions. When bright objects or white elements are present, limitations in backlight control in adjacent areas can cause color shifts and a decrease in color reproduction accuracy. In contrast, OLED uses pixel dimming, which directly controls light emission at the pixel level, ensuring that the content maintains its intended colors regardless of changes in screen conditions.

The differences were also clearly demonstrated in terms of interference from surrounding colors. With RGB Mini LED, a moving white object showed subtle color changes influenced by the background color, while the OLED EX panel maintained the object’s original color stably, regardless of the background. In terms of skin tone representation, RGB Mini LED showed subtle variations depending on the background color, while OLED reproduced the colors exactly as intended by the content creator. The characteristic halo effect of RGB Mini LED, where light spills around bright areas against a dark background, was also mentioned as a remaining limitation.

Through these comparisons, LG Display conveyed its position that while RGB Mini LED attempts to achieve the black levels and color reproduction of OLED, fundamental differences in image quality still exist due to structural differences. Premium OLED offers perfect black levels and high brightness simultaneously, possessing image quality characteristics that are on a different level from local dimming-based LCDs.

Meanwhile, the Special Edition OLED, presented as a strategy for the mass market, was introduced through another comparative demonstration with Mini LED. The Special Edition OLED is a product with reduced costs achieved by adjusting some specifications, such as removing the polarizer, aiming to maintain the core image quality values ​​of OLED while securing price competitiveness. In a video demonstration of fast-moving images, the Mini LED display showed trailing effects and blurring in numbers and detailed outlines, while the special edition OLED maintained relatively clear and sharp image quality. The presentation also highlighted that the new model consumes approximately 20% less power compared to previous models.

CES 2026 Comparison: LG Display Special Edition OLED TV (Left) vs. Mini LED TV (Right)

Picture quality comparison demo between the ‘Special Edition OLED’ (Left), designed for mass market expansion, and a Mini LED TV (Right). (Source: LG Display)

Through CES 2026, LG Display clearly demonstrated its strategy of positioning OLED TVs not as a single premium technology, but as an expandable platform encompassing both premium and mainstream segments. Their strategy is to cater to the market demanding the highest image quality with ultra-high brightness OLEDs based on MLA technology, while addressing price-sensitive markets with special edition OLEDs, maintaining a differentiated image quality advantage over Mini LED.

Regarding this, Changwook Han, Executive Vice President of UBI Research, commented, “LG Display’s OLED TV strategy clearly distinguishes between premium and mass-market segments, and it’s evident that they intend to lead the picture quality competition against Mini LED in both areas.  Specifically, in the premium segment, they aim to maintain technological leadership by emphasizing structural differences, and in the mass-market segment, their strategy involves expanding the reach of the OLED market by improving cost and power efficiency through special edition OLEDs.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025-2026 Beyond Mobile: IT OLED Technology and Industry Analysis Report

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[CES 2026] SAMSUNG, Trasparent Micro-LED

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[CES 2026] SAMSUNG, 140-inch Micro-LED TV (12.7-inch x 121ea, Edge Screen Expansion)

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[CES 2026] SAMSUNG, 130 inch Micro RGB Timeless Frame Type

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Sharp HDR Quality on Laptops with up to 22% Lower OLED Power Consumption! Samsung Display Develops Next-Gen Low-Power Technology ‘SmartPower HDR™’ in Collaboration with Intel

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□ Battery worries Down, Picture quality satisfaction Up… The complete HDR ‘SmartPower HDR™’

□ Differentiated from existing fixed-voltage HDR modes by applying optimal voltage per content via variable driving

□ Can reduce OLED emission power consumption by up to 22% for web browsing/document work, and 17% for high-quality viewing environments

□ Intel: “This collaboration represents a significant step forward in performance improvement and power optimization”

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. As the adoption of AI PCs gains momentum, this is expected to significantly improve not only laptop battery efficiency but also the HDR high-quality viewing environment.

‘SmartPower HDR™’ is a low-power technology that allows users to enjoy HDR mode on laptops with relatively low power consumption. Display power consumption is greatly influenced by driving voltage; while existing HDR modes caused power loss by fixing the driving voltage at a high level regardless of content, ‘SmartPower HDR™’ saves power by varying the voltage according to the content.

In general laptop usage environments such as web browsing and document work, the display can be driven with low voltage. However, when running high-quality games or videos, high voltage is required as luminance increases. Existing HDR modes are fixed at high voltage for maximum luminance regardless of the content, leading to unnecessary power consumption in general usage environments. This is why many laptop products provide SDR (Standard Dynamic Range), which has limited color gamut and brightness, as the default picture quality mode, despite the advantages of HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode which expresses content like videos and games more vividly and dynamically.

However, compared to existing HDR modes, ‘SmartPower HDR™’ can reduce OLED emission power consumption by 22% in general usage environments (web browsing/document work) and up to 17% in high-quality driving environments. In particular, power consumption in general usage environments is at a level similar to SDR mode.

Samsung Display has continued cooperation for technology development since signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Intel in February 2025. The two companies revealed that they implemented ‘SmartPower HDR™’ by having the laptop SoC (System on Chip) analyze the maximum luminance value per frame in real-time and transmit it to the T-CON (Timing Controller) that controls the OLED panel. The T-CON then analyzes this brightness data and the ‘OPR (On Pixel Ratio, the ratio of operating pixels among total pixels)’ to adjust the driving voltage suitable for the content.

Jung Yong-wook, Vice President and Head of the IT Strategic Marketing Team at Samsung Display, stated, “‘SmartPower HDR™’ is a ‘complete HDR’ that allows consumers to feel and experience the excellence of HDR beyond the spec sheets in actual usage environments.” He added, “While further advancing ‘SmartPower HDR™’ technology, we will continue technology development so that many consumers can enjoy sharp HDR high-quality content on laptops through various OLED low-power technologies.”

Todd Lewellen, Vice President and General Manager of the PC Ecosystem and AI Solutions at Intel, said, “As displays account for more than half of the total power consumption of a laptop, they are a key target for efficiency improvement,” adding, “This collaboration goes beyond the limits of visual innovation and represents a significant step forward in performance improvement and power optimization.”

LG will unveil its AI strategy and product direction at its world premiere event at CES 2026.

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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.

LG presented “Innovation in Tune With You” as the core message of this announcement. The presentation focused on explaining how technology connects with users’ living environments and the structure in which artificial intelligence is involved in product operation and service experience.

Official image featuring the core slogan 'Innovation in tune with you' for LG Electronics' CES 2026 World Premiere (Source: LG Electronics)

Official image featuring the core slogan ‘Innovation in tune with you’ for LG Electronics’ CES 2026 World Premiere (Source: LG Electronics)

AI in Action Concept and Affectionate Intelligence Direction Presented

LG explained its vision for artificial intelligence through the concept of “AI in Action,” describing how AI is expanding beyond conversational capabilities to include situational awareness and execution. They also introduced the term “Affectionate Intelligence,” indicating their goal of developing AI that considers the user’s situation and context.

The keynote address showcased how AI is moving beyond operating within a single device to being utilized in an environment where multiple devices and services are connected within the home. The presentation included details on inter-device connectivity, user environment awareness features, and directions for service expansion.

Demonstration of a Home AI Robot and Introduction of Household Task Support Scenarios

A home AI robot was presented as a key demonstration case at the event. LG showcased scenarios of tasks the robot can perform in a home environment, demonstrating basic physical capabilities such as recognizing, picking up, and moving objects. The robot operates based on voice commands while simultaneously recognizing its surroundings to perform tasks.

The presentation mentioned the concept of a “Zero Labor Home,” introducing the idea of ​​AI assisting with repetitive household chores. This concept was described as a scenario that combines robot technology and a smart home environment to provide life support functions.

Introduction of AI Cabin Platform and SDV Response Direction in the Mobility Sector

LG also introduced its direction for applying artificial intelligence in the mobility sector. According to the information released, LG will exhibit its AI Cabin Platform, which operates based on a high-performance computing system for vehicles, at CES 2026, presenting scenarios for an AI-centric in-car experience. The AI ​​Cabin Platform was described as utilizing generative AI and is implemented based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Cockpit Elite.

The exhibition will be held from January 6th to January 9th, 2026, at booth 15004 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. LG also introduced an in-cabin experience under the keyword “Ride in Tune,” presenting a personalized passenger experience in a software-defined vehicle environment, with functions extended to each seating area.

Introduction of Ultra-Slim OLED TV and Wireless Connectivity Structure

In the display sector, the ultra-slim OLED TV was a major announcement. The unveiled product prominently featured a wallpaper-type OLED concept, emphasizing its thinness of approximately 9 millimeters. A separate device responsible for video signal processing and external input was also introduced.

Furthermore, the use of wireless connectivity technology to reduce installation constraints was explained. A wireless transmission distance of approximately 30 feet between the screen and the separate device was mentioned, and sizes of 77 inches and 83 inches were introduced.

Smart Home Concept through Home Appliance and Platform Connectivity

In the home appliance sector, LG presented AI-based functions and inter-product connectivity as key directions. The presentation showcased a structure where home appliances recognize usage patterns and adjust their operation, and how TVs, home appliances, and mobile devices are interconnected. This explained a service delivery method that focuses on a connected environment of multiple devices rather than individual products.

This presentation went beyond individual product announcements for AI, robotics, mobility, displays, and home appliances, instead presenting them together within a connected service structure. The event highlighted how artificial intelligence is incorporated into the functional elements of each product, and how its application scope is expanding to encompass all living spaces, including smart homes and vehicle interiors.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025-2026 Beyond Mobile: IT OLED Technology and Industry Analysis Report

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Sony Honda Mobility presentation slide showing Afeela's interior features like Rich Cluster and Dynamic Wallpapers.

Sony Honda Mobility’s vision unveiled at CES 2026 Media Day: The future of mobility as envisioned by Afeela

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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.” Sony Honda Mobility, a joint venture between Sony Group and Honda, shared updates on the development of its first mass-produced model, the “AFEELA 1,” and its future roadmap.The company announced that the vehicle is currently in the pre-production phase, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in California in 2026, followed by expansion to Arizona and other regions in 2027.  They also unveiled the “AFEELA Prototype 2026” as a world premiere, showcasing the design and technological direction for a potential mass-produced model in the US around 2028.  Sony Honda Mobility reaffirmed its plan to adopt a next-generation automotive architecture based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis and introduced the “AFEELA Co-Creation Program,” which opens development documentation to external creators to expand the in-car entertainment content ecosystem. They also mentioned plans for an on-chain mobility service platform utilizing token-based incentives, suggesting the possibility of a new service economy model centered around automobiles. At the CES exhibition, various color options of the AFEELA 1 pre-production vehicle and concept models were displayed, emphasizing Sony Honda Mobility’s identity with key keywords such as autonomous driving, augmentation, and human-centered design (Affinity).

Presentation of Afeela's digital cockpit and key features at the CES 2026 Media Day press conference

Sony Honda Mobility presents the Afeela infotainment system and digital cockpit vision at CES 2026 Media Day. (Source: SHM)

A particularly noteworthy aspect of this announcement was the in-car display and infotainment system, presented as a key differentiating factor of the Afeela platform. While the official CES 2026 press release did not disclose specific display specifications in detail, the Afeela interior is designed with multiple digital displays tailored to the location and purpose of each driver and passenger, providing an environment where various applications and video content can be freely utilized. According to industry and media reports, the Afeela vehicle aims for an interior “swimming in displays,” focusing on personalized UI and diverse entertainment experiences. In particular, LG Display has officially stated that the mass-produced Afeela vehicle will feature an approximately 40-inch pillar-to-pillar (P2P) display spanning the entire dashboard, symbolically demonstrating the evolution of in-car displays from simple information displays to immersive interfaces. This large, integrated display integrates the driver’s instrument panel, navigation, and passenger entertainment area into a single continuous screen, representing an attempt to redefine the car interior as a single digital space. Furthermore, Afeela directly incorporates Sony’s strengths by supporting PlayStation Remote Play, allowing users to stream PS4 and PS5 games within the vehicle. This is a clear example of Sony Honda Mobility’s strategy to expand the vehicle into a mobile entertainment platform.

In summary, the message conveyed by Sony Honda Mobility and the Afeela project at CES 2026 clearly demonstrates that the automotive industry is moving away from hardware-centric competition and towards a “software-defined mobility” era where software, displays, and content are integrated. According to Changwook Han, Executive Vice President of UBI Research, “The Afeela electric vehicle is the result of an attempt to redesign the user experience, going beyond driving performance and traditional vehicle specifications, focusing instead on large displays and an entertainment ecosystem. This is a symbolic example of the combination of Sony’s content and digital capabilities with Honda’s automotive manufacturing expertise.” He continued, “Afeela is less of a single electric vehicle and more of a platform that transforms the vehicle’s interior into a digital experience space.” He predicted that this direction would shift the axis of differentiation in the premium electric vehicle market from driving performance to the digital cockpit experience, and that it would also likely bring about a certain level of impact and change to the overall automotive display industry in the medium to long term.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trends Analysis Report

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Samsung presenting the 130-inch Micro RGB TV at the CES 2026 First Look event.

CES 2026 ‘The First Look’… Samsung strengthens its ultra-premium TV strategy with 130-inch Micro RGB and AI.

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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. He emphasized that expanding AI experiences based on “visual intelligence,” rather than simply competing on hardware specifications, is at the heart of Samsung’s display strategy.

Samsung Electronics 'The First Look' stage at CES 2026 unveiling the 130-inch Micro RGB TV

Samsung unveils the 130-inch ultra-premium Micro RGB TV and its AI vision strategy at CES 2026 ‘The First Look’. (Source: Samsung Electronics)

A product that symbolically embodies this message is the 130-inch ‘Micro RGB’ display. Following the world’s first launch of a 115-inch Micro RGB TV last August, Samsung Electronics unveiled a 130-inch model at CES 2026, raising the bar for the ultra-large premium display market. The key feature of this new product is not simply its large size, but rather the combination of a 130-inch LCD panel with an RGB micro-LED backlight (=RGB color backlight), establishing a new category called “Ultra-Premium Micro RGB.”  While the panel is LCD, the strategy is to overcome the limitations of the existing premium LCD structure—which primarily uses a “blue/white backlight + QD (or color filter) + local dimming”—by precisely controlling color and contrast through the separation of R, G, and B light sources at the backlight stage.

The Micro RGB TV uses a fine array of micro-sized RGB LEDs on the back of the screen, precisely controlling red, green, and blue independently.  In particular, by applying Micro RGB technology that reduces the size of the RGB LED chips to less than 100㎛, the control units are made even more precise, maximizing the local dimming effect that finely adjusts dark and bright areas.  The smaller the elements, the more subtly deep blacks and strong highlights can be expressed, providing the foundation for a significant improvement in contrast, color, and detail on a super-large screen.

The design also extends the concept of “super-large” into a spatial experience. The 130-inch Micro RGB TV features a “Timeless Frame” inspired by architectural window frames, giving the impression that the super-large screen is floating in mid-air.  With its ultra-slim frame and enhanced audio performance, the TV appears not as a home appliance, but as a work of art that adorns the center of a space, emphasizing an immersive viewing experience that expands the sense of space like a giant “window.”

At the heart of the image and sound optimization is the latest AI engine, the “Micro RGB AI Engine Pro.”  “Micro RGB Color Booster Pro” and “Micro RGB HDR Pro” use AI technology to optimize each scene. The display is designed with precise color and contrast adjustments to deliver vivid colors and detail in scenes of any brightness. It also achieves 100% BT.2020 color gamut coverage, earning the “Micro RGB Precision Color 100” certification from VDE in Germany.  Glare-free technology minimizes reflections, maintaining consistent color and contrast ratios in various lighting environments. Support for HDR10+ Advanced and Eclipsa Audio, co-developed with Google, further enhances the immersive experience, which is especially crucial for extra-large displays.

Samsung goes a step further by placing AI at the forefront of the user experience. The 130-inch Micro RGB TV features a “Vision AI Companion (VAC)” that understands user needs, interacts with them, and provides services.  It also supports major AI services such as Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity. For example, during viewing, users can give voice commands like, “Summarize the plot of the movie I’m watching,” or “What movies have surpassed 10 million viewers?”, and the AI ​​will provide context-based answers. Samsung also positions the TV not as a standalone device, but as an ecosystem hub, demonstrating multi-device connectivity by allowing users to explore and recommend recipes from content and then transfer them to other devices (such as the portable display “The Movingstyle”). The announcement of a 7-year Tizen OS upgrade support plan further demonstrates Samsung’s commitment to updating the platform experience throughout the entire product lifecycle.
“Micro RGB represents the peak of our picture quality innovation, and the new 130-inch model takes that vision even further,” said Hun Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics. “We’re reviving the spirit of our original design philosophy introduced more than a decade ago to deliver an unmistakably premium display, engineered with technology for a new generation.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025-2026 Beyond Mobile: IT OLED Technology and Industry Analysis Report

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Logo of Xian Smart Materials, a key supplier of TFE ink for BOE, Visionox, and CSOT.

Xian Smart Materials Expands TFE Ink Supply to BOE and Visionox… Secures 100% Share at CSOT

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Official logo of Xian Smart Materials (Source: Xian Smart Materials)

Official logo of Xian Smart Materials (Source: Xian Smart Materials)

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.

Its flagship TFE ink is supplying approximately 70% of the volume for BOE’s B12 line, and pilot production is reportedly underway for BOE’s B7 line. In addition, Xian Smart Material supplies 100% of the volume for Visionox’s V2 and V3 lines, and is also estimated to have secured a 100% share for TCL CSOT starting in December 2025. As panel makers place greater emphasis on encapsulation-process stability and supply-chain optimization, the company’s strengthening line-level supply dominance has become a notable differentiator.

Meanwhile, the company is also expanding its customer base in low-temperature OC (Over Coat). Qualification evaluations are underway with BOE B7 and Tianma, increasing the likelihood of adoption in product categories where reliability under low-temperature operating conditions is critical. Given the narrow process window and stringent reliability requirements for low-temperature OC, the scope of adoption and supply volume will depend on the evaluation outcomes.

On the financial side, 2025 revenue is expected to reach approximately RMB 110 million. With capacity expansion investment and rising share among key customers, near-term growth is likely to be driven by increased shipments of TFE ink, while mid-term growth could be supported by portfolio expansion into low-temperature OC, organic insulating layers, and binders.

Additional SCM-related insights on the Chinese display industry can be found in UBI Research’s China trends report.

Junho Kim, Analyst at UBI Research (alertriot@ubiresearch.com)

▶ China Trends Report Inquiry

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AI Meets Display… Smarter OLED is Coming

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Samsung Display to Showcase AI-Era OLED at ‘CES 2026’

□ Proposing AI-Display convergence lifestyle with futuristic devices like ‘AI OLED Bot’

□ High-definition OLED for offices and homes… Infinite expansion of IT OLED in the AI era

□ “Thought it was a dashboard”… Imagined luxury car interiors realized with Samsung OLED

□ Bouncing basketballs on foldable panels and freezing them… Samsung OLED durability is fundamental

□ Wristwatch size, 3x pixels of 4K TV… Experience RGB OLEDoS image quality right before your eyes

Samsung Display will unveil a wide range of next-generation OLED products designed to multiply AI experiences at ‘CES 2026’. In a lifestyle exhibition where visitors can experience not only existing electronic devices but also new concept products never seen before, they can imagine AI enriched further by convergence with OLED.

Samsung Display announced on the 4th that it will hold an exhibition for customers under the theme ‘A New Era of Experience, Powered by AI & Display’ at ‘CES 2026’, held in Las Vegas, USA, from the 6th to the 9th (local time).

At this exhibition, Samsung Display will showcase various OLED concept products, such as the ‘AI OLED Bot’, which can serve as a platform for communication between humans and AI. The company will also present a blueprint for how Samsung’s OLED technology, embedded in various IT devices like tablets, laptops, and monitors, can create synergy with AI in everyday life.

In addition, Samsung Display plans to introduce various new solutions that can enhance the luxury of vehicle interiors based on OLED’s high design freedom, or Free-Form characteristics. The company has also prepared various attractions to verify the unrivaled durability of Samsung OLED, such as a robot shooting hoops at a basketball backboard attached with 18 foldable panels or displaying a display inside a refrigerator.

□ ‘OLED Face’ AI Robot Guides Classrooms… “AI Agents to Become More Powerful with OLED”

Samsung Display will exhibit various concept products, ‘Edge Devices’, which have not been disclosed until now, in the ‘AI Edge Vision Station’ space, introducing an AI lifestyle that is further amplified when OLED is integrated into AI devices.

The ‘AI OLED Bot’, equipped with a 13.4-inch OLED in place of a face, was developed as a small robot concept capable of freely moving around designated spaces and communicating with users based on AI. In this exhibition, it will be introduced as a robot teaching assistant supporting students at universities, guiding classroom locations, or providing information such as professor profiles. Since it is equipped with a display, students can easily inquire about assignment details or class cancellation plans and check answers even in class environments where voice commands and speaker usage are difficult. The advantage is that unlike LCDs, OLEDs can be freely designed in curved, spherical, or circular shapes, allowing manufacturers’ intentions or consumers’ tastes to be reflected in various ways, like a robot face.

Several speaker concept products capable of acting as assistants, such as AI-based music recommendations, will also be showcased. While existing Bluetooth speakers were used by connecting to separate smart devices, the exhibited speaker-type demo products allow users to receive music recommendations or make selections directly on the device while watching the display, and even create interior effects through images and videos. Among them, the ‘AI OLED Mood Lamp’, equipped with a 13.4-inch circular OLED, can create lighting with different atmospheres depending on the playing music, while the ‘AI OLED Cassette (1.5-inch circular OLED)’ and ‘AI OLED Turntable (13.4-inch circular OLED)’ embody analog sentiment in their appearance.

□ Office, Business Trip, Travel, Home ‘All OLED’… “Over 300 IT Products with Samsung OLED & QD-OLED”

Samsung Display also provides opportunities to experience scenarios according to usage environments such as offices, business trip locations, and homes, demonstrating how OLED elevates the utility of AI. This setup emphasizes the recent ‘mainstream’ trend where OLED adoption is increasing across various consumers and all product groups.

In the exhibition space decorated with the theme of an architecture firm, visitors can verify Samsung OLED’s excellent color reproduction, dark area expression, brightness, and viewing angle strengths. In a digital design environment utilizing AI, employees share various blueprints, material drafts, and colors on the screen; here, OLED is the optimal display that reflects and delivers the designer’s conception and design without distortion.

Samsung Display also offers the optimal solution for AI laptops with light and slim designs that will increase work efficiency on business trips. The ‘UT One’ technology is a prime example. Unlike existing products that use two glass substrates, OLED with an ‘Ultra Thin (UT)’ structure applies a glass substrate at the bottom and an organic/inorganic thin film at the top, making it 30% thinner and 30% lighter. Furthermore, applying Oxide TFT technology allows flexible switching of refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on the usage environment, effectively reducing power consumption and securing extra power for AI. In terms of image quality, UT One expresses deeper blacks as there is no air layer between glass substrates, satisfying 100% of both the DCI-P3 color gamut used in the film and game industries and the Adobe RGB color gamut, the standard for printing, photography, and professional output.

For the home, the company proposes scenarios where monitors and TVs act as AI hubs. QD-OLED monitors function as wall clocks or art frames through low-power technology-based AoD (Always On Display) functions, then support AI operations such as showing user health information or briefing today’s schedule in specific situations. QD-OLED, which boasts excellent color reproduction and wide viewing angles, has the strength of providing optimal image quality regardless of viewing position.

The ’26 model TV QD-OLED, unveiled for the first time at this exhibition, supports 4,500 nits brightness, a first for self-emissive displays, based on organic material optimization. QD-OLED, which configures peak brightness by combining the brightness of each RGB, has higher color reproduction and perceived brightness compared to competing products of the same luminance, enabling further enhancement of image quality improvement technologies utilizing AI.

A Samsung Display representative explained, “Samsung OLED and QD-OLED are being widely adopted not only for gamers and experts but also for general office and home use, proving to be the optimized technology for the AI era,” adding, “Actually, the number of tablet, laptop, and monitor products launched last year equipped with Samsung Display panels exceeded 300, a more than threefold increase compared to three years ago.”

□ “Thought it was a dashboard, but it’s a display”… Imagined Vehicle Interiors Completed with Samsung OLED

The newly designed ‘Digital Cockpit’ demo product offers a time to imagine future autonomous vehicles armed with advanced displays of various designs and form factors.

In the center fascia between the driver and passenger seats, the CID (Center Information Display) ‘Flexible L’ with a design that naturally connects to the front dashboard is exhibited. The screen size has increased to 18.1 inches compared to the 14.4 inches shown in previous exhibitions, enhancing aesthetic and functional completeness. The Flexible L, which bends flexibly in an alphabet ‘L’ shape, not only accentuates the vehicle interior but also supports intuitive operation of functions frequently used by drivers, such as the climate control system.

The 13.8-inch PID (Passenger Information Display) is a product designed for the passenger to enjoy content; it is a solution that can be hidden under the dashboard when the driver is alone, expanding the vehicle’s internal space and enhancing interior aesthetics. In addition, products that increase interior luxury, such as a curved cluster realizing 500R curvature despite being a Rigid OLED using a hard glass substrate, and a 30-inch RSE (Rear Seat Entertainment) with a 32:9 wide aspect ratio mounted on the rear seat ceiling, are exhibited in large numbers.

The OLED Tail Lamp, designed by combining a 34-inch wide display and an 8-inch display, is the highlight of the new digital cockpit design. Based on the strength of OLED, which has excellent visibility even under sunlight (external light), it can convey visual information related to driving, such as traffic conditions ahead and vehicle status, to the vehicle behind, in addition to the turn signal function of existing tail lamps. For example, when an accident situation is detected ahead, it can display the text ‘Accident Ahead’ to send a warning message.

Visitors inspired by Samsung Display’s various form factor products can also design future vehicle interiors directly through AI. By using a tablet PC provided in the booth to select colors and themes, sketch the desired display shape, and then use the generative editing function, visitors can complete their own vehicle interior design equipped with Samsung OLED.

□ Throwing Basketballs at Foldables and Dropping Steel Balls… Attractions Including In-Fridge Displays

Samsung Display has also prepared various attractions where visitors can feel the durability of OLED.

In the ‘Robot Basketball’ zone, 18 foldable panels are attached to the goal backboard to display target images, and a robot arm continuously throws basketballs at the target to conduct a foldable panel impact test. An exhibition comparing durability with competing products by dropping steel balls on foldable panels from a height of about 30cm is also prepared. Samsung foldable OLED is expected to prove its durability by operating stably without screen distortion or structural damage even under impacts from basketballs and steel balls.

In particular, automotive displays requiring high reliability are exhibited inside a refrigerator to prove ultimate image quality that remains unaffected even in extreme environments. OLED, which reacts instantly to electrical signals, has a response speed of 0.2 milliseconds (ms, 1ms is 1/1000th of a second) even in severe cold environments of -20 degrees Celsius, showing little difference from room temperature, whereas Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD), where liquid crystals must physically rotate, slow down to a response speed of 200ms. This results in a time gap capable of traveling a distance of about 2.8m when driving at 100km/h. This means OLED can assist the driver’s driving more stably.

Meanwhile, Samsung Display will also showcase various ultra-high-resolution micro-displays for Extended Reality (XR) devices. In particular, a headset demo product equipped with RGB OLEDoS will be exhibited for the first time. The screen size is 1.4 inches, similar to a wristwatch dial, but the pixel density reaches 5,000 PPI (Pixels Per Inch), meaning the number of pixels approaches three times that of a 4K TV. While previous exhibitions mainly introduced OLEDoS products by embedding panels in walls or boxes, this year, visitors can experience the superior image quality of RGB OLEDoS more vividly through a headset demo product optimized for enjoying immersive content.

OLEDoS (OLED on Silicon) is a display that implements pixel sizes at the level of tens of micrometers (㎛) by depositing organic materials on a silicon wafer. Among them, the RGB method OLEDoS deposits red, green, and blue OLEDs individually to implement colors without a separate color filter, offering a wide color gamut and no color shift even at various viewing angles.

RGB Mini-LED, Beyond Demos and into the Marketplace: A Key Inflection Point at CES 2026

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CES 2026 (January 6–9, Las Vegas) is an event where AI takes center stage, but it’s also likely to be a turning point where the premium picture quality competition in TVs, monitors, and electronics shifts to RGB Mini-LED. With image quality demos expected to be first showcased during Media Day (January 4–5) followed by comparative experiences at the main exhibition, this year’s RGB Mini-LED market is likely to be influenced by “how much of a difference can be felt on-site,” rather than by the specifications presented in the presentation.

CES 2026 official logo (Source: CES)

CES 2026 official logo (Source: CES)

RGB Mini-LED is attracting attention not because it’s simply an extension of increasing the number of dimming zones, but because it separates the R/G/B light sources at the backlight stage to create color and expand control freedom. While existing premium Mini-LEDs optimized “blue/white light source + QD (or color filter) + local dimming,” RGB Mini-LED reorders priorities across evaluation criteria, including color accuracy, color volume, low-level stability, and power/heat management, by altering the light source structure itself. Even when using the same LCD panel, a different combination of light source and algorithm results in a different product. At this point, RGB Mini-LED is not simply a “brighter LCD,” but rather an attempt to shift the definition of premium picture quality from “panel” to “light source + algorithm.” Exhibition trends support this, with TV brands clearly positioning their RGB offerings as a “live experience.” LG is showcasing its “Micro RGB evo” at the forefront of its 75/86/100-inch models, demonstrating a strategy that directly links its RGB strategy to “large living room” displays. Samsung is expanding its 2026 Micro RGB lineup to 55-115 inches, demonstrating a strong approach to RGB across all sizes, rather than focusing solely on ultra-large demos. Hisense is also emphasizing RGB MiniLED for core living room sizes (e.g., 55-100 inches), reinforcing its premium appeal by integrating viewing convenience and efficiency beyond simple image quality. Ultimately, the RGB competition at CES 2026 is likely to unfold not simply as a product launch, but as a battle over how each company defines its “standard of premium” within a given size range and convinces audiences with its compelling experience. Furthermore, the messages from Sony and TCL are also attracting market attention. Sony has consistently been hinting at the possibility of presenting its perspective on the “standard of color reproduction” at CES, with terms like “True RGB” related to RGB backlighting being discussed in the industry. TCL has been pushing the advancement of Mini-LED technology, particularly through TCL CSOT, so it will be interesting to see how the company will articulate its premium LCD strategy at CES 2026. In other words, whether RGB Mini-LED remains the exclusive domain of a select few leading brands or expands into a standard competitive premium LCD market will depend on whether these players can communicate their message at CES with a “market message” (lineup/price/channel) rather than a “technology demo.”

The impact of RGB Mini-LED may not be limited to TVs. In the monitor market, RGB backlighting is also emerging as a strategy to capture premium demand by integrating messages like high-brightness HDR, color expression, and burn-in risk avoidance. From a market perspective, the key question is whether RGB Mini-LED will remain a “flagship-only technology” or become a standardized platform where components, modules, drives, and algorithms all work together. If manufacturers at CES begin to talk about RGB not as a single model but as a portfolio, linking it to regional distribution (North America/Europe/Asia) and price positioning, it will signal that RGB has transitioned from a “demo” to a “market.”

Ubi Research Executive Vice President Changwook Han summarizes this perspective in a single sentence: “The most important signal at CES is not the flashiness of the demo, but the concreteness of the lineup and launch plan.” He emphasized, “For RGB Mini-LED to truly reshape the market, the key will be how quickly it can lower the barriers to price, yield, and supply stability beyond ultra-large showcases to core living room sizes (75–100 inches).” He continued, “The key to real-world experience is not flashy demo videos, but the naturalness and consistency of real-world content, such as low-gray tones, nighttime HDR, subtitles, and skin tones.” He added, “If RGB Mini-LED can gain traction in this segment, it will be able to fully compete with OLED in the premium market and shift the competitive axis of the premium TV and monitor market from ‘panel specs’ to a system competition combining ‘light sources, algorithms, and supply chains’ after 2026.”

Ultimately, RGB Mini-LED at CES 2026 is entering a phase where it must simultaneously demonstrate both marketability and perceived quality, rather than simply presenting a ‘well-made demonstration.’ Looking solely at size strategies, companies are taking different approaches: focusing on the ‘large living room’ segment, like LG (75/86/100 inches), expanding to ‘cover all segments’, like Samsung (55-115 inches), and reinforcing their message based on the ‘living room volume size (55-100 inches)’, like Hisense. Add to this the language in which Sony and TCL CSOT redefine the standard for premium LCDs, and the landscape of the premium TV and monitor markets after 2026 could be rearranged more quickly than expected.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025-2026 Beyond Mobile: IT OLED Technology and Industry Analysis Report

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Samsung Display Begins Full-Scale Supply of World’s First 360Hz ‘V-Stripe’ QD-OLED

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To be equipped in new 2026 monitor models from 7 clients including ASUS and MSI

□ ‘High Performance’ QD-OLED monitor anticipated for ’26 debut featuring new pixel structure, 21:9 ultra-wide aspect ratio, 360Hz high refresh rate, and 1,300 nits peak brightness

□ ‘V-Stripe’ pixel application significantly strengthens text readability… Provides optimal gaming experience with wide screen, smooth transitions, and fast response speed

□ QD-OLED solidifies #1 spot with 75% market share in the self-emissive monitor market in ’25

□ “Will continue technical innovation with QD-OLED in the ‘high-end monitor’ market, a battleground for the latest displays”

Samsung Display announced on the 1st that it is launching the world’s first 34-inch 360Hz QD-OLED featuring a ‘V (Vertical)-Stripe’ pixel structure. Samsung Display began mass production of the new product last December and is now fully supplying it to a total of seven global monitor manufacturers, including ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte.

While conventional QD-OLEDs utilized a triangular arrangement for the Red (R), Green (G), and Blue (B) sub-pixels, the ‘V-Stripe’ arranges the R, G, and B sub-pixels in a vertical stripe pattern. Although commonly referred to in the industry as a stripe structure or RGB stripe structure, Samsung Display developed a stripe pixel structure optimized for Quantum Dot elements in-house and named it ‘V-Stripe’. Applying this pixel structure expresses text edges more clearly, offering an optimal monitor solution for users sensitive to text readability in tasks such as document work, coding, and content creation.

In addition, this new product combines the ▲‘V-Stripe’ structure with a ▲21:9 ultra-wide aspect ratio, a ▲360Hz high refresh rate enabling smooth transitions and fast response speeds, and ▲high brightness characteristics with a peak of 1,300 nits. It is gathering high expectations among consumers who enjoy speedy and immersive games such as sports and racing.

Generally, a 21:9 aspect ratio significantly increases the number of horizontal pixels and data processing volume compared to 16:9, increasing the burden on driving components such as power consumption and heat generation even at the same refresh rate. Also, it is known that implementing high refresh rates is difficult because it is hard to uniformly match the signal timing between left and right pixels.

A Samsung Display representative stated, “The biggest technical hurdles in mass-producing high-refresh-rate products with a new pixel structure are reduced organic material lifespan, heat generation, and brightness degradation.” The representative added, “Since QD-OLED adopts a top-emission method, it is advantageous in terms of brightness. Through efficiency improvement of organic materials and design optimization, we were able to mass-produce a ‘high performance’ monitor display equipped with all four specs: ▲‘V-Stripe’ pixel structure, ▲ultra-wide aspect ratio, ▲high refresh rate, and ▲high brightness.”

The ‘V-Stripe’ QD-OLED monitor, considered a highly anticipated product in the new year’s monitor market, can be seen at ‘CES 2026’ opening in Las Vegas, USA on the 6th (local time). This is because ASUS and MSI will unveil new monitor products equipped with the ‘V-Stripe’ structure QD-OLED for the first time at CES. Samsung Display also plans to reveal the panel at a private booth operated at the Encore at Wynn hotel during the CES period.

According to market research firm Omdia, the transition from LCD to OLED continues, with the proportion of products equipped with self-emissive panels in the premium monitor market of $500 or more expected to rise from 14% in ’24 to 23% in ’25 and 27% in ’26. Amidst this, Samsung Display’s QD-OLED shipments in the monitor OLED panel market for ’25 are estimated at approximately 2.5 million units, expecting to maintain an overwhelming number one position in the market with a share exceeding 75%.

Jung Yong-wook, Vice President and Head of the Strategic Marketing Team for Large Display Business at Samsung Display, stated, “The high-end monitor market, including gaming, can be called a battleground for the latest display technologies as consumers’ sensitivity and expectations for display image quality are high.” He added, “As QD-OLED is receiving overwhelming support from consumers in this market, we will continue to maintain market leadership by showcasing even more innovative technologies in the future.”

Technical diagram illustrating INT-Tech's 100,000-nit Native RGB OLEDoS technology compared to standard White OLED.

AI Smart Glasses Era Shifts OLEDoS Competitive Landscape: SeeYA Expands Mass Production, INT-Tech Unveils High-Brightness Native RGB Sample

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The OLEDoS (OLED-on-Silicon, micro-OLED) market for XR (AR/VR/MR) devices is undergoing simultaneous realignment of its supply chain and technological competition as the year draws to a close. For XR OLEDoS, Sony’s W-OLEDoS (White OLED + color filter) technology and supply have long served as the ‘de facto benchmark’. However, the landscape is shifting towards a competitive multi-supplier structure as mass production supply from Chinese companies, including SeeYA, has already expanded.

SeeYA (视涯科技), considered one of China’s leading OLEDoS companies, passed the final review for listing on the Shanghai STAR Market on December 24 and is expected to list in Q1 2026. SeeYA plans to use approximately 2 billion yuan in raised funds to expand production capacity and strengthen R&D. OLEDoS production involves high process complexity and stringent quality requirements, making yield stability in 12-inch wafer-based mass production a key competitive factor. SeeYA’s IPO progress is interpreted as contributing to the long-term supply commitments, supply stability, and medium-to-long-term cost structure improvements demanded by XR customers.

SeeYA is currently executing a two-phase investment at its Hefei production base, with each phase reportedly possessing a monthly capacity of around 9K units. The Phase 1 line is already operating at full capacity, while Phase 2 setup is scheduled for completion by the end of January 2026, with full-scale operation commencing in February. Regarding customers, overseas efforts include pursuing cooperation with Apple and responding to Meta. Domestically in China, the supply portfolio is expanding to include Insta360 sports cameras, RayNeo AR glasses, DJI, and Xiaomi.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s INT-Tech has drawn technical interest with its new OLEDoS (uNEEDXR) unveiled on December 22. INT-Tech presented high-performance metrics, including 100,000 nits ultra-high brightness, in its 0.39-inch XGA (1024×768) class product, directly targeting system brightness, power consumption, and thermal management issues—key constraints identified for AR adoption. Particularly, the performance enhancement of the Native RGB (side-by-side) method is seen as a catalyst shifting the nature of OLEDoS competition from a ‘display spec’ focus to one centered on ‘smart glasses’ user experience (UX) and AI functionality implementation. Smart glasses, as “always-worn” products featuring AI assistants, real-time translation, and situational awareness (e.g., navigation, notification summaries), must ensure sufficient readability in real-world environments while suppressing battery drain and heat generation. The development of high-brightness OLEDoS presents a competitive advantage over Micro LED and LCoS in the race for brightness, efficiency, and resolution demanded by AI-based smart glasses displays. However, since no lifespan data for uNEEDXR under ultra-high brightness conditions has been provided, additional verification of its stability is required for product application.

INT-Tech, a major shareholder of OLEDOS manufacturing company KT&T based in Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, China, is pursuing market expansion by combining ‘INT-Tech’s technology and product roadmap’ with ‘KT&T’s China-based manufacturing and customer support system’.

Demonstration screen of high-definition OLEDoS display using INT-Tech's uNEEDXR technology

INT-Tech’s OLEDoS demo delivering vivid colors and high brightness using Native RGB technology. (Source: INT-Tech uNEEDXR™ Technology)

Diagram comparing traditional White OLED structure vs. INT-Tech's uNEEDXR (Native RGB) technology structure

INT-Tech’s Native RGB structure achieving 100,000 nits brightness with a single junction and no MLA. (Source: INT-Tech uNEEDXR™ Technology)

According to UBI Research’s analysis, China’s expansion of OLEDoS production scale and new technology development are expected to be key variables for the XR OLEDoS market in 2026. First, as Chinese companies, including SeeYA, increase supply and capital investment, XR device makers are gaining broader options to select suppliers based on performance, price, and customization conditions. Second, the focus of technological competition is shifting beyond simple resolution comparisons. It is now centered on the ability to secure the capabilities required by AI-based smart glasses: ‘outdoor readability, low power consumption and low heat generation for extended wear, and system efficiency integrated with the optical system’.

As Chinese OLEDoS manufacturing companies accelerate mass production and enhance product performance, this is expected to directly impact XR brand companies’ supply chain strategies and product launch timings.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶XR Industry Trends and OLEDoS Display Technology & Industry Analysis Report

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Samsung’s “Intelligent Living” vs. LG’s “Visual Essence”: The Contrast at CES 2026

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CES 2026 official logo (Source: CES)

CES 2026 official logo (Source: CES)

CES 2026 The world’s largest consumer electronics show, CES 2026, is expected to become a watershed moment clearly demonstrating the strategic pivot of South Korea’s two major home appliance giants. While the 2025 show just one year prior was a stage for showcasing technological maturity, 2026 will be a stage where the future TV visions defined by each company fundamentally diverge. Samsung Electronics will boldly pivot toward an AI living platform beyond TV, while LG Electronics will postpone form factor experimentation and return to the core of overwhelming picture quality—a fundamental super-gap.

1. LG Electronics: Transcending Form Factor Disruption to Overcome LCD Limitations

In 2025, LG Electronics’ booth featured the morphological evolution of displays as its main attraction, showcasing transparent OLED (Signature T) and freely bendable panels. The world cheered as displays became furniture, nullifying spatial constraints. Yet at CES 2026, LG returned to the fundamental challenge of “light control.”

LG Electronics’ 2026 OLED TV prominently features ‘Tandem 2.0’, a hardware structural innovation. This technology, which stacks the existing light-emitting layer into a 4-stack configuration, has resolved the maximum brightness issue—long considered OLED’s sole weakness. LG claims this model achieves brightness exceeding 4,000 nits while dramatically extending the lifespan of the elements. This appears to demonstrate confidence that OLED remains the brightest and clearest self-emissive display.

Meanwhile, the biggest reversal in LG Electronics’ exhibition this time is the introduction of Micro RGB Evo. LG Electronics is undertaking a groundbreaking attempt to transplant its OLED precision light source control DNA into LCD. This method uses RGB micro-LEDs directly as the backlight, pushing the physical limits of LCD panels to OLED levels. It is analyzed as a countermeasure to check Chinese companies dominating the premium LCD market.

2. Samsung Electronics: The End of Picture Quality Competition and the Dawn of “Intelligent Living”

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics’ direction is moving beyond displays. Having focused on AI‑based upscaling and quantum dot picture quality innovations until 2025, Samsung will fully shift its 2026 exhibition theme to the “Intelligent Living Platform.” The TV will be redefined not as a screen-displaying device, but as an AI hub that manages the home’s energy, learns user preferences, and curates daily life.

Samsung Electronics plans to showcase a seamless home where product boundaries dissolve, extending beyond the LVCC main exhibition hall to a massive standalone pavilion at the Wynn Hotel. The TV will adjust lighting as users move through rooms, display washing machine completion notifications, and suggest recipes in the kitchen. Samsung’s strategy is clear. Chinese manufacturers may be able to match picture quality specs, but they cannot replicate the SmartThings ecosystem that connects hundreds of millions of devices worldwide.

3. Market Shifts Suggested by the “X-Shaped Intersection”

These contrasting moves by the two companies can be interpreted as a clash between defensive leadership (Samsung) and aggressive essentialism (LG). The dynamic where LG once proclaimed “changing the world through form factor” while Samsung insisted “picture quality is paramount” has now completely reversed. LG pursues technological depth to solidify its hardware dominance as the OLED TV pioneer, while Samsung, as the world’s top home appliance maker, focuses on the breadth of connectivity to platformize its hardware. Their approaches to MicroLED also diverge. Samsung treats it as an extension of its “ultra-large intelligent displays,” while LG plans to focus on demonstrating practical mass-production feasibility and pixel-level control for home TVs through its “Magnet Active” technology.

CES 2026 presents consumers with two choices: “A screen so perfect it hurts your eyes (LG)” or “A smart home that understands and manages my life (Samsung).”

While LG Electronics returns to the essence of technology to redefine display industry standards, Samsung Electronics seeks to transform the very definition of home appliances through lifestyle intelligence. The world’s attention is focused on Las Vegas, watching how this head-to-head race between two giants sprinting in opposite directions will reshape the global home appliance market landscape in 2026.

Joohan Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research (joohanus@ubiresearch.com)

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Samsung TV’s Dual Strategy: “Exhibition Hall Change” and Micro-LED From Luxury Models in the Tens of Millions to the Mainstream Market

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Samsung Electronics is reshaping the TV market landscape starting with CES 2026. Moving beyond the traditional “appliance show” format, Samsung’s clear strategy is evident in its standalone exhibition hall spanning approximately 4,645 square meters at the Wynn Hotel. It centers on a dual-pronged approach: self-emitting Micro-LED pursuing technological perfection and Micro RGB leading market mainstream adoption.

1. The Pinnacle of High-End: 2026 Micro-LED Luxury Line

Samsung positions its 2026 self-emissive Micro-LED luxury model, embodying the pinnacle of self-emissive technology, in the private room at the very heart of this showcase.

  • Technical Reality: Tens of millions of ultra-small LED chips emit light and color without a backlight. Using inorganic materials fundamentally solves the burn-in limitations inherent in organic OLEDs while achieving infinite contrast ratios.
  • The Arrival of Super-Large Flagships: Models over 110 inches (such as 140 inches), priced in the hundreds of millions, take center stage. Through this, Samsung redefines the standard for private home cinemas for VVIPs.
  • Commercialization of Transparent Displays: The transparent Micro-LED, which garnered attention as a prototype in 2025, will be showcased with further improved transmittance and brightness. Transparent Micro-LED technology enables intelligent spatial scenarios where window glass itself becomes a display to show information.

2. Democratizing Premium: Micro RGB TV Lineup with 6 Models

While self-emitting technology holds symbolic significance, the Micro RGB (R95H) product line is the main driver of substantial market share. Samsung will showcase this lineup across all sizes, from 55 inches to 115 inches, at this exhibition.

  • Strategic Positioning: By adopting advanced LCD technology that utilizes self-emitting elements as backlights, price competitiveness is secured. Samsung thereby establishes a new standard: “Premium TVs should deliver micro-level picture quality regardless of size.”
  • Overwhelming Specifications: Reportedly achieving 100% BT.2020 color gamut coverage—an industry first—and delivering high brightness exceeding 4,000 nits.
  • Confirmed Lineup: Six models in total—55, 66, 75, 85, 100, and 115 inches—offer consumers a wide selection tailored to their living room sizes.

3. “Agentic AI” Completes Smart Living

Both lineups feature Samsung’s next-generation AI engines: the Micro RGB AI Engine Pro and Agentic AI. The TV is no longer just a screen; it functions as an AI butler that contextually understands user speech through Gemini and Copilot, autonomously controlling home appliances throughout the house.

Samsung Electronics’ exhibition is said to demonstrate the results of a meticulous dual-track strategy: showcasing the pinnacle with Micro-LED while securing the mainstream with Micro RGB. The enclosed, luxurious space of the Win Hotel serves as the perfect stage to demonstrate both the awe-inspiring presence of the billion-dollar Micro-LED model and the sophisticated lifestyle proposed by the Micro RGB TV. Through this, Samsung is expected to block the low-price offensive from Chinese manufacturers and reaffirm its overwhelming dominance in the premium TV market.

Comparison table of Samsung's 2026 self-emissive Micro-LED (Luxury) and Micro RGB (Premium) TV lineups

Comparison table of Samsung’s 2026 dual-track TV strategy, dividing into Self-emissive Micro-LED (Luxury) and Micro RGB (Premium). (Source: UBI Research)

Joohan Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research (joohanus@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

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Bar chart illustrating the rapid growth of Mini-LED and OLED in the automotive display market through 2030.

Automotive Display Premiumization Accelerates… Mini-LED and OLED Revenue Share Expected to Exceed 10% in 2026, Expanding Further by 2030

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As the adoption of electric vehicles and the transition to software-defined vehicles (SDVs) gain momentum, automotive displays are rapidly being elevated from simple information panels to core components that shape user experience (UX) and enable brand differentiation. Amid this shift, the adoption of Mini-LED—capable of delivering both premium image quality and high readability—is expanding, with clear growth trends emerging across shipment volume and key market indicators.

According to UBI Research’s “2025–2026 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trend Analysis Update Report,” shipments of automotive Mini-LED displays totaled approximately 4.5 million units in 2024 and are expected to increase to around 6.75 million units in 2025. The key drivers behind this demand are rising requirements for high brightness, enhanced readability, and high contrast, as applications expand to larger center information displays (CIDs), center displays, panoramic displays, and integrated screen configurations.

From a technology perspective, Mini-LED is considered an attractive option for automakers because it maintains an LCD-based structure while enabling premium image quality through local dimming, making it easier to secure both performance and supply stability. As a result, its influence within the market is expected to grow. The revenue share of Mini-LED displays is projected to increase from around 3.0% in 2024 to surpass 10% for the first time in 2026, and to exceed 20% from 2030 onward.

Forecast graph of automotive display shipments by technology (Mini-LED, OLED) from 2023 to 2030 (Source: UBI Research)

Graph showing the growth of the premium automotive display market, with Mini-LED projected to reach 6.75 million and OLED 4.5 million units in 2025. (Source: UBI Research)

In addition to Mini-LED, OLED is also showing strong growth momentum. Automotive OLED display shipments are projected to reach approximately 4.5 million units in 2025, and in the mid- to long-term are expected to form an annual market of around 13 million units by 2030. As a self-emissive technology, OLED delivers deep blacks and high contrast, making it advantageous for enhancing premium UI readability and overall visual quality. In terms of design, adoption is expanding primarily in high-end vehicles. OLED’s revenue share is forecast to exceed 10% in 2026 and expand to approximately 17% by 2030.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President at UBI Research, stated, “Recently, automakers have been redefining the vehicle interior as a ‘brand experience space,’ and as competition intensifies in premiumization, display specification upgrades are becoming the most direct means of differentiation.” He added, “As demand grows for premium image-quality elements such as high brightness, high contrast, and wide color reproduction, both Mini-LED and OLED are benefiting from expanding adoption. Mini-LED is increasingly adopted for readability and stable mass-production applicability in large-area screens, while OLED is expanding primarily for premium emotional appeal and design differentiation.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trends Analysis Report

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HKC RGB Mini LED automotive dashboard display representing the company's market expansion.

HKC Expands RGB Mini LED to TVs, Monitors, and Automotive Displays

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In the Chinese display industry, HKC has long been known as a leading panel manufacturer, fueled by its large-scale LCD-based mass production capabilities. However, its recent move to focus on RGB Mini LED is seen as a strategic shift that transcends its traditional identity. While existing Mini LEDs improved image quality through a combination of blue LED backlights and quantum dot film, HKC has adopted a structure that directly uses red, green, and blue (RGB) LEDs as the backlight source, demonstrating a technological advancement in color reproducibility, contrast control, and operating precision. RGB Mini LED is attracting attention as a next-generation display technology due to its ability to separate and control colors from the backlight stage, resulting in higher color purity and reduced light loss. Its scalability to large-area, high-brightness environments is also remarkable. This technological advancement has first become visible in the ultra-large-screen TV market. HKC has proven its large-area display capabilities by supplying 100-inch and larger RGB Mini LED TV panels to the global TV brand Hisense. In particular, the RGB Mini LED panel used in Hisense’s 116-inch UX series reportedly achieves a peak brightness of approximately 8,000nits, features 3,584 local dimming zones, and achieves color reproduction performance that meets over 95% of the BT.2020 color gamut. Simultaneously achieving high brightness and color uniformity on ultra-large screens is a technically challenging task. HKC is satisfying these requirements with RGB Mini LED, establishing a unique technological edge in the ultra-large TV market.

In the monitor market, the precision control capabilities of RGB Mini LED are expected to be further highlighted. HKC plans to officially announce its next-generation premium monitor lineup based on RGB Mini LED at CES 2026, expanding its large-area TV picture quality technology to high-resolution, high-refresh-rate desktop environments. The 31.4-inch 4K RGB Mini LED monitor, the “M10 Ultra,” is expected to be unveiled at CES 2026. It features a total of 1,596 physical local dimming zones and employs cluster-based operation, individually controlling RGB elements within each zone. This RGB cluster-based control is a key factor in effectively suppressing the halo effect, a problem faced by existing Mini LED monitors. Its performance targets the premium market, with a peak brightness of approximately 1,600nits, a native refresh rate of 165Hz, and up to 330Hz in FHD mode. Color reproduction is also expected to reach 98% to 100% of the BT.2020 standard, making it ideal for gaming environments as well as video editing and professional monitors where color accuracy is crucial.

The automotive display sector is also a key area where HKC is strategically expanding its RGB Mini LED offerings. With the spread of electrification and autonomous driving technologies, in-vehicle displays are becoming larger and more multiplexed. Stable visibility even under direct sunlight and reliability over long periods of use are emerging as key requirements. HKC’s automotive display solution, utilizing RGB Mini LEDs, has reportedly achieved a power consumption reduction of approximately 20% compared to conventional methods while maintaining high brightness of over 1,000nits. In particular, in large-scale integrated display structures that integrate the cluster and CID into a single screen, RGB Mini LEDs are recognized as a technology suitable for next-generation dashboard design due to their ability to easily maintain brightness and color uniformity.

HKC's 12.3-inch RGB Mini LED automotive display prototype

HKC’s 12.3-inch RGB Mini LED display optimized for automotive use with over 1,000 nits brightness and low power consumption. (Source: HKC)

A key enabler of this comprehensive product expansion is large-scale investment in Mini LED and M-LED production infrastructure. HKC is pursuing a dedicated Mini LED production base project worth approximately 9 billion yuan in Liuyang, China, with an annual production capacity of over 500 million Mini LED backlight modules. This production base integrates LED chips, backlight modules, and panel assembly into a single value chain, serving as a strategic base for simultaneously securing cost and supply stability, key challenges for RGB Mini LEDs. Furthermore, through the operation of its direct-view LED factory in Mianyang, HKC is accumulating experience in ultra-fine LED processes and laying the foundation for expansion into next-generation LED-based displays. According to Changwook Han, Executive Vice President of UBI Research, “HKC’s RGB Mini LED strategy is a strong mid- to long-term technology roadmap encompassing TVs, monitors, and automotive displays. Key to this is that it has simultaneously secured the core elements of high brightness, high color reproduction, and precision control, and is expanding these to large-area displays and high-reliability environments. With this, coupled with large-scale investments in Mini LED and M-LED production infrastructure, HKC is establishing a unique position in the next-generation LED-based display ecosystem.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trends Analysis Report

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OMNIVISION's new LCoS panel OP03021, highlighting its compact size and high resolution.

Next Generation AR and AI Glass Display Innovation: OMNIVISION LCoS Panel and JBD MicroLED New Products

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OMNIVISION, which supplies LCoS to Meta’s smart glasses ‘Ray-Ban Display’, unveiled a high-resolution LCoS panel ‘OP03021’ for next-generation AR (augmented reality) glasses on December 16, 2025, and predicted mass production of the panel in the first half of 2026.

OMNIVISION's next-gen LCoS panel OP03021 for AR glasses

OMNIVISION’s 0.26-inch LCoS panel ‘OP03021’ with 2.5x higher resolution than previous models. (Source: Omnivision OP03021)

The newly released panel supports 1632 x 1536 resolution in a 0.26-inch optical format. This is an increase of about 2.5 times in resolution and nearly 6 times in total number of pixels compared to the existing 0.14-inch model (648p). When this panel is applied, it can secure a wide viewing angle of 30 to 40 degrees beyond the existing narrow viewing angle (20 degrees) limit, or dramatically increase the number of pixels per angle (PPD) to read web pages or e-mail text clearly. The volume of the optical engine equipped with the corresponding panel by integrating the driver IC is estimated to be about 1.5cc and the weight is about 4g.

Specification comparison table between the existing model and the new OP03021 model

The new OP03021 model features approx. 2.5x higher resolution and 1.85x larger panel size. (Source: UBI Research)

Meanwhile, JBD also officially announced that Hummingbird II, a next-generation microLED projector scheduled to be released in the first half of 2026, won the CES 2026 Innovation Award. It supports 500 × 380 resolution and 480Hz scan rate, and is an ultra-small and ultra-light product of 0.2cc and 0.5g that halves the volume and weight compared to previous generations. It emphasized that it is a full-color display solution optimized for AI and AR smart glasses for consumers by operating at low power of 95mW while implementing high luminance of up to 4,000 nits.

JBD Hummingbird II MicroLED projector on a fingertip

JBD’s ultra-compact MicroLED projector ‘Hummingbird II’, winner of the CES 2026 Innovation Award. (Source: JBD Hummingbird II)

The next-generation wearable display market is expected to clearly distinguish application fields according to technology characteristics.

  • MicroLED: Ultra-small size of 0.2cc is the strength, suitable for ‘everyday AI glasses’ that display simple data while maintaining the original design of glasses
  • LCoS: Responsible for the ‘universal AR glass’ market, which is suitable for web surfing or augmented reality information delivery, with high resolution and favorable characteristics for securing viewing angles.
  • OLEDoS: Based on high contrast ratio and color reproduction, market in the ‘MR headset and media glass’ area where video content consumption and immersion are important.

The industry is paying attention to the possibility of dualizing the smart glass lineup into ‘light AI glasses’ and ‘display-oriented AR glasses’ in the future. Expectations are growing for the possibility that new technologies such as OMNIVISION’s LCoS panel and JBD’s microLED will be applied to next-generation AR glasses of various global companies such as Meta, Apple, Google/Samsung.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

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▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

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Bar chart illustrating BOE B11's 72.9% operating ratio, signaling stable mass production for Apple.

BOE B11 Achieves 35 Million iPhone Panel Shipments…72.9% Utilization and Approximately 89% Yield Demonstrate Stable Apple Supply Capability

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Graph showing the monthly operating ratio of BOE's B11 OLED line (Source: UBI Research)

BOE B11 proves iPhone supply stability with a 72.9% operating ratio. (Source: UBI Research)

BOE has been gradually expanding its presence as a supplier of OLED panels for Apple’s iPhones. Building on deliveries centered on the standard models from the iPhone 12 through iPhone 16 series, BOE has broadened its coverage to the iPhone 16e, and more recently, a trend has been observed in which its coverage extends even to the iPhone 17 Pro. This suggests that BOE is moving beyond a secondary supplier role limited to specific generations or base models, and is entering a phase where it can play a meaningful role within Apple’s supply allocation strategy.

This trend can also be explained by operating indicators for BOE’s B11 OLED line. B11 is said to have a monthly capacity of 45K and an average annual utilization rate of 72.9%, implying an annual effective input of approximately 390,000 glass substrates. Assuming a Gen-6 OLED line produces 6.1-inch iPhone-class panels with 220 cuts per glass, the annual theoretical output capacity is estimated at roughly 86.6 million panels. In other words, even under conditions where Apple-bound volume fluctuates and product changeovers recur, the line structure appears to retain a degree of operational headroom.

Given that BOE’s iPhone OLED panel shipments in 2025 are around 35 million units, it is more reasonable to take a conservative view that reflects product mix rather than simply back-calculating with a single yield assumption. For example, if LTPS volume is assumed at 32 million units with a 90% yield, and LTPO volume at 3 million units with a 60% yield, the required total process input (in cut terms) comes to approximately 40.56 million cuts. Converting this using 200 cuts per glass results in an annual required input of around 200,000 glass substrates—an amount that can be interpreted as being within B11’s effective input capability.

From a technology mix perspective, BOE currently appears to be driving shipments primarily in segments with a high LTPS share, while keeping LTPO contributions limited. This can be read as an operating strategy that prioritizes mass-production stability and delivery responsiveness, rather than aggressively expanding the share of higher-difficulty processes. At the same time, indications that BOE’s supply scope is extending to the Pro lineup align with a direction that gradually opens the door to entry into higher-spec segments.

In addition, there is a gap between B11’s annual effective input capability (about 390,000 glass substrates) and the conservatively converted iPhone-related required input (about 200,000). It would be premature to label this simply as “idle capacity,” but at a minimum, it suggests a structure that could allow partial parallel operation of additional product mix—such as non-Apple models, samples/pilot runs, or volumes used for line balancing—depending on conditions. In other words, B11 can be viewed more cautiously as having a certain buffer that helps optimize line utilization amid recurring demand swings and product transitions, while still prioritizing Apple-bound supply.

Overall, BOE’s strength lies less in any single technology point and more in its ability to run stable high-volume production with competitive performance in quality control and delivery execution. While sustaining volume primarily through LTPS, BOE has also retained room to expand LTPO adoption step by step, and B11’s operating flexibility can function as a buffer against demand volatility and product changeovers. As a result, BOE can be interpreted as steadily strengthening its position in Apple’s supply chain—from short-term volume supplementation toward a more sustainable long-term supply partner.

Junho Kim, Analyst at UBI Research (alertriot@ubiresearch.com)

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TCL CSOT's 163-inch X11H Max Micro-LED TV representing the company's push for mass adoption.

Breaking the KRW 100 Million Barrier?” TCL CSOT’s Bold Bet on Micro-LED Mass Adoption

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Micro-LED, the pinnacle of “self-emissive” display technology where each pixel generates its own light, is finally shedding its laboratory skin and attempting to enter the living room. At the forefront is TCL CSOT, which has thrown down a bold technical roadmap in a market once considered the exclusive domain of Samsung Electronics. We analyze their three-stage evolution—from CES 2025 through the recent DTC 2025 to the upcoming CES 2026—through the lens of display engineering.

 

1. [CES 2025] The 10,000-Nit Shock: Pushing the Limits of Inorganic Elements

At CES 2025, TCL CSOT’s 163-inch Micro-LED TV, the ‘X11H Max’, injected significant technical tension into the industry. It wasn’t just about the size; the device achieved a staggering peak brightness of 10,000 nits by individually controlling approximately 24.88 million inorganic RGB chips at the pixel level. This was a landmark event that redefined the standards of “super-gap” picture quality, using the durability of inorganic materials to directly overcome the brightness degradation and burn-in issues inherent in organic-based OLEDs.

TCL CSOT's 163-inch X11H Max Micro-LED TV and pricing unveiled at CES 2025 (Source: TCL CSOT)

TCL’s 163-inch Micro-LED TV ‘X11H Max’ achieving 10,000 nits brightness, surpassing the limits of inorganic devices. (Source: TCL CSOT)

2. [DTC 2025] Technical Maturity in Driving Algorithms and Grayscale Expression

The key takeaway from DTC 2025 (TCL Global Display Tech Ecosystem Conference) was the “evolution of internal substance.” TCL addressed the chronic challenge of Micro-LEDs—color distortion in low-light areas—through its proprietary ‘Hybrid PWM+PAM Driving Architecture.’ This method, which sophisticatedly combines Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM) and Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), achieved a 24-bit color depth. It demonstrated technical maturity by perfectly resolving the shapes of objects even in pitch-black darkness through 16.77 million steps of grayscale.

TCL CSOT's 219-inch 36:9 ultra-wide Micro-LED display showcased at the exhibition (Source: TCL CSOT)

A 219-inch ultra-large Micro-LED display supporting 98% DCI-P3 color gamut and 120Hz refresh rate. (Source: TCL CSOT)

3. [CES 2026 Outlook] Crushing the “100 Million Won” Wall via Mass Transfer Innovation

At the upcoming CES 2026, TCL is expected to move beyond technical posturing and place a practical bet on “price destruction.” Experts predict that TCL will drastically lower the production cost of 100-inch+ models by significantly increasing the yield of the Mass Transfer process—the method of moving millions of microscopic chips onto a substrate. In particular, process efficiency linked with Inkjet Printing (IJP) technology is projected to be the detonator that pulls down Micro-LED TV prices, once exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars, to the tens of thousands range (approx. 50–80 million KRW).

While past Micro-LEDs were merely “expensive display pieces densely packed with small LEDs,” today’s TCL CSOT is attempting to democratize “nanosecond-level response speeds” and “infinite contrast ratios” by perfectly grafting semiconductor micro-processes onto displays. CES 2026 will serve as the “technological singularity” where Micro-LED moves beyond being a luxury for the ultra-wealthy to become the new standard for premium home appliances.

Joohan Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research (joohanus@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

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Li Auto's 'Livis' AI glasses representing the trend of automakers entering the wearable display market.

Automakers: Exploring AI Glasses for Vehicles or Competing for Future Market Entry?

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As in-vehicle displays grow larger and more numerous, automotive HMI (Human–Machine Interface) is facing another turning point. The information display methods, which have evolved around instrument panels, center displays, and HUDs, are now expected to expand into driver wearable personal devices—specifically, AI smart glasses.

Recently, as the AI glasses market is expected to expand, participating companies are gradually increasing. From existing smart glasses manufacturers to internet companies and smartphone makers, even Chinese firms like Xiaomi, Li Auto, and Geely Auto subsidiaries are positioning AI smart glasses as part of the vehicle ecosystem.

In 2024, BMW showcased technology at CES that enhances the driving experience using XREAL Air 2 augmented reality glasses. This product can display navigation instructions, hazard warnings, entertainment content, and charging station information. In June this year, Xiaomi launched its first AI smart glasses capable of linking with automotive devices. Xiaomi views AI glasses as an extension of its ‘Human × Car × Home’ strategy, linking smartphones, IoT, and electric vehicles. In August, Geely announced its AI technology would be fully applied to the vehicle smart cabin sector. Geely acquired Meizu to establish DreamSmart company. Geely is pursuing a strategy to connect its vehicle OS and extend the vehicle display experience externally. In 2023 and 2024, DreamSmart released three types of AR glasses that can be linked to vehicles through its system. Geely also invested in LEDoS micro-display company JBD in 2024. In November this year, GAC Motor jointly conducted an ‘AI smart glasses + vehicle’ application test with Rokid. In December, Li Auto officially launched its first AI glasses, ‘Livis’, having reportedly been advancing its AI glasses project since 2024. According to the announcement, ‘Livis’ core functionality includes seamless integration with the car system. A light touch upon entering the vehicle completes the initial pairing, enabling automatic connection thereafter. It also supports voice commands to control vehicle functions like the air conditioner and heated steering wheel.

Li Auto's automotive-integrated AI glasses 'Livis' (Source: lixiang.com)

Li Auto’s first AI glasses ‘Livis’, seamlessly integrated with vehicle systems for voice control and information display. (Source: lixiang.com)

Realistically, AI glasses are unlikely to replace instrument panels or HUDs in the short term. This is because numerous challenges remain, including potential visual obstruction during driving, safety regulations, and fatigue from prolonged wear. Accordingly, the proposed usage scenarios could be as follows.

First, as a supplementary display to the HUD, showing only limited information like navigation directions, basic driving data, and warning alerts to minimize eye movement.

Second, as an AI voice-centric auxiliary interface. The emphasis is on controlling vehicle functions through voice commands and simple visual feedback rather than visual information.

Third, usage focused on specific situations. Limited scenarios like traffic jams, parking, activities outside the vehicle, or checking information during non-driving situations are priority application targets.

This approach suggests AI glasses are more likely to first establish themselves as auxiliary devices rather than the ‘primary vehicle display’.

The widespread adoption of AI glasses in vehicles ultimately depends on the maturity of the technology. The core challenge lies in micro-display technology, where improvements are still needed in power efficiency, cost, and mass-production stability. Another critical condition is deep integration with the vehicle OS and AI. As the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) environment expands, AI glasses can link in real-time with vehicle sensors, navigation, and ADAS data. In this scenario, AI glasses could evolve beyond simple information displays into ‘personalized HMI nodes’ providing context-aware information to drivers. In the future, advancements in AI interaction technology and computing power are expected to transform smart glasses from mere accessories dependent on vehicle display devices into ‘AI assistants’.

Namdeog Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research (ndkim@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

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Bar chart illustrating the significant reduction in chip and package size of Smartkem's MiP4 technology compared to POB and COB methods.

Smartkem unveils next-generation Mini-LED backlight technology at IDW 2025… Announces ‘MicroLED-in-Package (MiP4)’ structure featuring proprietary RDL technology

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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. Co-developed with National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in Taiwan and Coretronic, this technology is named ‘MiP4 (MicroLED-in-Package 4-in-series).’ It is characterized by solving the challenges of micro LED processes and maximizing price competitiveness through the convergence of advanced semiconductor and display process technologies.

While Mini-LED backlight technology currently leads the premium TV and tablet markets by providing excellent contrast ratios and color reproduction, it faces structural limitations. Mini LED chips like the existing ‘0820’ model (0.2mm x 0.5mm) cannot be miniaturized further, limiting cost reduction potential. Furthermore, while backlight driver circuits typically use 12V as the standard voltage, individual LED chips operate at around 3V, necessitating separate step-down converters. This was a major cause of power loss and complicated driver board design.

The MiP4 technology presented by the Smartchem research team at this year’s Hiroshima IDW ‘25 solved these issues with a novel approach called ‘series connection packaging’. The team placed four ultra-small micro-LED chips, each under 85µm (micrometers), onto a glass substrate and electrically connected them in series to form a single package (0.6mm x 0.6mm).

Comparison graph of Chip size (black) and Package size (blue) for POB, COB, and MiP4 technologies (Source: Smartkem)

Comparison showing significantly reduced chip and package sizes of MiP4 compared to conventional POB and COB methods (Source: Smartkem)

The most notable aspects of this research result are material efficiency and luminance performance. Smartchem announced that in testing a backlight module composed of 400 zones, MiP4 technology reduced the amount of GaN (gallium nitride) epitaxial material used by a remarkable 84% compared to the existing COB (Chip-on-Board) method. While the conventional COB method uses 73.6mm² of GaN area per backlight unit, MiP4 uses only 11.56mm², dramatically lowering material costs.

The MiP4 manufacturing process integrates advanced semiconductor and display process technologies. The research team adopted a method where the GaN LED structure grown on a sapphire substrate is separated via a ‘Chemical Lift-off’ process and then transferred onto a glass substrate. On the glass substrate, a redistribution layer (RDL) composed of a polymer insulating film and metal wiring was formed, electrically connecting four micro LEDs in series.

(a) Schematic of RDL routing for uLED series integration on glass substrate (Source: Smartkem)

(a) Schematic illustrating the RDL routing process for integrating micro-LEDs in series on a glass substrate (Source: Smartkem)

This ‘Chip-first’ and RDL-based integration process not only ensures 12V compatibility at the chip level but also provides a package form immediately applicable to SMT (Surface Mount Technology) processes, enhancing manufacturing reliability.

Material usage decreased while performance actually improved. The MiP4-based backlight module achieved a maximum luminance of 34,047 nits with an optical film applied, demonstrating significantly higher luminous efficiency compared to commercial COB products that recorded 25,619 nits.

Smartchem and the research team anticipate that once commercialized, this technology will become a powerful weapon capable of competing with OLED in the small-to-medium high-definition display market, including notebooks, tablets, and automotive displays.

Smartkem MiP4 details: (a) MiP4-based 400-zone on FR-4 PCB, (b) laminated optical film stack with 12V driving, (c) Performance comparison table between COB and MiP4 (Source: Smartkem)

(a) MiP4-based 400-zone backlight unit, (b) demonstration with laminated optical films under 12V driving, and (c) table comparing brightness and efficiency between COTS (COB) and MiP4 (Source: Smartkem)

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

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LG Display's advanced automotive OLED technology representing the smart cockpit trends at CES 2026.

Smart Cockpit Competition Accelerates… Automotive Displays to be Showcased at CES 2026

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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. Accordingly, displays are no longer simple screens but have evolved into central technologies that define interior architecture and user experience. At this year’s exhibition, LG Display, Hyundai Mobis, AUO, and Corning each presented distinct technological approaches that together outlined the future direction of the smart cockpit.

LG Display showcased its “Automotive Dual View OLED” and “Automotive UDC (Under Display Camera)-IR OLED” at CES 2026, earning a CES Innovation Award in the In-Vehicle Entertainment category. Dual View OLED enables different content to be viewed simultaneously by the driver and the front passenger on a single panel, providing driving-related information exclusively to the driver while delivering entertainment content to the passenger. This technology is seen as an effective solution to information interference in increasingly large automotive displays, while significantly enhancing cockpit design flexibility. The UDC-IR OLED integrates an infrared camera beneath the display to support driver monitoring systems (DMS) without compromising screen continuity or image quality. Together, OLED’s inherent advantages in contrast and color reproduction, combined with advanced sensor integration, demonstrate a clear direction toward strengthening both in-vehicle entertainment and safety functions.

LG Display's CES 2026 Innovation Award-winning automotive Dual View OLED and UDC-IR OLED technology (Source: LG Display)

LG Display’s CES 2026 Innovation Award-winning automotive Dual View OLED and UDC-IR OLED technology (Source: LG Display)

Hyundai Mobis took center stage at CES 2026 after winning a CES Innovation Award for its holographic windshield display (HWD), integrated into its cockpit integration solution “M.BiCS 7.0.” Developed in collaboration with German optics company ZEISS, the HWD is the world’s first technology to apply a holographic film to the entire windshield, enabling the front glass to function as a large-scale transparent display. While conventional HUD systems face limitations in size, thermal management, and design due to their reflective optical architectures, holographic displays leverage diffractive optics to precisely control light paths, allowing the system to be realized with a compact optical engine of approximately 1.2 liters. In addition, the holographic film maintains a high transparency of over 95%, minimizing visual obstruction while driving, and supports customized eyebox designs that enable different information to be presented independently to the driver and front passenger. This technology is regarded as an effective solution for managing the rapidly increasing information density of the autonomous driving era, while simultaneously maximizing cockpit integration and design coherence.

Demonstration of Hyundai Mobis's CES 2026 Innovation Award-winning Holographic Windshield Display (HWD) (Source: Hyundai Mobis)

Demonstration of Hyundai Mobis’s CES 2026 Innovation Award-winning Holographic Windshield Display (HWD) (Source: Hyundai Mobis)

At CES 2026, AUO officially launched its new subsidiary, AUO Mobility Solutions Corporation (AMSC), declaring its transition beyond displays toward becoming a system-integrated smart cockpit solution provider. AMSC was established through the integration of AUO’s mobility solutions business with the climate control systems and HMI design expertise of Germany-based BHTC GmbH. At the exhibition, AMSC unveiled next-generation smart cockpit solutions that integrate immersive display experiences, intelligent sensing, and scalable computing platforms. By delivering visual elements, computing, and connectivity within a unified architecture, the company aims to realize cockpit environments optimized for software-defined vehicles, a strategy widely interpreted as an effort to strengthen both rapid development cycles and mass-production readiness demanded by OEMs.

In the materials segment, Corning drew attention with its advanced anti-reflective surface treatment technology for automotive displays. As large-format in-vehicle displays continue to expand toward pillar-to-pillar configurations, sunlight-induced reflections have emerged as a major challenge affecting visibility. Corning’s solution dramatically reduces surface reflections while enabling deep black performance, simultaneously enhancing image quality and driving safety. The technology offers high compatibility with a wide range of panel types, including OLED and Mini-LED, and is therefore regarded as a key enabler supporting the broader adoption of next-generation large automotive displays.

The technologies unveiled at CES 2026 collectively demonstrate that automotive displays are evolving beyond individual components into core platforms that integrate space, user experience, and safety. From OLED-driven image quality advancements and holographic displays that redefine interior space, to system-integrated smart cockpit strategies and the material innovations that underpin them, each company is pursuing a distinct approach. Yet all are converging toward a shared objective: delivering new user experiences tailored to the era of intelligent mobility.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trends Analysis Report

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BOE 14-inch OLED laptop prototype displayed to showcase B16 line capabilities.

BOE Completes Internal Lighting for Chengdu B16 8.6-Generation OLED Line… Accelerating Its Entry Into Large-Scale IT OLED Mass Production

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BOE 240Hz LTPO OLED Laptop Prototype based on 8.6 Gen Line (Source: BOE)

BOE’s 240Hz LTPO OLED Prototype (Source: BOE)

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. Although BOE has not officially announced the lighting milestone, sources indicate that a formal public announcement is planned for December 2025.

The prototype used for the lighting test is a 14-inch OLED notebook panel intended for Acer, marking a strategic reference win aligned with the global trend toward wider OLED adoption in laptops. BOE had also planned to develop smartphone panels for Oppo using the B16 line, but the development schedule has reportedly been delayed.

The B16 line will expand further through a Phase 2 investment, and Sunic Systems has been selected as the supplier for the key deposition equipment. The first tool is expected to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2026, positioning BOE to strengthen its competitiveness in IT OLED mass production as the additional capacity comes online.

With IT device OLED demand rising rapidly, BOE’s B16 project is regarded as a symbolic investment accelerating China’s entry into the high-resolution, large-area OLED market. The establishment of an 8.6-generation line in particular is expected to serve as a crucial inflection point for Chinese panel makers seeking to narrow the technology gap with Korean competitors in the notebook and tablet OLED segments.

Junho Kim, Analyst at UBI Research (alertriot@ubiresearch.com)

▶ China Trends Report Inquiry

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Display of Visionox's 4th generation pTSF OLED technology on smartphones at SID 2025.

Tsinghua-Visionox Officially Announces Mass Production of 4th-Generation OLED ‘pTSF’… “Beyond Catching Up with Korea, Achieving Technological Independence”

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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—a fourth-generation OLED light-emitting technology—at a jointly hosted technology forum held at Tsinghua University in Beijing on the 7th. They also unveiled achievements utilizing this technology. This announcement is considered a significant event, to announce that next-generation material technology, previously confined to the realm of academic possibility, has been successfully introduced into actual mass production lines and entered the commercialization stage.

The Phosphor-assisted Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Sensitized Fluorescence (pTSF) technology developed by the joint research team is a fourth-generation solution that resolves the ‘Impossible Triangle’ challenge faced by conventional OLEDs—the difficult task of simultaneously achieving high efficiency, long lifetime, and high color purity. This technology operates on the principle of maximizing efficiency and lifespan by establishing a unique triple energy transfer system composed of a TADF host, a phosphorescent sensitizer, and a fluorescent emitter. It captures internal energy without loss and rapidly transfers it to the emitter.

Particularly noteworthy at this forum was the reconfirmed mass production performance data for the Green Phosphor-assisted Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Sensitized Fluorescence (pTSF) device. This device garnered significant academic attention at ‘SID 2025’, the world’s largest display conference, held last May.

Visionox's low-power 'Product A' (left) and ultra-high image quality 'Product B' (right) pTSF OLED panels demonstrated at SID 2025 (Source: SID 2025)

Visionox’s low-power ‘Product A’ (left) and ultra-high image quality ‘Product B’ (right) pTSF OLED panels demonstrated at SID 2025 (Source: SID 2025)

Visionox has disclosed the performance of two panel types (Product A, Product B) manufactured on its G6 mass production line. The low-power specialized model ‘Product A’ reduces power consumption by 12% compared to existing phosphorescent OLED products and improves lifetime (LT95) by over 15%. Furthermore, Product B’, an ultra-high-definition specialized model, achieved a color reproduction rate exceeding 99.5% for both DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB color gamuts, demonstrating significant progress in image quality. This was achieved by applying the research team’s independently developed Exciplex host and optimizing the device structure to enhance energy transfer efficiency, while also reducing the usage of expensive dopant materials by approximately 10%.

The newly unveiled technology is expected to be brought to Honor’s Magic series or Nubia’s latest models. Honor and Nubia are longstanding core partners of Visionox, with a history of being the first to adopt Visionox’s new technologies (such as high refresh rates and UDC) in their flagship lineups. Therefore, it is highly likely they have also secured priority supply for this 4th-generation technology.

Building on the success of mass-producing these green phosphors, Tsinghua University and Visionox have outlined a roadmap to expand the application of Phosphor-assisted Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Sensitized Fluorescence (pTSF) technology into the red and blue phosphor domains. The research team is currently focusing on securing the stability of red MR emitters and blue auxiliary phosphors, which are considered major technical challenges. Through this, they plan to achieve complete independence in material technology across the entire OLED spectrum. The Chinese side views this achievement as a significant turning point for the Chinese display industry, marking its transition from a follower to a technology leader.

Visionox's high-efficiency pTSF OLED device displayed at SID 2025 (Source: Visionox)

Visionox’s high-efficiency pTSF OLED device displayed at SID 2025 (Source: Visionox)

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 OLED Emitting Materials Report Sample

▶OLED Emitting Material Market Tracker Sample

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Ford 1.1m integrated screen showcasing the future of automotive cockpit design with unified cluster and CID.

Ford Unveils 1.1m Integrated Screen… Cluster-CID Integrated Display to Become Popular in Global Vehicles

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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 “2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trend Analysis Report,” OEMs are actively adopting a structure that integrates the cluster and CID (Center Infotainment Display) under a single cover glass. This reduces visual density within the vehicle interior, avoids complex segmentation of the driver’s field of vision, and allows for flexible UI reconfiguration in response to software updates. This integrated screen not only simplifies the interior horizontally, but also allows key vehicle information to be managed in a single visual layer, making it an interface optimized for electrification and software-defined vehicle (SDV) environments.

The Ford Evos and Mondeo exemplify this trend with a 1.1m-wide integrated screen. This configuration integrates a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 27-inch 4K CID under a single, ultra-wide cover glass, functioning as a single display. This panel, constructed with a super-flat, wide structure rather than a curved one, enhances the continuity of information transmission and minimizes visual disruption, maximizing the benefits of a software-centric UX. Furthermore, its simplified internal structure significantly improves space efficiency and design stability.

Ford’s 1.1m integrated cluster and CID display (Source: Ford)

Ford’s 1.1m integrated cluster and CID display (Source: Ford)

In the European premium market, the BMW i4 is a prime example of an integrated screen. BMW’s curved display, which has been widely adopted by the i4, iX, 3 Series LCI, and i7, integrates a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 14.9-inch central display (CID) under a single piece of curved glass. While the internal panels are two-piece, they appear as a single, continuous digital interface from the user’s perspective, and the curvature achieves a driver-centric UI layout. This configuration minimizes physical buttons while ensuring operability and visibility, and is considered a prime example of BMW’s digital UX direction.

BMW Curved Display with integrated cluster and CID (Source: BMW)

BMW Curved Display with integrated cluster and CID (Source: BMW)

Among Korean brands, the Genesis GV80 facelift has adopted a full-fledged integrated screen strategy. The GV80 integrates the instrument cluster and CID under a single 27-inch OLED cover glass, completely breaking away from the traditional standalone instrument panel and central display structure. The OLED panel’s unique contrast ratio and color reproducibility maximize UI readability, and combined with the horizontal, minimalist interior design, it sets a new standard for premium SUV UX.

Genesis GV80 27-inch OLED integrated display (Source: Genesis)

Genesis GV80 27-inch OLED integrated display (Source: Genesis)

While few models currently feature an integrated screen (a structure combining the cluster and CID under a single sheet of cover glass) on the market, its adoption is rapidly accelerating, with major global brands, including Ford, BMW, and Genesis, strategically adopting it. The integrated screen is not simply a design innovation; it serves as a core platform for integrating vehicle functions into a single digital layer and integrating them with a software-centric operating system. As the boundaries between the instrument panel and infotainment system blur and the scope of OTA-based UI reconfiguration expands, the integration of clusters and CIDs is likely to expand beyond luxury vehicles to mid-size electric vehicle lineups.

UBI Research Executive Vice President Changwook Han emphasized, “The integrated screen is a key piece of hardware for realizing the digital UX of the electrification and SDV era. By integrating the cluster and CID into a single visual layer, the entire vehicle interface can be redefined based on software. Its application will gradually expand to the mid-size and mass-market segments.” Ultimately, the integrated screen is positioned as a guiding light for a transformation of the entire vehicle interface architecture, transcending technology and design.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trends Analysis Report

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Bar chart showing the quarterly growth of OLED smartphone panel shipments in 2025, highlighting Q4 peak.

OLED Smartphone Panel Shipments to Reach 900 Million Units in 2025…Q4 Production Drives Annual Growth

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Quarterly OLED Shipments Forecast for Smartphones by Manufacturer in 2025 (Source: UBI Research)

UBI Research forecast trend for quarterly OLED smartphone panel shipments and manufacturer share in 2025 (Source: UBI Research)

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 48.8% of the annual total, nearly matching the level of Korean manufacturers. While shipment volumes between the two countries are similar, Korean companies maintain a revenue advantage due to their higher proportion of premium-tier orders for flagship models such as Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy.

In particular, Korean panel makers saw a significant surge in smartphone and foldable panel shipments in the fourth quarter, marking their strongest performance of the year. Panel supply expanded sharply from the third quarter with the launch of new Apple products, and shipments peaked as Samsung Electronics began full-scale production of Galaxy S26 series panels.

Samsung Display continued its solid growth into the fourth quarter, driven by increasing demand for panels for the iPhone 17 series and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE. With mass production for both the iPhone lineup and Galaxy S26 series in full swing, Samsung Display is expected to post its highest annual shipment volume to date. LG Display also achieved a strong rebound in the third quarter with shipments of roughly 20 million units, representing a sharp quarter-over-quarter increase, and its Q4 shipments are forecast to rise by an additional 20%.

Chinese panel makers showed quarterly fluctuations depending on demand conditions but maintained stable supply across major smartphone brands. BOE expanded its customer base by diversifying its supply portfolio from entry-level to upper-mid-range smartphone models. TCL CSOT and Visionox continued to grow shipments to both the domestic Chinese market and global brands, while Tianma focused on enhancing technological competitiveness by increasing the share of high value-added products such as LTPO.

In terms of set makers, Apple secured the largest volume of OLED panels, followed by Samsung Electronics, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Huawei. Executive Vice President Changwook Han of UBI Research commented, “As the industry enters the second-half peak season, Korean display manufacturers are showing clear improvements in both shipments and revenue. In particular, Samsung Display is expected to ship around 150 million panels in the fourth quarter driven by increased demand for iPhone panels.” He added, “Chinese panel makers are also maintaining stable momentum by adjusting their supply strategies in line with shifting market demand.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

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Samsung Display Wins “Korea Technology Award” for QD-OLED Innovation

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Recognized with Minister’s Commendation for developing high-resolution monitor and high-brightness TV QD-OLED panels

□ Leading innovation in large-scale panels with the world’s first 160PPI QD-OLED for monitors and 4,000-nit QD-OLED for TVs.

□ Winning products showcased at the “2025 Korea Tech Festival” at COEX (Dec. 3–5).

□ Choi Yeol, Executive Vice President, receives Presidential Commendation for contributions to industrial technology promotion.

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 company is currently showcasing its award-winning QD-OLED products, along with its foldable display lineup, at the “2025 Korea Tech Festival” held at COEX in Seoul from December 3rd to 5th. Established in 1992, the “Korea Technology Award” is considered the country’s most prestigious technology honor. It is awarded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Korea Institute for Industrial Technology Planning and Evaluation (KIET) after evaluating leading domestic companies on technological value, development capabilities, and commercialization potential.

Earlier this year, Samsung Display launched its 160PPI QD-OLED for monitors and 4,000-nit QD-OLED for TVs, spearheading technological innovation in the large-sized display sector. The 160PPI monitor panel features an ultra-high-density pixel arrangement, packing 160 pixels into every inch. Higher PPI allows for a greater amount of data to be displayed within the same resolution, resulting in significantly sharper and more detailed imagery.

The 4,000-nit TV panel boasts extreme brightness and clarity that were previously difficult to achieve, delivering an exceptional viewing experience even in very bright environments. Optimized for High Dynamic Range (HDR) content, this product offers delicate expression in dark scenes while providing powerful contrast in bright scenes for lifelike picture quality.

Meanwhile, Choi Yeol, Executive Vice President and Head of Small & Medium Display Development at Samsung Display, was selected as a person of merit for the promotion of industrial technology at the festival, receiving the Presidential Commendation. EVP Choi was recognized for his pivotal role in the development of foldable displays.

A bar chart illustrating the forecast growth of XR devices equipped with OLEDoS displays between 2025 and 2031, highlighting AR dominance.

XR Headset Shipments Set to Top 10 Million in 2025… AR Expansion Drives OLEDoS Growth

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Forecast chart of XR device shipments with OLEDoS from 2025 to 2031 (Source: UBI Research)

UBI Research forecast trend for XR device (MR/VR and AR) shipments equipped with OLEDoS from 2025 to 2031 (Source: UBI Research)

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. Notably, AR smart glasses alone saw over a 50% year-on-year increase in the first half of this year, clearly shifting the market’s center of gravity.

The AR market is diversifying, expanding its application range from AI glasses focused on information display to business-use AR glasses and content-viewing devices. In the consumer AI glasses market, primarily focused on information display, monochrome displays with resolutions around 640 x 480 (VGA) and microdisplays under 0.3 inches are commonly used, with LCoS and micro LED competing for position. Workplace AR glasses require resolutions of 1280×720 (HD) or higher, while content-viewing AR demands resolutions of 1920×1080 (FHD) or higher.  As industry’s expansion focus shifts from VR to AR, the demand for simultaneously meeting ultra-high resolution, high brightness, and lightweight requirements has grown significantly. Consequently, OLEDoS is evaluated as the fastest-growing display technology within the XR ecosystem.

Global manufacturers are also accelerating OLEDoS development and supply chain expansion. Samsung Display joined the OLEDoS market, previously led by Sony, BOE, and Seeya, by supplying OLEDoS panels for Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy XR, released in October 2025, following Sony. In China, companies like BOE, Seeya, and SIDTEK have commenced mass production of 12-inch OLEDoS panels, marking the most notable shift in the supply chain. Chinese firms are strengthening their in-house capabilities in core processes such as high-resolution patterning, Si-backplane design, and tandem OLED structures, suggesting their global supply share will rapidly expand in the future.

UBI Research analyst Changho Noh predicted, “The OLEDoS market is projected to grow from approximately $285 million in 2025 to $840 million by 2031, driven by supply chain expansion and diverse demand bases.”

He further analyzed, “Shipments of OLEDoS-equipped XR devices are expected to increase from 1.2 million units in 2025 to 8.86 million units by 2031, with AR devices anticipated to account for approximately 90% of total OLEDoS shipments by 2031.”

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶XR Industry Trends and OLEDoS Display Technology & Industry Analysis Report

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2026 Outlook (1) Premium TV: OLED TV Cost Improvement and Mini-LED Expansion Strategy

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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. In particular, leveraging the efficiency of large-area panel production using 10.5th-generation LCD production lines, they have introduced products at a variety of price points. This shift has diversified the competitive landscape in the ultra-large market, particularly those 80 inches and above.

According to a table analyzing the selling prices of OLED and RGB Mini-LED TVs by UBI Research, factors other than price still play a significant role in consumer selection in the 60- to 70-inch segment. While RGB Mini-LED TVs have become more accessible, with prices dropping to around $1,000, OLED TVs are also selling at similar price points, thanks to sales promotions and a mature supply chain, maintaining a balanced technological landscape. In particular, OLED’s unique picture quality characteristics, such as black expression, viewing angle, and response time, continue to be a key factor in the premium 65- to 77-inch market.

2025 OLED TV and RGB Mini-LED TV Price Comparison by Size (Source: UBI Research)

2025 OLED TV and RGB Mini-LED TV Price Comparison by Size (Source: UBI Research)

A key variable in the 2026 market outlook is structural improvements in OLED TV panel manufacturing costs. With the end of depreciation of LG Display’s Guangzhou 8.5th-generation OLED line in the second half of 2025, fixed costs will be reduced. Furthermore, process stabilization and material cost reductions are expected to streamline the overall cost structure. This will allow manufacturers to pursue a broader range of pricing strategies and is highly likely to strengthen OLED’s price competitiveness, particularly in the premium 65- to 77-inch market.

Meanwhile, the Mini-LED camp is expected to adopt various strategies to address this trend. Major manufacturers are seeking to maintain competitiveness through improvements in backlight structures, refinement of operating algorithms, and product portfolio restructuring. Based on production structures that leverage the 10.5th-generation LCD line, they are likely to expand their product line options in ultra-large and mid- to large-sized products. Analysts suggest that RGB Mini-LED TVs will continue to offer advantages in terms of production efficiency, particularly in the ultra-large market (80 inches and above). UBI Research Vice President Han Chang-wook predicted, “In 2026, the premium TV market will become more structured, with each technology’s strengths differing across segments, driven by a complex mix of consumer demands, pricing conditions, and manufacturers’ product strategies.” He continued, “OLED is expected to strengthen its competitiveness in key premium segments based on cost improvements, while Mini-LED will expand its response strategy based on production efficiency in ultra-large areas. This will strengthen the multi-layered market structure, where the two technologies each demonstrate competitiveness in different areas.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶Quarterly Medium & Large OLED Display Market Tracker Sample

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Meizu StarV Air2 Micro-LED AR glasses illustrating the trend of lightweight and AI-integrated eyewear.

Micro-LED AR glasses market is set for significant expansion… ‘Lightweight design, outdoor visibility, and AI integration’ emerge as core competitive factors

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Meizu StarV Air2 Lightweight Micro-LED AR Glasses (Source: MEIZUWORLD)

Meizu StarV Air2, a mass-market AR glass featuring lightweight design and AI capabilities (Source: MEIZUWORLD)

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. This trend clearly shifts the AR market’s focus from high-priced, high-performance MR headsets toward information-centric AR glasses suitable for everyday use.

 

Market Expansion: Rapid Commercialization Centered on Chinese OEMs

2024 marks the turning point where Micro-LED AR glasses began entering the actual consumer market. Chinese manufacturers including Orion AR from Southeast University, INMO, Dreame, and Thunderbird simultaneously launched numerous Micro-LED AR glasses around April 2024. Subsequently, in August and September, mass-market models like the Sihe G1 and Meizu StarV Air2 appeared at reasonable price points. Global brands such as Vuzix and Rokid also expanded their industrial and consumer models, joining the market expansion trend. This continuous product launch demonstrates that Micro-LED is no longer primarily a research and development technology, but has entered the market application phase as a practical technology.

 

Technical Direction: Monochrome Micro-LED + Waveguide Becoming Mainstream

The core technology combination in currently commercialized products is monochrome Micro-LED and waveguide. This structure offers significant advantages: high luminous efficiency, low power consumption, thin and lightweight optical structures, and excellent outdoor visibility.

Major models like the Meizu StarV Air2, INMO GO 2, and Vuzix Z100 all adopt monochrome Micro‑LED, making monochrome-based solutions the likely mainstream for consumer AR glasses in the near term.

On the other hand, prototypes like the ThunderBird X3 Pro and Meta Orion AR utilize full-color Micro‑LED. However, due to process complexity, yield issues, and cost concerns, they remain in the research and prototyping phase. While big tech companies are strategically developing this technology, indicating its high medium-to-long-term importance, short-term commercialization remains limited.

 

Price Structure: The US$100–500 range forms the mass-market segment.

Based on the Chinese market, the primary price range for Micro-LED AR glasses is established at US$100–500. This price range is advantageous for positioning AR glasses as an extension device for smartphones and smartwatches, indicating the potential for Micro-LED-based AR glasses to expand into a market of 10 million units.

  • Entry-level (Sihe G1, INMO GO 2)
  • Mid-range (Meizu StarV Air2)
  • Global Mid-Range Model (Vuzix Z100)

 

Player Landscape: A Tripartite Ecosystem of Local Chinese, Global, Niche, and Big Tech Players

Currently, the Micro-LED AR glasses ecosystem is led by three groups. The product ecosystem formed by Chinese OEMs intersects with the platform strategies of global companies, creating a multi-layered growth structure in the AR market across technology, price, and ecosystem.

1) Chinese Local OEMs (Meizu, INMO, Dreame, Sihe, Thunderbird, etc.)

→ Rapid productization, price competitiveness, platform expansion strategy based on JBD engine

→ Pioneering the mass market centered on domestic Chinese demand

2) Global Niche/Industrial Companies (Vuzix, Rokid, etc.)

Bridge role between industrial AR demand and lightweight consumer AR

→ Increasing Micro-LED adoption in B2B-centric markets

3) Big Tech Platforms (Google, Meta)

→ Building OS-SDK (Software Development Kit)-Cloud-based AR platforms

→ Technology development at the exhibition product stage to preempt next-generation interfaces based on Micro-LED

 

Market Outlook: Toward an ‘All-day AR’ Era with Ultra-Lightweight, Outdoor Visibility Foundations

Analyzing product specifications and launch trends, Micro-LED AR glasses are likely to evolve in the following directions:

  • Expansion from monochrome to full-color AR
  • Ultra-lightweight designs in the 40-50g range will become the de facto market baseline.
  • Accelerated standardization of engine-optics modules and design modularization
  • Intensified competition in the AR OS-AI-app ecosystem centered around Big Tech

The 44g Meizu StarV Air2, in particular, prominently features a practical price point, lightweight design, outdoor visibility, and wearable AI capabilities, positioning it as a likely benchmark model for mass-market AR glasses. The StarV Air2 has launched sales not only domestically in China but also on select global online channels, with a known price point around US$300-400. This represents a competitive price range within the existing, high-price-focused AR market and is expected to accelerate the adoption of ultra-lightweight AR devices.

 

UBI Research analyzed that “maximizing lightness and practicality instead of implementing full-color, high-resolution MR is the key differentiator,” adding that “this demonstrates the potential for information-assistance-focused AR glasses to enter the mass market.”

Joohan Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research (joohanus@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

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eatured image for TCL CSOT’s T8 Gen-8.6 inkjet-printed OLED line indicating equipment ordering and 2027 mass-production target (Source: TCL CSOT, UBI Research)

CSOT T8 8.6G IJP OLED Project Nears Key Equipment Orders…Despite Scheduling Variables, Mass-Production Target Remains Intact

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TCL CSOT inkjet-printed OLED monitor panel on display (Source: TCL CSOT)

Demonstration of TCL CSOT’s IJP OLED monitor panel (Source: TCL CSOT)

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.

According to industry sources, orders for core T8 equipment, including inkjet printing systems and deposition tools, are scheduled to begin in December 2024. Inkjet printing, the central platform of the T8 process, determines panel quality, yield, and material utilization; the tool alone is said to account for more than half of the total investment. CSOT is currently engaged in detailed price and specification negotiations with major tool suppliers, while aiming to complete all remaining equipment orders by February 2025. However, with key tool prices trending higher than initially expected, the pace of early investment execution may be adjusted.

CSOT plans to bring in the first batch of equipment for the T8 line in October 2026, though there is a high likelihood that actual delivery could slip toward the end of 2026. Several tool categories still require mass-production-level validation, and negotiations with the inkjet equipment supplier may take longer than anticipated. Even so, the company is maintaining its official target of beginning mass production in the fourth quarter of 2027. Internally, CSOT is said to be preparing mitigation measures to ensure that a 2–3 month delay in tool delivery does not materially impact the overall project schedule.

The strategic significance of the T8 project extends well beyond the addition of a new production line. Inkjet-printed OLED structurally overcomes the process constraints of the conventional FMM (Fine Metal Mask) approach for large-size panels, offering advantages such as material utilization above 90 percent, elimination of large-mask issues, and strong scalability toward high resolution. T8 is designed as a multi-product platform spanning 14–17-inch notebooks, 27–32-inch monitors, and 65–77-inch TVs. Once mass production stabilizes, the T8 line is expected to reshape price-competition dynamics across the IT, monitor, and TV markets.

Junho Kim, Analyst at UBI Research (alertriot@ubiresearch.com)

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Featured graphic of 2024–2025 OLED shipment share by application highlighting smartphone dominance and China’s rising supply share (Source: UBI Research)

Dual Axes of the 2025 OLED Market: Korea’s Premium Focus and China’s Expansion in Shipments

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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.

By application, smartphones dominated the OLED market in 2024, accounting for 82% of total shipments, reaching 833.8 million units. Watches accounted for 119.7 million units (12%), while other product groups, including tablets, laptops, monitors, and TVs, remained small markets. This structure continued in 2025, with smartphone shipments increasing to 920.7 million units, representing 84% of the total. Watches remained relatively stable at 113.4 million units, and the share of other product groups remained largely unchanged.

Pie charts of OLED shipments by application for 2024 and 2025 showing larger smartphone share (Source: UBI Research)

OLED shipment share by application, 2024 (left) and 2025 (right) (Source: UBI Research)

In 2024, the roles of Korea and China in OLED panel supply were clearly divided. Samsung Display maintained its position as the largest supplier with 410 million units (41%), while LG Display recorded 100 million units (11%). In the same year, Chinese panel makers continued their quantitative expansion, accounting for 48% of the total, with a combined shipment of 490 million units: BOE with 138 million units, Visionox with 114 million units, Tianma with 102 million units, CSOT with 83 million units, and EverDisplay with 43 million units.

This structure was further strengthened in 2025. Chinese panel makers, including BOE, Tianma, Visionox, CSOT, and EverDisplay, combined to ship 555 million units annually, accounting for over 51% of the global supply, emerging as a key player in the global supply chain. In the same year, Samsung Display maintained its technology-focused responsiveness, with shipments reaching 411 million units (37%), while LG Display reached 128 million units (12%).

The differences in sales strategies between the two countries were also clear. In 2024, Samsung Display solidified its premium-focused structure with $25.6 billion (57%), while LG Display also achieved $7 billion. Conversely, Chinese companies such as BOE, Visionox, and Tianma demonstrated a trend of expanding sales based on mass production. In 2025, LG Display grew significantly to $11.6 billion, and BOE’s shipments also expanded to $7.1 billion, further separating the two countries’ technology and production strategies.

In summary, the OLED market in 2025 saw a strengthened smartphone-centric demand structure, while Chinese companies accounted for over half of panel shipments, demonstrating a clear shift in regional composition. Korean companies maintained a sales structure centered on high-value-added products, while Chinese companies continued to expand their market presence based on increased shipments. UBI Research Executive Vice President Changwook Han said, “The 2025 OLED market is a period in which the supply structure by region and company is expanding simultaneously, with each company broadening its market response based on its product portfolio and technological capabilities.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

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Composite image of Garmin Fenix 8 Pro Micro-LED smartwatch showing front face and side view for outdoor visibility (Source: Garmin)

When will the commercialization competition of Micro-LED smartwatch products become feasible?

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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. However, when Apple halted its own development in early 2024, the difficulties of the Micro-LED manufacturing process and high cost issues came to the fore, suggesting that commercialization of Micro-LED smartwatches would require more time.

Assorted Micro-LED smartwatch prototypes from multiple vendors

Assorted Micro-LED smartwatch prototypes from multiple vendors

However, sports smart wearable brand Garmin launched the world’s first Micro-LED smartwatch, the ‘Fenix 8 Pro’, in September this year. It is currently retailing for approximately 13,000 yuan on Chinese online shopping platforms. Garmin’s September launch sent a significant signal to the market, demonstrating that Micro-LED technology has secured commercial viability in the smartwatch sector.  Of course, there are still many areas requiring improvement. Nevertheless, beyond AUO, which is already in mass production, companies like PlayNitride, Innolux, Samsung Display, TCL CSOT, and Tianma are actively entering the market and accelerating efforts to commercialize Micro-LED smartwatches. By late 2023, AUO had already achieved mass production of Micro-LED watch panels. In its subsequent production plans, AUO’s 4.5-generation Micro-LED production line is scheduled to enter mass production this year, with products covering smartwatches and large TVs. At CES 2025, Samsung Display showcased a watch prototype (2.1 inches, 418×540 resolution, 326 ppi) developed over years of Micro-LED technology advancement. Chinese home appliance company KONKA also unveiled its Micro-LED watch, the APHAEA Watch, in 2020. The Chongqing KONKA Optoelectronics Technology Research Institute is enhancing core technologies to reduce manufacturing costs. PlayNitride has positioned smartwatches as a key growth driver this year, exhibiting a 1.39-inch smartwatch panel at Touch Taiwan 2025. This product applies high-efficiency, low-power ‘Tantium’ chip technology to achieve high resolution and 5,000 nits peak brightness, presenting a new solution that simultaneously delivers low power consumption and high image quality for wearable devices. Innolux has also developed 1.1-inch and 1.39-inch Micro-LED displays with integrated touch sensors. Tianma has established a dedicated Micro-LED research institute and is exploring new application areas like smartwatches, in addition to automotive applications.

Garmin Fenix 8 Pro Micro-LED smartwatch (Source: Garmin)

Garmin Fenix 8 Pro Micro-LED smartwatch (Source: Garmin)

Garmin has pioneered Micro-LED in smartwatches, but who will be the next contender for Micro-LED smartwatches? When will commercialization competition become feasible? Significant hurdles remain. Developed watch panels (326~338 PPI) achieve high brightness levels of 4,000~6,000 nits. However, to compete with existing OLED products, Micro-LED chip and manufacturing costs must be reduced, and power consumption characteristics must be improved. Recent announcements from Micro-LED technology companies clearly outline and are actively pursuing solutions to overcome these cost challenges. The mid-to-long-term strategy for Micro-LED smartwatches is to build integrated technological capabilities combining Micro-LED technology with health monitoring sensors. Long-term, as chip miniaturization technology matures and the advantages of sensor integration are fully realized, Micro-LED is expected to break free from its niche market limitations and expand into the broader wearable product market. UBI Research analyzed that the Micro-LED smartwatch market will fully open starting in 2028.

Namdeog Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research(ndkim@ubiresearch.com)

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Shoei GT-Air 3 Smart featuring an OLEDoS HUD that projects navigation and speed in the rider’s field of view

Smart Helmet Evolved with OLEDoS Technology: Shoei GT-Air 3 Smart Unveiled

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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.

Shoei GT-Air 3 Smart helmet with HUD info projected inside the visor

GT-Air 3 Smart projecting riding data in the rider’s view (Source: SHOEI)

Conventional LCD or projection systems face limitations in size, weight, power consumption, and brightness. Within the confined space of a helmet, delivering clear information without obstructing the rider’s vision required a solution that was ultra-compact, high-resolution, and energy efficient. OLEDoS, built on a silicon substrate with OLED pixels, achieves full-color FHD resolution and 3,000nits’ brightness even in a miniature form factor. This ensures perfect visibility under direct sunlight and allows riders to intuitively access speed, navigation, and alerts without taking their eyes off the road.

HUD information is projected approximately 3 meters ahead, reducing eye focus adjustment and shortening reaction time by 32%. Battery efficiency is improved, enabling over 10 hours of mixed use, while low heat generation enhances the reliability of internal electronics. Above all, OLEDoS miniaturization enables full integration of HUD, audio, and communication modules without significantly increasing helmet weight.

Shoei has combined its AIM (Advanced Integrated Matrix) shell structure, ventilation system, and face shield with EyeLights’ communication technology, including unlimited distance and user intercom, active noise-canceling microphone, and Siri/Google Assistant support.

According to UBI Research’s analysis, this announcement is closely linked to the relevant patents held by Shoei (including US Patent 12,342,893 and EP3888482). These patents protect rights to the optical structure integrating a HUD into the helmet and the screen device. The structure describes forming virtual images within the rider’s field of view using light sources and reflective optical systems. It is designed to allow for various implementations, including OLED and MicroLED, without restricting the display elements to specific technologies. In practice, OLEDoS was chosen as the optimal solution to meet the structural requirements defined in the patents, delivering ultra-compact, high-brightness, and low-power performance.

The GT-Air 3 Smart was unveiled at EICMA 2025 and will be released in summer 2026 at a price of approximately $1,199 in the US. Shoei aims to achieve sales of 3 billion yen and operating profits of several hundred million yen within three years.

The GT-Air 3 Smart is the first commercial helmet to fully integrate HUD, communication, audio, and AI functions. With OLEDoS technology, it revolutionizes rider visibility and reaction speed, marking a milestone in innovation and leading the future of the smart helmet industry.

EyeLights HUD module with Sony OLED microdisplay

EyeLights HUD implementation using a Sony OLED microdisplay (Source: EyeLights)

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

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Featured graphic highlighting 6.2% QoQ rise in OLED emitter purchases to $521M in Q3 2025, driven by iPhone 17 and iPad Pro (Source: UBI Research)

3Q25 OLED Emitting Material Purchases Rise 6.2%… Driven by iPhone 17 and iPad Pro Demand

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Q3 2025 OLED emitter total sales chart (Source: UBI Research)

Q3 2025 OLED emitter total sales by UBI Research

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. Purchases increased across most applications—including smartphones, notebooks, tablet PCs, and monitors—and all major panel makers except CSOT posted higher spending during the quarter.

The ramp-up of iPhone 17 series OLED panel shipments in Q3 significantly boosted small-sized OLED production by Korean panel makers, while most Chinese panel makers also saw rising shipment volumes. Tablet PC OLED shipments, which had been weak in Q2, began to recover as supply of new iPad Pro OLED panels increased.

The emitting material market is expected to expand further over the mid- to long-term. UBI Research forecasts global emitting material purchases to grow from USD 2.93 billion in 2025 to USD 3.47 billion in 2029. Growth in the mid-to-large-sized OLED segment is projected to outpace that of small-sized OLEDs, driven largely by Apple’s adoption of tandem OLED structures across major IT products such as the iPad Pro and MacBook. This shift is accelerating structural demand for higher-performance OLED materials.

OLED adoption in the automotive display market is also emerging as a key structural growth driver. As vehicles increasingly demand high brightness and durability, the adoption of 2-stack tandem OLED structures is expected to expand, leading to steady increases in emitting material consumption for automotive applications.

Structural changes are also evident in the demand outlook by OLED architecture. The share of RGB single-stack OLED, currently the dominant structure, is expected to decline by around 10% by 2029. In contrast, emitting material purchases for RGB 2-stack tandem OLEDs are projected to grow at the fastest pace. This trend aligns with the rapid expansion of IT and automotive OLED markets, where high-reliability and high-brightness performance requirements favor tandem structures.

Investment strategies among panel makers are further contributing to the expansion of the emitting material market. Major Korean and Chinese panel makers are actively investing in 8.6-generation IT-oriented OLED production lines, accelerating a long-term shift from a small-sized OLED–centric market toward a structure in which IT and automotive OLEDs account for a larger share. Beginning in 2026, Samsung Display, BOE, and Visionox are expected to begin full-scale mass production on their 8.6G 2-stack tandem OLED lines, which will drive a rapid increase in related emitting material consumption.

UBI Research analyst Noh Chang-ho stated, “Once full-scale mass production begins after 2026, emitting material consumption for RGB 2-stack tandem OLEDs will grow rapidly.” However, he also cautioned that “as Chinese emitting material suppliers begin providing low-cost materials to domestic panel makers, the growth rate of emitting material purchase value may not fully match the increase in consumption volume,” highlighting rising concerns over intensifying price competition.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

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Tianma Unveils Future Display Roadmap at TIC 2025

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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. This year’s TIC was attended by approximately 1,000 participants, including government and academic officials, global industry chain partners, investment institutions, and the media, who discussed the future direction of next-generation display technology. The conference served as a meaningful platform to showcase Tianma’s technological innovation achievements and simultaneously announce its ecological cooperation, technological standards, and sustainable development strategies.

The event featured specialized sessions on five key technology areas strategically strengthened by Tianma: the intelligent cockpit ecosystem, OLED technology, IT display technology, Micro LED, and intelligent sensing. A panoramic exhibition space encompassing smartphones, vehicles, IT, wearables, and professional displays was also unveiled. The “Tiangong Screen” experience zone showcased premium OLED technology, featuring eye protection, high resolution, and high refresh rates. The “Tianxuan Screen” exhibition area showcased advanced vehicle display experiences, showcased in real vehicles, including the Yangwang U9 and U7, ZEEKR 009 Glory Edition and 9X, NIO ES6, and Xpeng X9.

OLED technology for smartphones garnered significant attention at the presentation. Tianma unveiled the world’s first “Full Ambient Light Sensing Display,” which integrates fingerprint recognition, ambient light detection, and panel life monitoring into a single panel. This significantly enhances the user experience by reducing sensor thickness by 99% and improving light detection performance by 40x. Furthermore, the company unveiled “Super Narrow Bezel” technology, which utilizes circuit optimization based on LTPO 3.0 Pro to reduce the bezel by 20% for enhanced immersion, and the “Premium Health Display” solution, which improves blue and green light emission efficiency to reduce power consumption. In the automotive display sector, a number of technologies that best portray the future of cockpits have emerged. The 49.6-inch ultra-wide-angle panoramic screen integrates the instrument panel, side mirrors, rearview mirror, and center console into a single large screen. Its ACRUS-based pixel-level dimming technology delivers a contrast ratio of 100,000:1 and low reflectivity. Furthermore, the “IRIS HUD Panoramic Screen,” with its 12,000nit brightness, projects driving information clearly onto the windshield, garnering attention as a HUD solution that simultaneously addresses power and thickness issues. Adding to this a 13-inch central display with an L-shaped curved panel and a dynamic roll-up screen that can expand or hide a 17-inch screen in just six seconds, the possibilities for in-vehicle UX have been significantly expanded.

Tianma IRIS HUD Panoramic Automotive Display System (Source: Tianma)

Tianma IRIS HUD Panoramic Automotive Display System (Source: Tianma)

Tianma 49.6-inch Curved ACRUS Panoramic Screen for Automotive (Source: Tianma)

Tianma 49.6-inch Curved ACRUS Panoramic Screen for Automotive (Source: Tianma)

IT display technology targets next-generation PCs and esports demand. “LEAF 2.0” technology, which significantly reduces logic power consumption even at 1Hz through oxide-based ultra-low frequency operation, addresses the power efficiency demands of the AIPC era. The world’s first esports panel with a 610Hz refresh rate aims to optimize the screen for professional gaming environments with ultra-fast response and minimal afterimages.

Finally, in the Micro LED field, Tianma unveiled its flagship products, symbolizing the company’s technological prowess. The first exhibit to catch the eye was the 19-inch IRIS HUD Micro-LED, a HUD solution that delivers over 2,000 nits of brightness to the driver’s field of vision through precision tiling and a high-brightness design. Featuring a compact structure and non-reflective design, it suggests the potential for lighter and smaller HUDs for luxury vehicles.

Furthermore, the 19-inch transparent Micro-LED tiling panel demonstrates next-generation HMI technology, combining 60% transparency with 5,000nits of brightness to display information while maintaining a clear view from inside the vehicle. The 7.05-inch ultra-slim bezel transparent Micro-LED, displayed alongside the display, boasts a bezel of less than 0.1mm, emphasizing the design perfection of the transparent display.

At the center of the exhibition was a 108-inch 4K Seamless Tiling Micro-LED. This all-laser transmission-based display features 1,500nits peak brightness, a 0mm bezel, and a sophisticated LTPS-based structure. The seamless implementation ensured that the module boundaries were virtually invisible during actual playback.

This exhibition demonstrated the rapid expansion of Micro-LED technology and its potential for implementation in diverse applications, including automotive, IT, and large commercial screens. Tianma showcased its extensive portfolio, encompassing HUDs, transparent panels, and large tiling screens, clearly demonstrating its Micro-LED R&D strategy and signaling its potential to shape a new competitive landscape in the premium display market.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

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TIC 2025: Tianma Unveils Dual Micro LED Roadmap Targeting AR, Automotive, and IT

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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. The presentation began by emphasizing that Micro LED has passed the technology verification stage and entered a full-fledged growth phase. Tianma explained that Micro LED’s unique values ​​of high resolution, high brightness, and low power consumption are precisely aligned with the demands of major application fields such as AR and MR, automotive, IT, and TV, and are emerging as a key axis driving industrial change. In particular, Tianma clearly presented the future product development direction by presenting a two-track roadmap: completing a mass production platform based on high-speed laser transfer by 2025, and then simultaneously expanding ultra-high PPI AR Micro LED and mid- to large-sized IT and automotive panels.

Tianma Micro-LED Industrialization Layout and Prospects Roadmap (Source: Tianma)

Tianma’s Micro-LED Industrialization Layout and Prospects (Source: Tianma)

Tianma highlighted its rapid internalization of the entire value chain, encompassing chip, transfer, panel, and calibration technologies, as a key strength. According to the announcement, Micro LED chip sizes have been reduced from 20μm to less than 5μm, and efficiency has improved to 65-90%. At the module level, Demura-based ultra-high uniformity correction technology has secured screen uniformity of over 99%. A high-speed, large-area transfer platform has been established, laying the technological foundation for precise placement of millions of chips. Furthermore, chip-on-glass-based pixel repair technology supports its yield maximization strategy.

In terms of manufacturing structure, Tianma announced a hybrid roadmap that utilizes three manufacturing strategies: RGB precision transfer, bump structures, and QD color conversion, tailored to each application. RGB is optimized for large-scale, high-resolution panels for IT applications, while the blue single-chip-based QD color conversion method, with its high yield and simplified process, is emerging as a key solution for ultra-high PPI displays for AR and MR. Tianma predicts that ultra-high-resolution Micro LEDs focused on AR and MR, and mid- to large-sized panels focused on automotive and IT, will become the two pillars of the future Micro LED market, and announced that it will continue to strengthen its “dual strategy” to secure competitiveness in both markets.

The Micro LED products on display at TIC 2025 were a symbolic demonstration of Tianma’s technological maturity. The 108-inch 4K “Borderless Giant Screen” in particular attracted great attention. This screen, realized through a combination of Full Laser Mass Transfer (FLM) and Seamless Splicing technologies, has virtually invisible seams of less than 20μm. With a maximum brightness of 1,500 nits, a reflectivity of less than 2%, and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1, it demonstrated that Micro LED technology can achieve OLED-level picture quality while also offering higher brightness and durability than LCD. It is evaluated as a representative example that shows the potential of Micro LED in various fields such as large commercial spaces, high-end home cinema, and professional video environments.

Tianma 108-inch 4K Micro-LED Borderless Giant Screen (Source: Tianma)

Tianma’s 108-inch 4K Micro-LED Borderless Giant Screen displayed at TIC 2025 (Source: Tianma)

UBI Research Vice President Changwook Han evaluated this conference, saying, “What is particularly impressive is that Tianma is rapidly internalizing the entire Micro LED process technology.” He analyzed that in the Micro LED market, which is being reorganized into two axes of ultra-high-resolution AR/MR and medium- to large-sized IT/vehicle displays, Tianma is establishing a technological foundation that can compete in both areas. He also said, “The 108-inch borderless screen on display this time is a symbolic result that shows that Tianma has moved beyond the R&D stage and entered the actual product implementation stage,” and predicted that the completion of the entire process, yield, and large-area technology to secure future mass production competitiveness will be a significant inflection point in the global Micro LED market.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

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Featured image illustrating global IT OLED shipment growth forecast through 2029 (Source: UBI Research)

“Beyond Mobile” Era Begins… IT OLED to More Than Double by 2029

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IT OLED shipment forecast chart for 2025–2029 (Source: UBI Research)

IT OLED shipment forecast (Source: UBI Research)

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.

Company-level shipment projections also show clear shifts. Samsung Display, currently the largest producer of OLED panels for notebooks, tablets, and monitors, is expected to maintain a stable market share of more than 60%. LG Display, Everdisplay, BOE, and Visionox are projected to follow, shaping a competitive global landscape in the IT OLED market.

Because most IT OLED products use medium-to-large panel sizes, large-substrate production lines that maximize glass utilization rates are essential. As global device makers—especially Apple—accelerate their adoption of OLED across IT product categories, panel manufacturers are positioning 8.6-generation (8.6G) OLED line investments as a core strategic priority.

The investment landscape reflects this trend. After Samsung Display announced the industry’s first 8.6G OLED line investment worth approximately KRW 4 trillion in April 2023, BOE, Visionox, and TCL CSOT soon followed. More recently, Tianma has also begun reviewing 8.6G OLED investment, drawing attention across the industry. This shift signals that the OLED market is moving beyond a smartphone-centered structure and into a phase of expanding demand driven by notebooks, tablets, and monitors.

As the market grows, technology requirements for IT OLEDs are also becoming more stringent. The report highlights that IT products have longer replacement cycles and a higher percentage of white-background usage for document work, making them more vulnerable to burn-in than smartphones. As a result, 2-stack tandem OLED, known for long lifetime, high brightness, and high efficiency, is evaluated as essential. Samsung Display, BOE, and Visionox are therefore investing in production lines capable of mass-producing 2-stack tandem OLED.

Customer acquisition competition is another critical factor. Samsung Display has secured Apple as a key customer and is building its strategy around mass production for the OLED “MacBook Pro.” In contrast, Chinese panel makers are prioritizing markets for OLED panels used in notebooks, tablets, and smartphones among Chinese and global brands, rather than targeting Apple’s supply chain as their first objective.

UBI Research Vice President Changwook Han stated, “As Chinese OLED panel makers rush into 8.6G OLED investments in an effort to catch up with Samsung Display, the industry is closely watching how effectively Samsung Display can leverage its technology leadership to secure additional IT customers beyond Apple.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

Visualization of TCL CSOT’s 0.28-inch 5,131 PPI Micro LED and 2.56-inch 1,500 PPI OLED microdisplay technologies

0.28-inch 5,131 PPI Micro LED and 1,500 PPI OLED… TCL CSOT Takes the Micro-display Market to the Next Level

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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. This announcement is particularly noteworthy because TCL CSOT has achieved breakthroughs in both silicon-based and glass-based technologies, creating a significant shift in the technological landscape of the micro-display market.

The most noteworthy product is a 0.28-inch full-color silicon-based Micro LED micro-display. This product delivers full color with high color accuracy on a single chip, and with an ultra-high pixel density of 1280 x 720 and 5,131 PPI, it achieves a “retina-level clarity.” The high-density structure, which makes pixel particles completely imperceptible on small screens, offers significant advantages, particularly in devices with extremely close eye-to-screen distances, such as AR glasses. Furthermore, the silicon-based self-luminous structure facilitates high brightness and a high contrast ratio, enabling a clear image even in small displays prone to brightness loss. Combining Micro LED’s high-efficiency light-emitting characteristics with ultra-high brightness, its ability to maintain clarity even outdoors or in high-light environments is considered a clear competitive advantage over existing OLED-based micro displays.

TCL CSOT 0.28-inch 5,131 PPI silicon-based Micro-LED display (Source: TCL CSOT)

TCL CSOT 0.28-inch 5,131 PPI Micro-LED display (Source: TCL CSOT)

TCL CSOT’s proprietary quantum dot-based color conversion material is also significant. Combining a single blue Micro LED with a quantum dot color conversion layer, rather than individual RGB chips, for full-color implementation offers significant technological value in terms of simplified manufacturing processes, stable yields, and improved color reproducibility. In particular, managing luminous efficiency and color uniformity is crucial for AR displays, which are undergoing extreme miniaturization. TCL CSOT’s material technology is believed to have significantly addressed these limitations. This high-efficiency material-based approach demonstrates the potential for improved cost structure in future mass production and is a key step toward resolving the color process challenges that have hindered the commercialization of Micro LED AR devices.

On another front, the 2.56-inch glass-based Real RGB OLED is noteworthy. VR and MR displays have relied on silicon-based OLEDs to achieve high PPI, but their high manufacturing costs have limited their adoption in mainstream products. TCL CSOT’s achievement of over 1,500 PPI on a glass substrate goes beyond simple high-resolution performance and signals a potential shift in the VR and MR market structure itself. Adopting a Real RGB pixel structure ensures color accuracy and color coordinate stability, while specifications like a refresh rate of over 120Hz and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 fully meet the demands of high-end VR and MR devices.

TCL CSOT 2.56-inch glass-based Real RGB OLED display (Source: TCL CSOT)

TCL CSOT 2.56-inch glass-based Real RGB OLED display (Source: TCL CSOT)

Global big tech companies, in particular, are embracing this same technological trend. Apple, following the launch of its “Vision Pro” in 2024, which uses silicon-based OLEDoS, is reportedly preparing a glass-based MR display for its next entry-level model to reduce costs. This demonstrates a growing shift in the high-resolution VR and MR market, moving away from a silicon-based, single-resolution strategy and toward diversifying substrate structures based on application and price range. The attention given to TCL CSOT’s glass-based, high-PPI OLED is aligned with this industry shift. Glass substrates, with their high cost competitiveness, play a crucial role in popularizing VR and MR. Their ability to lower price barriers while maintaining high resolution is likely to impact the entire global supply chain.

TCL CSOT’s technological advancements in both silicon-based Micro LED and glass-based OLED demonstrate the growing emphasis on high-density, low-power, and high-brightness requirements for future AR and VR devices. Micro LEDs, with their high brightness, peak performance, low power consumption, and long lifespan, are particularly suited for ultra-compact and lightweight devices centered around AR glasses. OLEDs, with their wide color gamut and high-quality image quality, enhance the immersive experience of VR and MR headsets. As the complementary nature of these two technologies becomes more evident, the micro-display market, which had stagnated in recent years, is rapidly expanding again.

UBI Research Executive Vice President Changwook Han commented on this technology announcement, saying, “Micro LED and high-resolution OLED are key technologies that determine the completeness and user experience of AR and MR devices.” He added, “Micro LED, in particular, is at a critical turning point that will accelerate the commercialization of AR glasses in terms of brightness, power, and lifespan. The proliferation of glass-based, high-PPI OLEDs will lower the cost barriers in the VR and MR markets, rapidly accelerating the expansion of mass-market models.” He summarized the future direction of the micro-display ecosystem as “lightweight, low power, and high definition,” predicting that companies that comprehensively optimize not only technology but also optics, materials, and actuator quality will secure future competitiveness.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

Illustration summarizing China’s display industry response to EU PFAS REACH restrictions

China’s Display Industry prepares for EU PFAS regulations

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EU REACH PFAS restriction proposal timeline

EU PFAS REACH restriction proposal timeline

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). The EU’s REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) PFAS substance restriction regulation is based on an initial proposal submitted in January 2023 by five member states: Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. Following a public consultation from March to September 2023, which gathered over 5,600 comments, an updated Background Document was published on August 20, 2025.

This regulation proposes restriction options due to the environmental and health hazards posed by PFAS’s persistence, mobility, and bioaccumulation. Concentration limits were set at 25 ppb for individual PFAS, 250 ppb for group totals, and 50 ppm for all PFAS (including polymers). The Commission will publish the amended REACH regulation in December 2025. Following deliberation by the Parliament and Council, full implementation will commence in 2027. Essential use exemptions (e.g., medical devices, safety-related applications) will undergo strict scrutiny and will only be permitted when no alternatives exist. Penalties, determined by member state laws, include administrative and criminal sanctions, posing a significant risk of export bans for violations. This regulation forms part of the EU’s ‘Chemical Strategy for Sustainability’ (2020), aiming for an 80% phase-out of PFAS by 2030.

These regulations are expected to directly impact OLED and LCD processes in the display industry (cleaning agents, coating agents, etc.), prompting major Chinese companies to reassess supply chains and develop alternatives. For the display industry, developing PFAS-free alternatives (such as silicon-based coatings) for OLED deposition and cleaning processes is a key challenge. China’s display industry, with its high export share to the EU, is expected to face impacts across its entire supply chain.

BOE is reevaluating key materials for its European exports—including photoresist (PR), polarizers, and cleaning solutions—to comply with EU REACH standards. It has requested suppliers like Japan’s JSR and Shin-Etsu Chemical to switch to non-fluorinated alternatives and is testing silicon-based coatings on a pilot line at its Hefei plant. Considering the EU market’s 22% share of its total sales, non-compliance by 2026 could risk halting exports. BOE is concurrently improving its AMOLED processes, primarily at its Chongqing and Hefei plants, while constructing an 8.6-generation AMOLED line (B16) with a target lighting-up date of late 2025. The LCD product line, with its lower process complexity, plans to prioritize the transition to PFAS-free materials by 2027. Notably, for Apple supply, PFAS-free materials are scheduled for application starting with the iPhone 18 series. BOE is evaluating PFAS-free options from Rouxian (柔显) and Mitsubishi Chemical to replace the Black PDL (Pixel Definition Layer) material. Black PDL is a core material in the Pol-less OLED structure, contributing to reduced device thickness and improved efficiency.

TCL CSOT is enhancing its process to minimize PFAS usage by leveraging inkjet printing (IJP) technology. Its 8.6-generation OLED factory, which broke ground in Guangzhou in November 2025, applies IJP to directly print RGB materials without fluorine-based vapor deposition processes, expecting a 20% cost reduction and improved energy efficiency. TCL CSOT highlighted the potential for minimizing PFAS use, reducing costs by 20%, and improving energy efficiency at SID Display Week 2025.

Visionox is reducing PFAS dependency with its FMM-free ‘ViP (Visionox intelligent Pixelization)’ technology. This photolithography-based pixel patterning reduces PFAS exposure during cleaning and coating steps. Construction of its Hefei 8.6-generation OLED factory commenced in late February 2025.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) set a 70% domestic substitution rate target for PFAS alternatives by 2026 in its ‘PFAS Usage Restriction Roadmap’ announced in December 2024, while expanding R&D subsidies for companies like BOE and TCL CSOT. This represents national-level support linked to semiconductor and display self-sufficiency policies, bolstering China’s OLED shipment expansion. The MIIT roadmap prioritizes banning specific PFAS like PFHxA and PFOA, similar to the EU REACH regulation, aiming for full implementation by 2027.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

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Illustration of the Peugeot Polygon Concept Car featuring Micro-LED HUD, front lighting, rear & C-pillar displays (Source: UBI Research)

Peugeot Polygon Concept Car: Micro LED Unlocks the Next-Generation UX Experience

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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. Positioned as a representative model of Peugeot’s post-2027 identity, the Polygon concept blends futuristic design language with production-ready engineering, drawing industry attention as a prototype that goes beyond the typical inspirational show car.

Inside the vehicle, the Polygon concept redefines the traditional in-car interface. The conventional instrument cluster has been removed, and key driving information is projected directly onto the windshield through a Micro LED module positioned behind the Hypersquare® steering controller. The projected display area measures approximately 24 × 74 cm, equivalent to about 31 inches, allowing drivers to view critical information without shifting their gaze-an evolution of AR-based HUD technology.

Micro LED technology is also extensively incorporated into the exterior lighting system. At the front, Peugeot’s signature Three-Claw Lighting design is arranged horizontally and powered by Micro LED to achieve high brightness and high-density illumination. Both the headlights and taillights utilize Micro LED screens capable of rendering dynamic graphics, creating a cohesive visual identity across the vehicle while enabling advanced personalization.

A dedicated Micro LED display is mounted on the rear C-pillar near the charging connector, allowing users to check the vehicle’s charging status without entering the cabin. Despite its small size, the display delivers outstanding visibility and energy efficiency-core strengths of Micro LED-offering both functional value and refined design aesthetics.

Peugeot Polygon Concept Car 31-inch Micro-LED HUD (Source: Peugeot)

31-inch Micro-LED HUD of the Polygon Concept Car (Source: Peugeot)

Peugeot Polygon Concept Car Micro-LED Front Lighting System (Source: Peugeot)

Micro-LED front lighting on the Polygon Concept Car (Source: Peugeot)

Peugeot Polygon Concept Car Micro-LED Rear & C-Pillar Displays (Source: Peugeot)

Rear & C-Pillar Micro-LED displays in the Polygon Concept Car (Source: Peugeot)

Micro LED stands at the center of this transformation. With its high brightness, long-term durability, and programmable graphic capability, the technology is emerging as a key enabler of next-generation automotive lighting and HMI. In particular, transparent PHUDs benefit from Micro LED’s high transparency and ultra-high luminance, ensuring excellent outdoor visibility and robust performance in harsh environments.

Automotive Micro-LED market revenue forecast graph (Source: UBI Research)

Automotive Micro-LED market revenue forecast (Source: UBI Research)

Major panel manufacturers are accelerating their Micro LED strategies in line with this trend. Companies such as AUO, BOE, Tianma, and TCL CSOT are actively showcasing transparent display and PHUD-oriented Micro LED solutions, signaling rapid expansion into the automotive Micro LED market.

According to UBI Research Executive Vice President Changwook Han, “Micro LED is a next-generation display technology optimized for automotive environments through its application to transparent displays and PHUD.” He further noted that “widespread adoption is expected to begin around 2028.” Based on UBI Research’s 2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report, the automotive Micro LED display market is forecast to exceed USD 110 million by 2030.

The Polygon concept symbolizes this broader industry shift, demonstrating how Micro LED technology can redefine the future of in-vehicle UX, lighting, and information visualization-positioning Peugeot at the forefront of next-generation automotive display innovation.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trends Analysis Report

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

Tianma’s 8.07-inch HUD, 8.07-inch low-reflection transparent, 9.38-inch adjustable-transparency, and 7.05-inch narrow-bezel transparent Micro-LED displays showcased at CIIE 2025 (Source: Tianma)

Tianma Unveils ‘Next-Generation Transparent Micro-LED’ at CIIE… Technology to Watch in the Premium Mobility Market

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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. CIIE is a national-level import expo led by the Chinese government, where global companies showcase their latest technologies and products to the Chinese market. This year’s event showcased a wide range of digital industry solutions, particularly next-generation display solutions. Tianma’s Micro LED technology received high praise for its diverse applications in automotive, commercial spaces, and smart homes.

Tianma has long been a competitive player in flexible OLED and mobile/automotive displays, and has been actively developing Micro LED technology since 2017. In particular, its glass-based Micro-LED transparent display technology has seen tangible results in recent years, overcoming technical challenges. The company has achieved high mass production by establishing the industry’s first G3.5 generation fully automated mass transfer production line, and its self-developed transfer equipment reportedly achieves a production efficiency of up to 40 million units per hour. This foundation has enhanced the industrial potential of transparent displays and contributed to meeting the key characteristics of transparent displays, including high brightness, high transparency, and low reflectivity.

At this year’s CIIE, Tianma demonstrated technological advancements centered on four key Micro-LED transparent displays. First, the 8.07-inch HUD was introduced, featuring high brightness of 10,000nits, a thin structure, wide color reproducibility, and a fast response speed, making it optimized for vehicle windshield HUD applications.

Tianma 8.07-inch HUD Micro-LED display (Source: Tianma)

Tianma 8.07-inch HUD Micro-LED (Source: Tianma)

The 8.07-inch transparent, low-reflection display has the industry’s highest resolution of 167 PPI, a transmittance of over 50%, and a low reflectance of less than 3%, demonstrating its potential for use in automotive windows and instrument displays.

Tianma 8.07-inch transparent low-reflection Micro-LED display (Source: Tianma)

Tianma 8.07-inch transparent low-reflection Micro-LED (Source: Tianma)

The 9.38-inch transparency-adjustable display can automatically adapt to the surrounding light environment by changing the transparency from 0.1% to 24%, ensuring high visibility even in complex lighting conditions.

Tianma 9.38-inch transparency-adjustable Micro-LED display (Source: Tianma)

Tianma 9.38-inch adjustable-transparency Micro-LED (Source: Tianma)

Lastly, the 7.05-inch narrow bezel transparent display has an ultra-thin bezel of less than 0.1mm and transparency of over 60%, suggesting expandability in various environments such as large commercial displays, smart homes, and vehicle interfaces.

Tianma 7.05-inch narrow-bezel transparent Micro-LED display (Source: Tianma)

Tianma 7.05-inch narrow-bezel transparent Micro-LED (Source: Tianma)

Automaker Xpeng also participated in the event, discussing how Micro LED technology will transform future vehicle display configurations. An expert from Xpeng stated that displays are evolving beyond simple information displays into interactive spaces, and transparent displays will be key to this transformation. He emphasized that Tianma’s technology holds the potential to deliver new user experiences in advanced vehicles, but noted that cost and energy consumption remain major obstacles to commercialization. He noted that the current technology is likely to be initially applied to luxury vehicles priced at 500,000 yuan (approximately $70,000) or more, and that further cost reductions and process optimization are needed to expand to mass-market vehicles.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President of UBI Research, commented, “This collaboration demonstrates the expanding role of display technology in the future intelligent mobility market.” He added, “Transparent Micro-LED is a key technology that will transform vehicle interiors into platforms that combine information and interaction, and will be a crucial element in strengthening the differentiation of luxury vehicles in particular.” He also analyzed, “While there are still challenges to address in terms of cost and process efficiency, the technological achievements confirmed at this CIIE demonstrate the potential for new application markets to open up in various fields, including vehicle displays and smart spaces.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trends Analysis Report

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

Goeroptics booth at CIOE 2025 representing Goertek’s AR/XR smart glasses optical technology and new subsidiary expansion (Source: Goeroptics)

Goertek advances as a powerhouse in the AR/XR glasses industry through the establishment of a new subsidiary

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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.

In early November, Qingdao Goertek Xingqi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. was established in Qingdao City. This company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Goertek, with a registered capital of 200 million yuan. Its primary business areas include manufacturing virtual reality (VR) equipment and wearable smart devices. This signifies the company’s accelerated push into the AR/XR ecosystem through technological advancement, organizational restructuring, and ecosystem collaboration. By dedicating this new entity to AR/XR smart glasses, Goertek has revealed its strategic ambition to position smart glasses as its next-generation growth engine.

Goretek has consistently strengthened its core hardware capabilities in acoustic modules, optical modules, and precision structural components over the long term. The company announced its expansion from traditional contract component manufacturing to the role of a ‘finished product and solution provider’. Regarding its collaborative ecosystem, Gore is actively pursuing deep cooperation with brand manufacturers and optical module companies. Industry reports indicate the company has signed supply contracts for AR modules with well-known brands and is establishing joint ventures with domestic and international optical module companies to enhance its optical waveguide manufacturing capabilities.

Goeroptics booth showcasing AR/XR optical solutions at CIOE 2025 (Source: Goeroptics)

Goeroptics booth at CIOE 2025 for AR/XR optical solutions (Source: Goeroptics)

The global AR/XR smart glasses market is projected to experience rapid growth between 2026 and 2030. According to public disclosures and external reports, the company’s internal goal is to secure a leading position as a ‘module + finished product’ solution provider and achieve a 10-20% global market share in the medium term. If Goretek successfully builds an industrial supply chain from components to finished products, it is projected to become a new growth driver for the company’s overall performance.

Despite aggressive market entry, this company and industry players face major challenges. First, core display components (e.g., micro-LEDs, light guide modules) have not yet fully entered mass production. Second, for smart glasses to become part of daily wear, key issues like weight reduction, battery life, and wearing comfort must be resolved. Furthermore, the consumer smart glasses ecosystem is still in its early stages, and content and usage scenarios require further development. Companies that overcome these challenges will emerge victorious in the AR/XR glasses market competition.

Namdeog Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research(ndkim@ubiresearch.com)

▶UBI Research’s Micro Display Report

Featured image of ASUS ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W equipped with LG Display’s 4th Gen White OLED panel — 540Hz refresh rate and 1,500-nit peak brightness

ASUS ROG Leads Gaming Monitor Innovation with LG Display’s 4th-Generation White OLED

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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. LG Display is extending its proven TV technology to the monitor market, enhancing brightness and durability to address OLED’s weaknesses. ASUS, a top-five global gaming monitor manufacturer, has adopted this new OLED panel for its ROG series, marking a significant step toward popularizing OLED technology in the premium gaming monitor market.

The ROG Swift OLED PG27AQWP-W features a 26.5-inch QHD resolution, 4th-generation white OLED panel, and supports dual modes: 540Hz in QHD and 720Hz in HD. It boasts a fast response time of 0.02ms, and the application of LG Display’s 4th-generation white OLED technology delivers high luminance efficiency and a lifespan that’s approximately 60% longer than previous models. Color expression has been improved by 25%, and maximum brightness has been increased by 15% compared to the previous model.

ASUS ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W vs XG27AQDMG gaming monitor specs comparison – 4th Gen White OLED applied (Source: ASUS)

Comparison of ASUS ROG Swift PG27AQWP-W and XG27AQDMG specs (Source: ASUS)

The structure of the 4th generation white OLED is a 4-layer configuration including 2 blue light-emitting layers and red and green layers. On the other hand, the 3rd generation white OLED was a 3-layer structure with 2 blue light-emitting layers and red, green, and yellow elements arranged in one layer, and a Micro Lens Array (MLA) was applied. The peak brightness (based on 1.5% APL) of the ‘ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG’ using the 3rd generation OLED was around 1,300 nits, but this new model with the 4th generation OLED applied has improved to 1,500 nits, realizing much clearer HDR picture quality.

Comparison of LG Display’s 3rd and 4th Gen White OLED structures with brightness and lifetime improvements (Source: LG Display)

Comparison between 3rd and 4th Gen White OLED structure and performance (Source: LG Display)

LG Display’s 4th-generation OLED was first applied to LG Electronics’ “UltraGear 27GX700A” gaming monitor, in addition to ASUS. This model demonstrated the performance of the new OLED technology, achieving a full white brightness of 335 nits and a peak brightness of 1,500 nits. Starting with this ASUS ROG model, LG Display plans to expand the application of the 4th-generation white OLED to various IT monitors. Building on its expertise in OLED TVs, LG Display aims to deliver a new level of picture quality competitiveness in both gaming and creative applications.

“LG Display’s 4th-generation OLED is expected to accelerate the adoption of OLED in both the gaming and IT display markets by applying proven TV technology to monitors,” said Changwook Han, Executive Vice President of UBI Research. “In particular, the improved lifespan and high brightness achieved through the 4th-generation white OLED structure will be a significant turning point in the competitive landscape of the high-end gaming monitor market.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶ Quarterly Small OLED Display Market Tracker Sample

▶Quarterly Medium & Large OLED Display Market Tracker Sample

Graphical summary of BOE’s conversion of its B1 line to Micro OLED (OLEDoS) production and its strategic move into micro-display market (Source: UBI Research)

BOE Establishes Micro OLED Production System on B1 Line… Strengthens ‘Micro Display’ Competitiveness with In-House Silicon Backplane Development

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BOE IPC displayed 0.49-inch 4496 ppi Micro OLED (OLEDoS) AR glasses (Source: BOE)

BOE 0.49″ Micro OLED (OLEDoS) AR glasses (Source: BOE)

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. Sunic system ‘s 12-inch deposition equipment is scheduled for delivery in November. Investment funds will be supported by the Beijing B20 line, maximizing utilization of the existing B1 line infrastructure. Additionally, the company has replaced its previously outsourced silicon (Si) backplane design with an in-house development approach, achieving shorter design cycles and rapid feedback loops. Future investment plans extend beyond Micro OLED modules to include optical modules such as optical waveguides.

The primary investment objective is to respond to Meta-oriented products, which are currently competing with Seeya. Phase 1 line capacity is 5K units per month based on 12-inch wafers. Depending on market conditions, plans include expanding Phase 2 with an additional 5K capacity line.

The B20 line is currently constructing Phase 1 for R&D and manufacturing of high-resolution, high-speed LCD displays. Layout plans and mass production schedules for a Micro LED pilot line are also being finalized.

BOE is reorganizing its portfolio centered on OLEDoS and LEDoS. It is strengthening its market responsiveness with a diversified lineup: high-resolution OLEDoS products for the premium AR/VR market and high-speed LCDs for the mid-to-entry-level XR market. Concurrently, it is actively developing LEDoS as a next-generation product.

BOE is developing and mass-producing micro-displays at multiple bases including Qingdao (BIOT), Ordos (B6), Chongqing (B12), and Kunming (BMOT). The Chongqing base operates R&D and production lines for VR AMOLED, while Kunming operates OLEDoS production lines. Notably, it is strategically repurposing existing LCD infrastructure to concurrently produce high-resolution LCDs exceeding 2,000 ppi. Ordos (B6) manufactures high-speed LCD panels, while Qingdao (BIOT) assembles and produces high-speed LCD modules. BOE is intensifying its competition for XR panel orders through rapid facility expansion compared to rivals like Sony and Seeya.

The global micro-OLED display market is expected to see intense competition for orders of next-generation products destined for XR devices within the next few years. Following Sony and Seeya, companies like BOE and SIDTEK are making large-scale investments to establish annual production capacities ranging from several million to tens of millions of units. This will enable global brands like Meta, Apple, and Samsung to utilize multiple supply chains. BOE’s in-house silicon-based design and mass production system are expected to enhance the group’s overall standing in terms of product specifications and cost competitiveness.

BOE’s recent strategic shift aims to strengthen technological independence within China’s industry while securing a core supplier position in the global XR display ecosystem. Initiatives like developing its own silicon backplane and establishing a 12-inch OLEDoS line are expected to improve performance, reduce mass production costs, and shorten product launch lead times.

Detailed information on China’s Micro OLED industry status can be found in UBI Research’s report.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

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Graph illustrating 2025 foldable OLED shipment decline and anticipated 2026 market recovery driven by Apple’s foldable iPhone (Source: UBI Research)

Slow Growth in Foldable Phones Due to High Prices and Weak Demand… The 2026 Foldable iPhone Expected to Be a Turning Point

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OLED shipment trend for foldable smartphones in 2025 by quarter showing QoQ and YoY changes (Source: UBI Research)

OLED Shipment Trend for Foldable Phones (Source: UBI Research)

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.

Cumulative shipments for January–September 2025 totaled 16.7 million units, down about 20 percent from 21 million units during the same period last year. On an annual basis, foldable OLED shipments in 2025 are expected to reach 21.3 million units, a 14.4 percent decrease from the previous year.

The foldable-phone market, now in its fifth year since launch, has entered a mature stage but faces limitations in expanding its consumer base. Although leading brands such as Samsung Electronics and Huawei continue to release new products, new demand beyond replacement purchases has slowed.

The biggest constraint is price. While high-end bar-type smartphones remain in the 1.3 to 1.7 million-won range, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series sells for over 2 million won, and Huawei’s tri-fold model exceeds 3 million won. The foldable iPhone, expected to launch next year, is also likely to be priced above 2.5 million won, making it less accessible to consumers.

As a result, even within the premium market, the perception that “technological innovation does not bring enough practical benefit” is spreading, deepening consumers’ hesitation to buy.

The foldable OLED market is expected to stagnate through 2025, but structural change is likely to begin in 2026. Samsung Display is reportedly set to be the sole supplier of OLED panels for Apple’s foldable iPhone, and once full-scale mass production begins, Samsung’s foldable OLED shipments are expected to rise sharply.

Meanwhile, Chinese panel makers are responding mainly through domestic brands. BOE, CSOT, and Visionox are working to increase market share by improving next-generation hinge structures, enhancing UTG (ultra-thin glass) durability, and expanding low-cost foldable lineups. In particular, Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo are pursuing both “vertical integration” and “domestic-market-focused strategies” to secure price competitiveness.

UBI Research Executive Vice President Changwook Han said, “Foldable phone shipments are stagnant in both Korea and China, but 2026, when Apple enters the market, will be a turning point. Samsung Display is expected to strengthen its influence in the market by maintaining technological superiority and exclusively supplying foldable OLEDs to Apple.”

He added, “Chinese companies are expanding their market share through strong domestic bases, but in terms of panel performance and reliability, they still have not fully closed the technological gap with Samsung.”

The industry expects that although growth in foldable phones will remain stagnant through 2025, it will recover double-digit growth from 2026 after Apple’s market entry.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶ Quarterly Small OLED Display Market Tracker Sample

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Tianma official blue logo representing the company’s expansion of its Xiamen 8.6G LCD TM19 line for Apple IT display supply

Tianma to Significantly Expand Capacity of Xiamen 8.6-Generation LCD TM19 Line to Prepare for Apple IT Display Supply

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Tianma official logo image (Source: Tianma)

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.

Currently operating at a capacity of 40K sheets per month, the TM19 line is set to expand to 70K per month by early 2026 and further to 160K per month by early 2027. The current production allocation consists of approximately 15K sheets per month for mobile applications, 20K for IT applications, and 5K for 50-inch industrial panels.

Notably, Tianma has completed technical evaluations aimed at supplying panels for Apple’s iPad and MacBook and is planning to invest in three module lines capable of supporting products ranging from 7 to 16 inches. Among them, one line investment is being prioritized and is reportedly awaiting Apple’s final approval. Industry sources anticipate that part of LG Display’s supply volume may be transferred to Tianma.

In addition to the LCD capacity expansion, the company is also reviewing potential investments in 8.6-generation OLED production. While the specific technology direction and timeline have not yet been finalized, the Xiamen plant is likely to serve as the main base if the OLED investment proceeds.

Junho Kim, Analyst at UBI Research (alertriot@ubiresearch.com)

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270-inch 8K TFT-based Micro-LED display jointly developed by Chenxian and Vistar, representing next-generation large-format display innovation

World’s First 270-inch TFT Micro-LED Unveiled: Vistar-Chenxian Lead the Next-Generation Large-Format Display Era

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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 announcement marks a new milestone in the development of China’s Micro-LED industry and is the result of close collaboration with Vistar, a Visionox-affiliated company specializing in Micro-LED technology.

The world’s first 270-inch 8K TFT-based Micro-LED display unveiled by Chenxian and Vistar (Source: Chenxian–Vistar)

World’s First 270-inch 8K TFT-Based Micro-LED Display (Source: Chenxian–Vistar)

The 270-inch large-format display achieves a 0.7 mm pixel pitch and 8K resolution (33 million pixels). With TFT-based active-matrix (AM) driving technology, each pixel is controlled independently, solving the brightness non-uniformity issues common in LED screens while delivering perfect blacks, high contrast ratios, and vivid color reproduction. This makes it ideal for professional cinemas, premium home theaters, command centers, and commercial display applications.

Alongside this flagship model, Chenxian unveiled several new products: a 13.55-inch P0.7 Micro-LED splicing module, a 27-inch P0.7 textured display, and a 19-inch P0.4 transparent Micro-LED screen. The modular design ensures high flatness and minimal seams, enabling scalability for large displays. The transparent model offers 72 % transmittance and supports touch interaction, providing a seamless fusion of digital imagery and real-world environments. Through these developments, Chenxian has established a comprehensive Micro-LED technology ecosystem encompassing materials, equipment, processes, modules, and complete display systems.

The company’s growth has been driven by its collaboration with Visionox and its subsidiary Vistar. Founded in 2020, Vistar specializes in Micro-LED productization and module integration, assembling the Micro-LED tiles manufactured by Chenxian into panel units and integrating drive modules. The tiling process-involving alignment, calibration, and fine adjustment-is carried out by Vistar’s System Integration (SI) engineering division, ensuring the precision required for large-format panels.

Vistar’s investment and mass-production roadmap also highlights the rapid pace of its expansion. A pilot line valued at USD 160 million broke ground in August 2020 and achieved lighting success in May 2021. In 2023, the company began construction of its first mass-production (MP) line worth USD 400 million. Following lighting completion in December 2024, full-scale mass production is scheduled for April 2025, with a USD 1 billion large-scale TFT-based line planned for 2026.

Vistar’s investment and mass production roadmap for Micro-LED lines from 2020 to 2028 (Source: Vistar)

Vistar Investment and Production Roadmap (Source: Vistar)

The unveiling of the 270-inch Micro-LED display demonstrates Chenxian’s emergence as a global leader in both technological innovation and production capability. The vertical collaboration structure between Vistar and Chenxian is accelerating the commercialization of Micro-LED technology and strengthening the overall competitiveness of China’s display industry.

UBI Research’s report, “Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends,” provides a deeper analysis of China’s Micro-LED ecosystem, key investments, and technological roadmaps, offering valuable insights into the market’s future direction.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

Graph showing forecasted growth of OLED notebook shipments from 2025 to 2029 based on UBI Research data

OLED Notebook Market Stagnant in 2025, Poised for Strong Growth from 2026

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Forecast graph showing OLED notebook panel shipments from 2025 to 2029 (Source: UBI Research)

OLED Shipment for Notebook Forecast (Source: UBI Research)

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.

According to UBI Research’s “Mid-to-Large OLED Display Market Tracker”, cumulative shipments through the third quarter of 2025 are estimated at about 6.7 million units, and the total annual shipment is projected to be similar to that of 2024.

The OLED notebook market will remain in an adjustment phase through 2025, but it is evaluated as a period to strengthen the foundation for mid- to long-term growth. The market is currently led by Samsung Display, while LG Display and EverDisplay are also gradually expanding their shipments.

As OLED panel prices continue to fall, Chinese panel makers are expanding the supply of 2-Stack Tandem OLEDs and low-cost Single OLEDs, and steady market growth is expected to follow. Major Chinese companies such as BOE, Visionox, TCL CSOT, and EverDisplay are establishing mass-production lineups for global set makers such as Lenovo, Dell, HP, and Huawei, thereby enhancing their competitiveness.

In 2026, the market structure is expected to change significantly. Industry attention is focused on whether Apple will adopt OLED displays for the MacBook Pro. Apple introduced OLED for the first time in the iPad Pro in 2024 but experienced limited demand due to higher prices. Accordingly, the company is taking a cautious approach to applying OLED to the MacBook series, reportedly reviewing cost structure, demand elasticity, and supply-chain stability.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President of UBI Research, said, “If Apple launches an OLED MacBook in 2026, the notebook OLED market is expected to grow by more than 30% year on year and to more than double by 2029 compared to 2025.” He added, “Not only Apple but also major global brands such as Acer, Dell, and HP are expanding OLED adoption in their high-end lineups, and OLED notebooks will gradually replace LCDs to become the mainstream premium display.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

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Google and Magic Leap prototype AR glasses demonstrating Micro-LED and waveguide integration under Android XR ecosystem

Google’s Smart Glasses Development Trends and Announcement of Collaboration with Magic Leap

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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.

  • Platform· and software-driven strategy

Building on its success with existing mobile OS, Google formalized the Android XR platform starting late 2024. This serves as an integrated operating system and ecosystem framework for XR devices, representing an expansion strategy that includes glasses-type AR devices. Through this, Google transforms smart glasses from simple camera/display devices into wearable computing platforms integrated with AI capabilities. Translation, object recognition, and voice/gesture interaction are part of this strategy.

  • Enhancing hardware and display capabilities

On the hardware front, the company has adopted a strategy of expanding its partner model based on platforms and ecosystems rather than launching numerous finished products itself. Notably, it acquired Raxium, a company possessing Micro-LED technology, to secure high-brightness, low-power displays. Furthermore, just a few days ago on October 29th, at the FII (Future Investment Initiative) event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Magic Leap and Google unveiled a joint AR glasses prototype and announced a three-year extension of their collaboration period. The key points of this collaboration are as follows.

  • Magic Leap’s optical and waveguide technology + Google’s Raxium micro-LED light engine combination → Aiming for enhanced image quality, brightness, and comfort.
  • Development of AR glasses is being conducted in the form of a reference design, establishing a framework to provide foundational solutions to multiple manufacturers within the Android XR ecosystem.
Prototype Android XR smart AR glasses jointly developed by Google and Magic Leap (Source: Magic Leap)

Google & Magic Leap Prototype Android XR Smart Glasses (Source: Magic Leap)

This collaboration carries multiple strategic implications beyond a simple technological partnership between two companies. It signals Google’s shift toward an ecosystem-centric “platform + partners” strategy over self-production. Amidst competition in smart glasses/headsets from Meta, Apple, Samsung, and others, the Google-Magic Leap alliance appears to be a move to establish a differentiated foundation within the Android XR ecosystem.  However, challenges remain. Specifications for the consumer-ready final product (resolution, price, battery life, etc.) have not been disclosed, and the launch is expected after 2026. Technologies like Micro-LED and waveguides have progressed to some extent in research/prototype stages, but they still face challenges in terms of mass production and manufacturing costs.

This announcement of Google and Magic Leap’s collaboration can be seen as a pivotal turning point that redefines the landscape of the smart glasses market. Samsung has just unveiled the Galaxy XR, and it remains to be seen whether the situation could rapidly escalate into a competitive race if Google and its partners make proper moves.

Namdeog Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research(ndkim@ubiresearch.com)

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AR Glass Market Evolves in Two Directions: China’s Content-Immersive Approach vs. Global Big Tech’s AI-Integrated Wearable Platforms

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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 RayNeo Air 4 Pro minimizes eye fatigue through 3840Hz high-frequency OptiCare™ dimming. It supports HDR10 and incorporates the Vision 4000 image quality chip, delivering an experience optimized for immersive content viewing. Notably, the Seeya 5.5-generation Micro OLED panel, featuring a tandem OLED light-emitting structure, achieves a maximum brightness of 6000 nits. It maximizes image quality with a wide color gamut (145% sRGB, 98% DCI-P3) and a 200,000:1 contrast ratio.

While competitors like XREAL and Viture focus on external light blocking via electrochromic dimming lenses, RayNeo adheres to a video quality-centric strategy using digital brightness control and an AI video engine. This allows RayNeo to maintain lightweight design (76g) without increasing lens weight, delivering products optimized for indoor-focused immersive content consumption.

This technological strategy is yielding market results. As of Q1 2025, RayNeo holds approximately 50% market share in China’s AR/AI smart glasses market, ranking first. Notably, the Air 3s Pro achieved the top sales position among XR products during the 618-shopping festival, solidifying the brand’s standing in China. Another Chinese AR specialist, XREAL, holds a lower market share than RayNeo domestically but differentiates itself with OST-based products like the XREAL One Pro. It focuses more on expanding into global markets like North America and Europe than on the Chinese domestic market.

Meta is concentrating on smartphone-complementary smart glasses that combine LCOS displays with cameras and AI assistants for functions like checking messages, taking photos, and voice commands. Apple has postponed the successor to Vision Pro, shifting its strategy to developing lightweight AI/AR glasses and accelerating the commercialization of smartphone-linked AR glasses. Google is realigning its strategy around AI-based real-time translation and search, preparing AR glasses integrated with an AI assistant. All three companies share a common direction: cultivating AR glasses as a core platform, positioning them as the next-generation interface beyond smartphones.

Comparison chart between RayNeo Air 4 Pro and Meta Ray-Ban Display — display type, optical structure, key functions, and market positioning (Source: UBI Research)

The AR glasses market is undergoing a restructuring driven by two key trends: AI-integrated wearable platforms and content-centric immersive experiences. In the medium to long term, AR glasses are expected to evolve into devices with the potential to replace smartphones as AI-integrated wearable platforms.  

llustration of a user wearing AR glasses operating an AI-powered immersive interface — symbolizing next-generation wearable platforms (Source: Created by Gemini)

Created by Gemini

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

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Chart showing automotive OLED shipments and market shares with Porsche adopting curved OLED displays for premium EV models

Cumulative Automotive OLED Shipments Reach 2.7 Million Units in Q3 – Porsche Adopts Curved OLED in Its Premium EV

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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.

By panel maker, Samsung Display maintained a dominant lead with 1.71 million units (64%), followed by BOE with 570,000 units (21%). LG Display and Ever Display accounted for 220,000 (8%) and 180,000 units (7%), respectively, continuing their expansion in the premium vehicle segment.

Quarterly shipment trends of automotive OLED displays comparing Samsung Display, BOE, LG Display, and EverDisplay (Source: UBI Research)

Quarterly Automotive OLED Display Shipments (Source: UBI Research)

Q1–Q3 2025 Automotive OLED shipment and market share by vendor — Samsung Display 64%, BOE 21%, LG Display 8%, EverDisplay 7% (Source: UBI Research)

Automotive OLED Shipments and Market Share, Q1–Q3 2025 (Source: UBI Research)

The growth of automotive OLED adoption has been driven by premium electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers. A notable example is Porsche’s upcoming Cayenne Electric, scheduled for launch at the end of this year, which will feature a large 42-inch curved OLED display. The display system consists of a 14.25-inch driver cluster, a 12.25-inch center information display (CID), and a 14.9-inch co-driver display (CDD).

The 12.25-inch curved center OLED is expected to be supplied by either LG Display or Samsung Display. Both companies have previously supplied P-OLED (Plastic OLED) curved displays for premium European brands such as Audi and Mercedes-Benz, demonstrating their technological reliability and strong capabilities in curved-panel manufacturing.

In contrast, the cluster and CDD OLED panels are likely to be provided by BOE. The Chinese panel maker began mass-producing OLED instrument clusters in 2024 and has been supplying them to Volkswagen Group, Porsche’s parent company, thereby accelerating its penetration into the global premium OEM supply chain.

OLED technology is increasingly replacing conventional LCD panels, establishing itself as a core enabler for design differentiation and enhanced user experience in premium vehicles. Its self-emissive nature allows for superior contrast ratios, deep blacks, and flexible curved form factors-features particularly valued in electric and luxury cars. Furthermore, OLED displays align well with next-generation Human-Machine Interface (HMI) trends, supporting multi-display layouts, curved user interfaces, and integrated digital cluster designs that enhance both aesthetics and functionality inside vehicles.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

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Chemical structure and emission performance of double-borylation ν-DABNA OLED materials developed by Kyoto University and JNC

Kyoto University-JNC joint research team innovates next-generation deep blue OLED materials with new ‘(Double Borylation)’ technology

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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. This achievement was published in the international journal Nature Communications (October 2025, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63908-y) and is anticipated to be a core technology for next-generation displays such as high-resolution micro-OLEDs.

Among the three primary colors (RGB) for OLEDs, the ‘Deep Blue’ region is known to be the most challenging to achieve. This is because producing a deeper blue color leads to increasingly unstable charge recombination, resulting in reduced efficiency and shortened lifetime. To address this issue, Professor Hatakeyama’s research team proposed a novel ‘Double Borylation’ strategy. This involves selectively introducing two boron atoms into the multi-resonance (MR)-TADF luminescent skeleton, which is composed of boron (B) and nitrogen (N).

Schematic illustration of the double borylation reaction introducing two boron atoms into the ν-DABNA structure for OLED emitter design (Source: Nature Communications, 2025)

Double Borylation Reaction of ν-DABNA for OLED Emitters (Source: Nature Communications, 2025)

This process expands the molecule’s π (pi) resonance structure, increasing the electronic transition energy, strengthening the transition dipole moment, and reducing the singlet-triplet energy gap (ΔE_ST). As a result, it improved efficiency, color purity, and stability. The newly synthesized material ‘ν-DABNA-M-B-Mes’ exhibits a deep blue wavelength of 463 nm, surpassing the previously reported deep blue material ν-DABNA, and achieved the following performance:

  • Photoluminescence Quantum Efficiency (PLQY): 93%.
  • Emission half-width at half-maximum (FWHM): 16 nm (world’s smallest)
  • External Quantum Efficiency (EQE): 32% or better
  • Color coordinates (CIE y): 0.09 – close to NTSC standard blue (0.08)
  • Lifetime (based on LT80, 100 cd/m²): More than 1,000 hours

In addition, the Phosphor-Sensitized Fluorescence (PSF) structure, which is attracting attention as a fourth-generation hyperfluorescent material, achieved a low drive voltage (2.5 V), maintained efficiency (minimized roll-off), and a lifetime of LT₈₀ > 1,000 hours at a luminance of 100 cd/m².

Prof. Hatakeyama said that Double Borylation is not just a synthesis technique, but a strategic approach that changes the fundamental concept of OLED material design, and succeeds in improving color purity, efficiency, and lifetime, and is expected to be used in a variety of next-generation applications, including microOLEDs (OLEDoS) for AR-VR, ultra-high color purity smartphone and TV displays, automotive heads-up displays (HUDs), wearables, and transparent displays. 

Device structure, emission spectrum (467 nm, FWHM 17 nm), and CIE coordinates (0.12, 0.12) of ν-DABNA-M-B-Mes OLED (Source: Nature Communications, 2025)

Emission Characteristics of ν-DABNA-M-B-Mes OLED (Source: Nature Communications, 2025)

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

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BOE logo and HKC display factory symbolizing China’s accelerating OLED industry shift through large-scale investment

China’s display industry accelerates OLED-centric restructuring – BOE accelerates technology and HKC enters the market

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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.

BOE logo representing China’s leading OLED display company driving technological innovation (Source: BOE)

BOE (Source: BOE)

BOE – Diversifying Technology While Advancing Apple Certification

BOE, which is currently producing OLED panels for the iPhone 17 Pro, is also expected to obtain certification for the iPhone 17 standard model within this year. BOE’s Apple-dedicated module production consists of 26 lines, with each newly invested line approximately 400 meters long and costing about 300 million CNY. The total investment for the Mianyang (绵阳) plant, including both panel and module lines, is estimated at 55 billion CNY.

At the Chengdu B12 plant, R&D efforts are focused on next-generation processes such as COE (Color on Encapsulation), Black PDL (Positive Type), and MLA (Micro Lens Array). The current monthly capacity of B12 is about 30 K substrates, which is expected to increase to 40 K by year-end. COE applications are being evaluated primarily for general smartphone models, while Black PDL processes are planned to expand into IT panels. MLA products are currently being supplied at 3–5 K substrates per month, with BOE also securing high-refractive-index materials for the technology.

HKC display factory in China establishing dual LTPS and OLED production lines (Source: HKC)

HKC Factory (Source: HKC)

HKC – Diversifying Production Through Dual Investments in LCD and OLED

HKC is expanding its OLED investment through the new H7 project. Unlike previous projects, H7 is being executed under the corporate entity of the existing H4 Mianyang LCD plant rather than a newly established subsidiary—an arrangement linked to local government funding structures.

The project includes a 60 K used 6th-generation LTPS LCD line acquired from JDI and a new 32 K 6th-generation OLED ELEAP line (divided into 8 K + 24 K phases). Additionally, HKC is expanding its H4 IPS Photo process line and constructing a new Mini-LED factory with an investment of approximately 10 billion CNY. Through these projects, HKC is building a comprehensive display production system covering LCD, OLED, and Mini-LED technologies.

Strategic Transition in China’s Panel Industry

The initiatives of BOE and HKC mark not just an expansion of production capacity but a shift toward technology-driven competitiveness. With high-value OLED technologies such as COE and MLA gaining traction, and government-led capital structures supporting investment diversification, China’s display industry is transitioning from scale-driven growth to technology-driven competition.

UBI Research’s “China Trends Report” provides detailed information on BOE’s progress in developing panels for Apple, the progress of new technology development by panel manufacturers, the latest investment trends, panel shipment volumes and unit prices, and the materials supply chain. The “China Trends Report” is available on the UBI Research website.

Junho Kim, Analyst at UBI Research (alertriot@ubiresearch.com)

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RayNeo Air 4 AR glasses featuring HDR10, Micro-OLED display by SEEYA, and collaboration with B&O for audio

Chinese company RayNeo released its new product, the RayNeo Air 4 glasses.

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RayNeo Air 4 and Air 4 Pro AR glasses product image and pricing details (Source: RayNeo)

RayNeo Air 4 Product Image (Source: RayNeo)

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 the introduction, it is the world’s first AR glasses for movie viewing supporting HDR10 displays, featuring AI dynamic HDR display with a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits. Equipped with the dedicated Vision4000 image quality chip, it enables conversion from SDR to HDR and supports 10-bit color display. Combined with a Micro-OLED display (SEEYA panel), they provide a viewing experience with a 120Hz refresh rate and a virtual 135-inch ultra-large screen. They were developed in collaboration with the high-end audio brand Bang & Olufsen (B&O) for the first time. The RayNeo Air 4 is expected to significantly elevate the overall audio-visual experience and solidify its position in the consumer AR glasses market.

This product was developed through close collaboration not only with Chinese OLEDoS display manufacturers (SEEYA) but also with overseas companies (B&O, Pixelworks) in terms of the supply chain. Chinese companies are injecting new vitality into the AR industry through continuous new product launches. With the proliferation of 5G technology and the rise of metaverse technology, the potential of the AR glasses market is enormous, so competition among companies is expected to intensify further.

Namdeog Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research(ndkim@ubiresearch.com)

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Chart showing quarterly tablet OLED shipments by UBI Research with QoQ and YoY growth trends in 2024–2025

Tablet OLED Demand Rebounds… Mid- to Large-Size OLED Shipments Up 11% in Q3 2025

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Quarterly OLED shipment trend for tablet PCs from 2024 to 2025, showing QoQ and YoY growth (Source: UBI Research)

Quarterly OLED Shipments for Tablet PCs (Source: UBI Research)

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. This indicates that demand for mid- to large-size OLED panels is gradually recovering, exiting the slump that persisted since the second half of last year.

Within this segment, tablet PC OLED panels posted particularly strong growth. Q3 tablet OLED shipments increased 56% QoQ and 25.9% YoY, largely driven by the full-scale ramp of panel supply for Apple’s new iPad Pro. After a lull since Q3 last year, tablet OLED demand is rebounding quickly alongside the resumption of iPad Pro shipments.

By panel maker, Samsung Display supplied approximately 1.5 million OLED panels for tablets in the third quarter, while LG Display shipped about 1.3 million units. Among Samsung Display’s shipments, around 700,000 units were for the iPad Pro, whereas all of LG Display’s shipments were used exclusively in the iPad Pro. Both companies count Apple as a key client. In addition, Samsung Display solely supplies OLED panels for Samsung Electronics’ own Galaxy Tab S series.

Chinese panel makers are also increasing shipments of tablet OLEDs. Everdisplay (EDO) has been rapidly expanding its market share, recording 600,000–800,000 units per quarter since Q4 2024. BOE and Visionox are likewise supplying tablet OLED panels—albeit in smaller volumes—to Chinese device makers, steadily raising their output.

UBI Research’s Executive Vice President Chang-wook Han commented, “Today’s tablet OLED market is dominated by Apple, which supports the strong position of Korean panel makers. However, as OLED adoption expands beyond the iPad Pro to more affordable lineups such as iPad Air and iPad mini, Korean vendors could see their share pressured. At the same time, higher adoption among Chinese brands is expected to gradually lift the market share of Chinese panel makers.”

He added, “Amid these shifts, it remains to be seen whether Samsung Display and LG Display can maintain their technology lead and defend their market shares.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

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TCL CSOT 8.6th generation inkjet OLED presentation showing precise RGB structure and printing accuracy from K-Display 2025

TCL CSOT Announces Early Start of 8.6Gen Printed OLED Production Line

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TCL CSOT inkjet OLED presentation slide showing printing accuracy and FMM OLED structure comparison — K-Display 2025 (Source: TCL CSOT)

TCL CSOT Inkjet OLED Presentation Slide at K-Display 2025 (Source: TCL CSOT)

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). This project represents the world’s first 8-generation printed OLED line, targeting the mid-sized application market for notebooks, monitors, and automotive displays. It is planned to have a production capacity of 45K sheets per month (based on 2290mm x 2620mm substrates). TCL CSOT is investing in the T8 line on the site adjacent to the existing Guangzhou T9 line. The T8 site was originally planned for conversion into a solar project, but that plan has been put on hold, and its use as an OLED production line site has been confirmed. This T8 line investment will proceed in two phases, with the first line being invested initially. Phase 1 will have a monthly substrate input capacity of 15K. Equipment installation is targeted for September 2026, with trial mass production scheduled for June 2027.

In response to the rapid growth of the mid-sized OLED market, major display companies are accelerating investments in 8.6-generation lines. TCL CSOT has chosen a differentiated approach with printed OLED, focusing on cost competitiveness and technological innovation. TCL CSOT’s printed OLED technology achieves material utilization exceeding 90%, significantly surpassing the 30% rate of vapor deposition methods, and reduces manufacturing costs by over 20%. This cost advantage is interpreted as a strategy to seize the ‘leadership in the mid-to-low-end market’ and popularize OLED. Furthermore, as the Chinese government tends to strictly review investment approvals for existing technologies like FMM, companies like Visionox (ViP) and TCL CSOT (inkjet) are proceeding with investments by applying new technologies.

According to UBI Research’s analysis, printed OLED still faces technical challenges.

  • Brightness and Lifespan: The printed OLED process has lower precision in stacking the organic layers that form pixels compared to the evaporation method. Consequently, there are concerns that it currently falls short of existing evaporation technology in achieving high brightness and ensuring device lifespan.
  • Tandem Structure: Another drawback is that applying Tandem (two-layer light-emitting structure) technology, essential for high efficiency and long lifespan, is more difficult than with the deposition method. TCL CSOT plans to introduce four printing equipment units, expected to be three HI/HT/RGB units and one Tandem unit. This equipment is predicted to be purchased from Panasonic. This demonstrates efforts to overcome technical challenges.

TCL Huaxing’s move toward printing technology is interpreted as an attempt to position itself as an ‘innovative force leading the market’ by targeting the mid-sized OLED market with new technology, rather than directly challenging deposition market giants like Samsung Display and BOE.

Printed OLEDs are expected to significantly lower the barrier to entry for the IT OLED market (notebooks, monitors, etc.) through groundbreaking cost reductions, thereby expanding the market pie. However, concerns also persist about whether the brightness and lifespan challenges inherent to the printing process can meet the stringent quality standards of large IT products. Attention is focused on whether TCL CSOT can successfully overcome these technical hurdles and become a game-changer in the mid-sized OLED market by 2027 through its ‘technology-cost-scale’ trinity strategy.

Changho Noh, Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

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Apple LTPO+ OLED backplane compensation circuit structure showing oxide TFTs for both switching and driving

iPhone 18 with LTPO+: Intensifying Technology Race Among Panel Makers

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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. This is believed to be Apple’s strategy to improve power efficiency in its next-generation OLED panels and to address brightness uniformity and image retention issues during extended use.

LTPO+ compensation circuit structure — Apple’s OLED backplane patent diagram (Source: Apple)

LTPO+ Compensation Circuit Patent (Source: Apple)

Conventional LTPS (low-temperature polycrystalline silicon)-based driving TFTs offer high mobility, making them advantageous for high-brightness operation. However, the numerous traps at grain boundaries result in high hysteresis and unstable current characteristics, making them prone to gradation errors and brightness unevenness over extended periods of use. In contrast, oxide TFTs boast low hysteresis and stable current characteristics, maintaining a constant current under constant gate voltage conditions. This reduces pixel-to-pixel current variation, improving brightness uniformity and color stability. Furthermore, residual charge accumulation is suppressed, reducing image retention.

Despite these advantages, many technical challenges remain for the application of oxide as a driving TFT. Oxide semiconductors have lower mobility than LTPS, making it difficult to secure sufficient driving current. This can lead to slower current response times at high brightness and refresh rates. Furthermore, ensuring stability under prolonged bias and thermal stress is essential. This is because electron trap accumulation during extended driving can lead to current reductions and subtle color shifts. Meanwhile, even in the LTPO+ structure, some circuit elements are still composed of LTPS. Since these LTPS elements are not as high-performance as the driving TFTs, securing cost-effective, low-cost LTPS manufacturing technology is crucial. Unlike high-quality driving LTPS, LTPS for peripheral circuits or sensing elements prioritizes yield, uniformity, and low-cost processes over high mobility. These process simplifications and cost-saving technologies enhance the competitiveness of LTPO+ mass production.

In other words, LTPO+ is a structure achieved through a balance between oxide and LTPS processes, with one key focus being high performance (oxide) and the other being low cost (LTPS).

From this perspective, the key challenges for oxide-driven TFTs can be summarized as four:

First, ensuring bias and thermal stress reliability – technology to suppress electrical degradation during long-term operation and minimize ΔVth (threshold voltage shift).

Second, integrating compensation circuits – designing a circuit-level compensation circuit to compensate for fluctuations in oxide device characteristics and ensure operational stability.

Third, securing large-area uniformity – a technology that minimizes current variations across the substrate to maintain luminance uniformity.

Fourth, appropriate subthreshold swing (SS) control – an excessively low SS can lead to sensitivity to threshold voltage variation and time variation (ΔVth), which can increase current dispersion. Therefore, SS optimization is required to balance power efficiency and operating stability.

Ultimately, the success of LTPO+ depends not only on the performance of the oxide driving TFT but also on the cost competitiveness of the auxiliary LTPS process. Apple will only be able to fully adopt LTPO+ for the iPhone 18 if it reaches target levels in mobility, reliability, uniformity, and manufacturing cost. The industry predicts that technological competition among existing iPhone panel suppliers will intensify, focusing on securing oxide TFT performance and developing low-cost LTPS processes. LTPO+ is expected to mark a new turning point for panel technology in the next-generation mobile OLED market.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

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Samsung Electronics 114-inch Micro LED TV representing ultra-premium display market leadership

Diversifying Micro-LED Strategies – Samsung with Ultra-Premium, LG Electronics, Vistar with Market Diversification

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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. While Samsung Electronics is strengthening its symbolic technology leadership in the ultra-premium TV market, LG Electronics and Vistar are simultaneously driving the technological advancement and application expansion of the Micro-LED industry by exploring new growth paths in the ProAV and industrial markets.

Samsung Electronics has positioned its Micro-LED TV lineup as a flagship lineup of ultra-high-priced products and maintains its technological superiority, focusing on ultra-large models such as 110-inch and 114-inch models that are fully self-luminous through the precision transfer process and RGB chip integrated structure. However, the company has not been able to achieve this technological feat. However, despite this technological perfection, prices remain in the hundreds of millions due to limitations in production unit cost and process yield.

Currently, Micro-LED TVs have a strong “technology showcase premium product” character in the consumer market and need time to become popular. Market experts diagnose that it will take at least three to five years for the demand for Micro-LED TVs to grow, and that the market will not be able to fully expand unless improvements in price accessibility and production efficiency are made in tandem.

In contrast, LG Electronics has a strategy to expand Micro-LED technology into the commercial and professional imaging market (ProAV). The recently announced MAGNIT ProAV series, with a diverse lineup including 0.78mm, 0.94mm, and 1.25mm pixel pitch, is aimed at high-luminance, high-precision video environments such as conference rooms, broadcast studios, and exhibition halls.

This is regarded as an attempt to get ahead of the B2B market, which has lower technical barriers to entry than consumer TVs and a shorter investment payback period. The fact that the pixel pitch has been reduced to less than 1mm is a signal that LG’s Micro-LED transfer and calibration technology has entered the stabilization stage, and the foundation is now in place for the full-scale commercialization of Micro-LED as a large-sized display for commercial indoor use. The foundation for the full-scale commercialization of Micro-LEDs as large-sized commercial indoor displays is now in place.

Meanwhile, China’s Vistar (a Visionox subsidiary) has strengthened its presence in the large-area market by announcing a prototype of a Seamless Wall up to 135 inches in size through a tile-type Micro-LED display based on a TFT backplane. matrix (TFT) drive to minimize brightness, color uniformity, and tile-to-tile boundaries. This is an example of Visionox extending the TFT process technology it has accumulated in OLED production to Micro-LED, setting a new growth axis for the high-precision B2B display area, including large control rooms, exhibition halls, and industrial control systems.

UBI Research noted that “Micro-LED is no longer just a technology for premium TVs, but has entered a stage where it can lead to actual sales in B2B environments such as professional video, exhibition, and industrial control,” and analyzed that “LG Electronics and Vistar’s moves signal that the range of applications for Micro-LED is expanding. The moves by LG Electronics and Vistar are a signal that the range of Micro-LED applications is expanding.” 

Samsung 114-inch Micro LED TV — flagship product targeting the ultra-premium market (Source: Samsung Electronics)

Samsung 114-inch Micro LED TV (Source: Samsung Electronics)

LG MAGNIT ProAV Series — Micro LED display designed for commercial and professional AV markets (Source: LG Electronics)

LG MAGNIT ProAV Series (Source: LG Electronics)

Vistar 135-inch TFT-based Micro LED Seamless Display — prototype developed by Visionox subsidiary (Source: Vistar)

Vistar 135-inch TFT-based Micro LED Seamless Display (Source: Vistar)

Joohan Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research (joohanus@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

EMT logo symbolizing OLED emitter and PSPI business expansion in Hefei

EMT (Eternal Material Technology), centered on the Hefei factory, is pushing forward business expansion in OLED emitters and PSPI.

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EMT logo — Chinese display material company expanding OLED emitter and PSPI business (Source: EMT)

EMT company logo (Source: EMT)

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. Among the photoresists (PR) for color filters, currently only red materials are supplied to China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT).

In the OLED business, low-temperature RGB materials for COE applications are under evaluation by Visionox, and the low-temperature OC materials are being OEM produced through LTC. These products are under evaluation at Visionox’s V3 line; once evaluation passes, EMT plans to manufacture them itself and transact under its own name.

In PSPI (photosensitive polyimide) as well, EMT has entered full-scale preparations for mass production. Around October, small-volume production is expected to begin on Visionox’s V1 line, replacing the existing volumes from Rousian (柔显). Then the horizontal expansion to the V2 and V3 lines is also planned.

In terms of factory operations, the Hefei factory has an annual PR production capacity of about 3,000 tons, but the current utilization rate is below 50%. Meanwhile, the Guan (Guan) factory has a production capacity of about 500 kg per month for emitters, which is planned to be transferred to the Hefei factory next year. Through this move, production efficiency will be improved and an integrated production system for materials will be strengthened.

Information on Chinese emitter and materials companies can be found in the China trends report by UBI Research.

Junho Kim, Analyst at UBI Research (alertriot@ubiresearch.com)

▶ China Market Trend Report Inquiry

Comparison of Google Android XR, Apple Vision OS, and Meta smart glasses — Image created via sora

Big tech companies enter the race to lead the next generation of wearable platforms

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XR platform comparison showing Google Android XR, Apple Vision OS, and Meta smart glasses (Image created via sora)

XR platform competition among Google, Apple, and Meta (Image created via sora)

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. Samsung’s Galaxy XR is a high-performance headset based on Google’s Android XR platform, bringing a 4K micro OLED display (4,032 PPI, 29 million pixels) and a Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 processor. It has a lightweight design of 545 grams and a multimodal interface that integrates hand tracking, eye tracking, and voice recognition.

It will target the premium market with a higher resolution than Apple Vision Pro (23 million pixels) and better display quality than Meta Quest 3. Battery life is expected to be in line with competitors at 2 hours of normal use and 2.5 hours of video playback, and the price is expected to be around $1,800 (about $2.5 million).

Samsung has partnered with Google to build the One UI XR interface and secure major app ecosystems such as Chrome, YouTube, and Netflix. The initial production will be 100,000 units to test the market response before entering a full-scale mass production system.

Apple has temporarily halted development of its low-cost N100 (Vision Air) headset and reallocated resources to the AI smart glasses project, a strategic decision in response to the success of Meta’s Rayban and the rapid growth of the AI-powered smart glasses market.

Apple is developing two models of smart glasses. The first generation, codenamed N50, will be a display-less, iPhone-connected, audio-centric AI wearable that is expected to launch in 2027. The second-generation model will bring a display and compete directly with Meta Rayban, and development is being accelerated from the original 2028 plan.

Apple’s smart glasses are based on Vision OS, with a camera, microphone, health tracking, and a voice command interface with next-generation Siri AI at its core. It will also offer a wide range of frame options and colors, reinforcing its positioning as a fashion accessory.

Currently, the smart glasses market is dominated by Meta. The Meta-Rayban series has sold more than 3.5 million units cumulatively, with an 80% share of AI smart glasses. The recently unveiled Rayban Display model brings a full-color, high-resolution display that can display messages, photos, and other information.

In response, Google is strengthening its cooperation with Samsung with its Android XR platform and Gemini AI. Samsung will also release Project Coastal smart glasses in collaboration with Google and Gentlemonster early next year, making it a two-track headset and smart glasses strategy.

The future XR/smart glasses market is expected to be a three-way battle between the Android XR platform, Apple’s Vision OS XR platform, and Meta’s first-mover advantage. Each company’s ability to build ecosystems and differentiate user experience will be the key factors in determining market leadership.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶UBI Research’s Micro Display Report

AI AR smart glasses Meta Ray-Ban Display showing growth of the global AR wearable market

The Competition in AI/AR Smart Glasses and the Advancement of Chinese companies in the Supply Chain Ecosystem

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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. Meta continues its strategy to dominate the AI/AR glasses market. According to a post by Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth on Threads on October 2nd, the Meta Ray-Ban Display smart glasses have nearly sold out in physical stores, and November reservations are also almost fully booked. He stated that the market response to the product has been stronger than expected, and the company is working hard to keep up.

Meta Ray-Ban Display AI AR smart glasses (Source: Meta)

Meta Ray-Ban Display Smart Glasses (Source: Meta)

Meanwhile, over a year after its launch, the Vision Pro has gradually faded into the background. According to external reports, last year’s total sales of the Vision Pro fell below one million units, significantly underperforming market expectations. Additionally, rumors have intensified that Apple has halted development of a low-cost Vision Pro model and is shifting its strategic focus entirely to smart glasses. The goal is to launch a product capable of directly competing with Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, with the initial smart glasses launch target date reportedly moved up to 2026. This pivot signifies Apple’s recognition that ‘AI+AR’ devices hold promise as the next generation of mobile terminals.

Samsung is also collaborating with Google to develop the Project Moohan XR headset, and its smart glasses Haean may also be unveiled this year. China’s Alibaba company has also announced ‘Quark AI Glasses,’ reported to launch by the end of 2025. Companies like Xiaomi and Baidu are also entering the market one after another, continuously fueling market excitement. Furthermore, the rise and expanding market share of domestic Chinese AR glasses brands like XREAL, RayNeo, Rokid, and INMO are evident.

From the supply chain perspective of smart glasses, the mutual penetration of AI and AR technologies has created an industrial ecosystem. The role of Chinese companies within this ecosystem is also evolving. While gaps persist in advanced core areas, they are emerging as ecosystem participants beyond their traditional supply chain roles through vertical integration within companies and external technology collaborations. In essence, they are becoming key drivers in this new industry. For instance, in Meta’s Ray-Ban Display glasses, Chinese company Goertek handles manufacturing, and numerous Chinese component suppliers are involved in internal parts like LCoS displays, batteries, and camera modules. Indeed, at the recent CIOE 2025 optoelectronics exhibition held in Shenzhen, China, the strong showing of Chinese companies like JBD, Goeroptics, and Sunny Optical was evident in LEDoS panels and optical waveguide components applied to next-generation AR glasses products.

In summary, major tech companies like Meta, Apple, and Samsung have recently shown active movements in the AI/AR glasses sector, further strengthening the influence of AI+AR glasses as a field receiving high attention. Therefore, as the industry ecosystem enters a critical transition phase and growth period, companies across the industrial supply chain are expected to intensify competition while actively pursuing technological breakthroughs and collaborative ecosystem development. Amidst this, Chinese companies are making notable strides. Benefiting from the Chinese government’s support for strategic industries and the policy trend positioning AR/XR as a core element of the digital economy, domestic optical module, display, and component companies are actively participating in the AR/XR glasses ecosystem.

Namdeog Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research(ndkim@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

Hyundai Mobis rollable OLED display technology for Genesis GV90

The GV90’s Vehicle HMI Evolves with Rollable OLED

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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.

In China, this technology has already become a reality. Hongqi’s ultra-luxury sedan, the Guoya (aka Hongqi L1), features a 14.2-inch rollable OLED display developed by Visionox. This display is designed to be stored within the dashboard and unfolds upward when needed. When off, it is completely hidden, maximizing the sense of integration within the interior. While driving, it displays limited information, but when stationary, it expands to display navigation and entertainment functions full-screen. The Hongqi Guoya is an ultra-luxury sedan priced at approximately 1.4 million to 1.86 million yuan (approximately 250 million won), serving as a Chinese flagship model competing with the Mercedes-Maybach and Bentley Flying Spur. The inclusion of a rollable OLED display in this vehicle goes beyond a simple luxury strategy and is interpreted as an attempt by the Chinese automaker to secure technological leadership in the premium market through advanced display technology.

Similar trends are being detected in Korea. Hyundai Mobis filed a patent (US12422892B2) in 2021 for a “rollable display for vehicles,” which features a structure that allows the OLED panel to be rolled up or unfolded around a rotating roller within the housing. According to the patent, horizontal and vertical supports are arranged on the back of the display panel to prevent panel deformation due to vibration or touch pressure while driving. It also includes a wing-shaped support structure that ensures the entire panel remains flat when unfolded. In other words, it’s not simply a “rollable” technology that simply rolls up, but a structural design that ensures stable visibility and rigidity even in driving conditions.

Rollable OLED display structure for vehicles based on US12422892B2 patent

Rollable OLED Display Architecture (US12422892B2) (Source: Hyundai Mobis)

Hyundai Mobis unveiled an actual rollable OLED prototype based on this patented technology at CES 2024. The product can be expanded up to 30 inches and the screen can be adjusted to 1/3, 2/3, and full modes. When the ignition is turned off, it completely retracts and disappears into the dashboard, and its structure shows the screen only when needed, suggesting the concept of “the most luxurious display when it is invisible.” The installation space is only about 12 cm, allowing for a high degree of freedom in interior design, and it has achieved automotive QHD (2560×1440) picture quality. Hyundai Mobis is preparing for mass production, and Samsung Display and LG Display are known to be competing to supply the panels.

Hyundai Mobis rollable OLED display prototype for vehicles

Hyundai Mobis rollable OLED display prototype for vehicles (Source: Hyundai Mobis)

The Genesis GV90 is being considered as a potential application for this technology. Hyundai Motor Group’s flagship electric SUV, the GV90, is attracting industry attention as a model likely to feature a rollable OLED display. Genesis’s reasons for considering a rollable display are clear. First, it aims to create a minimalist and luxurious interior by displaying digitalized driving information only when needed. Second, it has a functional purpose: the large screen can adjust its viewing area to avoid obstructing the driver’s view while driving. Third, it serves as a technological differentiation strategy to compete with global luxury brands. Being the world’s first “luxury SUV equipped with rollable OLED” could help Genesis narrow the gap with premium electrified models like the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV and BMW iX.

Industry experts don’t view this trend as a simple design change. UBI Research Executive Vice President Changwook Han analyzed, “The application of rollable OLED to vehicles is not just a simple display innovation, but a technological evolution that will reorganize the paradigm of space design and user interface (UI).” He added, “The transition from large fixed screens to variable displays will emerge as an important option for premium vehicle interiors in the future.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trends Analysis Report

Q3 OLED Panel Shipments Surge with iPhone 17 Effect

OLED panel shipments surge in Q3, with Korean companies showing a clear recovery thanks to the iPhone 17 launch

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Bar chart of quarterly OLED panel shipments for smartphones in 2025

OLED panel shipments for smartphones by company in Q1–Q3 2025,  (Source: UBI Research)

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. This is the result of a rapid recovery from a temporary decline in the second quarter, a period of weak smartphone demand, driven by the popularity of the iPhone series and Samsung Electronics’ new products.

Samsung Display saw a surge in panel shipments for the iPhone 17 series and the Galaxy S25 FE in the third quarter, significantly boosting flexible OLED shipments that had stagnated in the second quarter. Rigid OLED shipments remained stable, maintaining similar levels to the previous quarter.

LG Display’s panel shipments surged from approximately 10.8 million units in the second quarter to approximately 20 million units in the third quarter, nearly doubling forecasts. LG Display supplies smartphone panels exclusively to Apple, so the launch of the iPhone 17 series was the primary driver of shipment growth. Shipments for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, in particular, accounted for approximately 60% of total shipments, the largest share.

Chinese panel makers also saw shipment growth. BOE shipped approximately 5.4 million units, and Visionox increased shipments by approximately 6.7 million units compared to the second quarter. BOE’s main customer was Oppo, followed by Apple and Huawei. With the gradual expansion of iPhone panel supply, Apple is likely to emerge as a key customer for BOE in the fourth quarter. Visionox shipped the most refurbished panels, followed by Honor, Xiaomi, and Vivo.

“Korean panel makers have shown a clear recovery in shipments since the third quarter, and Chinese companies are also continuing to grow,” said  Changwook Han, Executive Vice President of UBI Research. “Securing stable shipments from Apple, their most important customer, will be a key challenge for Korean companies going forward. However, Samsung Display and LG Display have already established a solid presence in the global premium market, so we expect them to maintain their strategic advantage even amidst competition with BOE.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶ Quarterly Small OLED Display Market Tracker Sample

▶Quarterly Medium & Large OLED Display Market Tracker Sample

Apple under-display IR and selfie camera design with OTI Lumionics solution

A Turning Point for Under-Display Camera Commercialization: A Close-Up Analysis of Apple’s 2026 Strategy (iPhone 18: IR Camera, Foldable: Selfie Camera… OTI Solutions Are Key)

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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. This is not a simple design change; it is a strategic decision that takes into account the structural characteristics and user experience of each device.

Bar-type iPhones require a polarizer to suppress external light reflection and improve outdoor readability. However, polarizers absorb both visible and infrared light, significantly reducing transmittance. This structural limitation could directly lead to poor image quality and consumer dissatisfaction if the front-facing selfie camera is placed under the display. In contrast, IR cameras only require a 940nm near-infrared wavelength, and their goal is not high-quality photos, but accurate security authentication. Therefore, the iPhone 18 series will incorporate an under-display IR camera to simultaneously implement a full-screen design and Face ID security features. This is the most reasonable approach, minimizing image quality concerns while enhancing design perfection.

The foldable iPhone is a different story. To ensure thickness and flexibility, the device adopts a structure that eliminates the polarizer, replacing it with a color correction film and phase compensation material. This relatively increases display transmittance, facilitating the application of an under-display selfie camera. While camera performance degradation remains, this can be sufficiently addressed through AI-based image correction technology and ISP improvements. Samsung Electronics has already incorporated an under-display camera into the Galaxy Z Fold series, and Apple plans to leverage the same structural advantages to incorporate an under-display selfie camera into its foldable iPhone.

A key technology in this process is the Cathode Patterning Material (CPM) from Canada’s OTI Lumionics. This technology prevents the deposition of metal cathodes in specific areas during the OLED manufacturing process, forming a transparent opening. This technology facilitates the stable operation of the under-display camera and IR sensor. This solution, which maintains screen quality while ensuring the transmittance required by the camera and sensor, has already been verified by major global panel manufacturers, and Apple plans to incorporate it into the iPhone 18 series and foldable iPhone.

(a) Under-display camera, (b) Under-display IR camera structure – Source: OTI Lumionics

(a) UDC and (b) UDIR using a patterned cathode (Source: OTI Lumionics)

UBI Research Executive Vice President Changwook Han emphasized, “Apple’s choice to use an under-display IR camera in the bar type and an under-display selfie camera in the foldable is the result of choosing an optimized solution for each product structure,” and “2026 will be a turning point when Apple commercializes under-display technology in earnest.”

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 OLED Component and Materials Report

Featured image of Xiaomi 17 Pro Max highlighting TCL CSOT OLED panel supply

Xiaomi unveils flagship 17 Pro Max… TCL CSOT supplies Real RGB OLED panels and changes Red Host supplier

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Xiaomi 17 Pro Max unveiled with TCL CSOT Real RGB OLED panel

Xiaomi 17 Pro Max unveiled with TCL CSOT Real RGB OLED panel (Source: Xiaomi)

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 Pro Max’s main display is a 6.9-inch 1200×2608 high-resolution LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and 3,500 nits of brightness. The rear is also a 2.9-inch LTPO AMOLED with a resolution of 596×976.

TCL CSOT has been working on developing a Real RGB structure using inkjet printing technology for a long time, so some speculated that the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max would also feature this technology. However, the Real RGB structure is actually realized through a Fine Metal Mask (FMM) process. This means that each pixel is composed of independent red, green, and blue subpixels, resulting in excellent clarity and accurate colors without any loss of resolution.

The diamond pixel structure, which Samsung Display primarily uses, has the advantages of higher luminous efficiency, more resistance to burn-in, and higher perceived resolution while reducing the number of physical pixels, which is advantageous for cost-effective high-resolution implementation. It also has strong patent protection, which has acted as a barrier to entry for other companies. However, it has been pointed out that the diamond pixel structure does not have the same number of R, G, and B subpixels, which can cause slight readability degradation or color bleeding, especially in small text or complex graphics.

TCL CSOT’s Real RGB structure appears to be a strategic move to improve visual quality, including color accuracy and text readability, and to avoid Samsung patents. TCL CSOT’s continued investment in inkjet printing Real RGB technology, while supplying FMM-based Real RGB for major products like the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, suggests that TCL CSOT is actively exploring both technological paths. While inkjet printing has potential for large OLEDs and cost-effectiveness in the long term, there are still challenges to overcome, including technical difficulties, mass production, and reliability, before it can be applied to small, high-resolution products.

TCL CSOT’s new panel features a C10 set, the latest emissive layer stack structure, to improve luminescence efficiency and stability. A particularly noteworthy point is that among the core light-emitting materials, Lumilan’s material was applied instead of the DuPont product previously used for the Red Host. Founded in 2017, Lumilan is a Chinese company specializing in OLED materials, backed by China’s Jizhi Technology and Xiaomi Changjiang Industrial Fund. With a factory in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, the company has been focusing on the R&D, production and sales of OLED emitting materials, and has strengthened its strategic partnership with Xiaomi, including the establishment of a joint research center in 2022. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max application is the fruit of that cooperation. The replacement of one of the main core luminescent materials with a Chinese company’s product heralds a new change in the supply chain of the global display industry.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 OLED Emitting Materials Report Sample

▶OLED Emitting Material Market Tracker Sample

Micro-LED smartwatch market forecast, 2023–2030 (Source: UBI Research)

Micro-LED Smartwatch Market Set to Bloom… Projected to Grow to $1.2 Billion by 2030

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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.

Micro-LED smartwatch market forecast chart, 2023–2030 (Source: UBI Research)

Micro-LED smartwatch market outlook, 2023–2030 (Source: UBI Research)

Garmin’s Challenge: Achievements and Limitations

The Garmin Fenix 8 Micro-LED features a 1.4-inch display with a peak brightness of 4,500 nits, delivering overwhelming visibility in outdoor environments compared to existing OLED smartwatches. It also supports satellite messaging, solving connectivity issues in remote locations. These features have earned it significant recognition in the outdoor-focused market. However, its battery life remains inferior to existing OLED smartwatches.

Joohan Kim, an analyst at UBI Research, attributes this to reduced external quantum efficiency (EQE) in miniaturized Micro-LED chips, unoptimized drive circuit designs, and power efficiency losses due to performance variations between chips. He emphasized that overcoming these technical limitations is essential for Micro-LED’s widespread adoption.

Premium Market Expansion: TAG Heuer and Samsung Display

TAG Heuer, a luxury watch brand with strong acceptance in the high-price market, is preparing to launch a Micro-LED smartwatch. UBI Research analyzes that TAG Heuer’s entry will solidify Micro-LED’s premium image.

Additionally, Samsung Display showcased a 6,000-nit-class watch-type Micro-LED display at K-Display 2025, demonstrating its technological prowess. This panel, achieved by precisely transferring approximately 700,000 RGB chips each under 30μm, achieves a resolution of 326 PPI. Its flexible structure with 4,000 nits brightness opens possibilities for diverse designs. It is particularly evaluated for simultaneously ensuring high brightness, low power consumption, and high reliability, thanks to the characteristics of its inorganic light-emitting structure that exhibits minimal brightness and color shift with viewing angle.

The Biggest Variable: Apple’s Entry Timing

Apple Watch is the world’s largest smartwatch platform, shipping over 40 million units annually. UBI Research predicts Apple is highly likely to adopt Micro-LED in its Apple Watch Ultra series by 2027-2028. If Apple fully enters the market, this could trigger supply chain investments and large-scale mass production, potentially becoming the decisive catalyst to propel Micro-LED into mainstream technology.

Market Outlook and Supply Chain Impact

Short-term barriers include high prices and low production capacity. The Garmin Fenix 8’s $1,999 price tag is approximately $700 higher than AMOLED models, indicating a focus on the premium market rather than general consumers.

However, the entry of TAG Heuer, Samsung Display, and Apple is expected to drive significant investment and technological advancement across the entire Micro-LED supply chain. This process is expected to create ripple effects across the entire display value chain, including chip manufacturers, transfer equipment makers, driver IC companies, and back-end packaging and module assembly firms.

Joohan Kim, an analyst at UBI Research, forecasts the Micro-LED smartwatch market will grow to approximately $1.2 billion by 2030. This indicates the potential to move beyond a mere niche market, disrupt the current OLED-centric landscape, and establish itself as the new standard for premium wearables.

Micro-LED smartwatches have only just taken their first steps. Garmin’s pioneering challenge, TAG Heuer’s symbolic entry, Samsung Display’s technological competitiveness, and Apple’s potential influence will collectively propel the market onto a full-fledged growth trajectory.

UBI Research emphasizes that the pace of resolving micro-LED technical challenges and supply chain restructuring over the next five years will be the core factors determining the wearable market’s competitive landscape.

Joohan Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research (joohanus@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

Automotive OLED display shipment forecast from 2023 to 2030, highlighting Mini LED, OLED, and Micro-LED trends (Source: UBI Research)

Automotive OLED displays to ship 3.8 million units this year, with growth expected to accelerate after 2030.

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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.

Automotive display shipment forecast 2023–2030, comparing Mini LED, OLED, and Micro-LED (Source: UBI Research)

Forecast of automotive display shipments by technology (2023–2030): Mini LED, OLED, Micro-LED (Source: UBI Research)

The strengths of automotive OLEDs are clear. Superior visual quality is cited as the most significant advantage. Deep black expression, low reflectivity, and superior color reproducibility improve visibility during driving. Furthermore, the recently highlighted tandem OLED structure significantly extends lifespan and ensures stable reliability even in high-temperature environments, making it ideal for automotive displays that require long-term use. Furthermore, flexible designs such as curved, foldable, slideable, and rollable panels allow for differentiated automotive interiors. This allows premium brands to strengthen their identity through OLED adoption. With major companies such as Samsung Display (SDC), BOE, Visionox, and TCL CSOT investing in 8th-generation OLED lines, production base expansion is also expected.

Current status of automotive OLED display adoption by major carmakers and models (Source: UBI Research)

Current adoption of automotive OLED displays – by carmaker and model (Source: UBI Research)

However, there are many challenges to overcome. Pricing is the biggest barrier. Currently, OLEDs are several times more expensive than LCDs, hindering mass adoption. The supply chain is also limited. Relying on a small number of companies, including LG Display, Samsung Display, and BOE makes securing a stable supply difficult. Furthermore, OLEDs only fully entered the automotive market around 2020, and sufficient long-term usage data has yet to be collected. Automotive displays must operate reliably for 10 to 15 years in harsh environments, making durability verification essential.

Due to these limitations, automakers are strategically gradually expanding OLED adoption. They are primarily being used in premium electric vehicles and flagship models, with widespread adoption likely after 2030. While limited growth is expected until 2030, a full-scale leap forward is expected thereafter, driven by cost reductions, the establishment of mass production systems, and the accumulation of reliability data. If OLED can deliver differentiated value in the automotive display market, growth rates beyond 2030 are likely to exceed current projections.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President/Analyst at UBI Research (cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trends Analysis Report

Meta unveils Ray-Ban Display LCoS smart glasses and presents PIC-based LCoS research at SID 2025

Meta unveils ‘Ray-Ban Display’ smart glasses with LCoS, following up with a photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based LCoS at SID 2025

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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.

The new glasses feature a monocular display at the bottom of the right lens, which the company says was designed with practical factors such as price and battery life in mind. The display features OmniVision’s single-panel full-color LCoS, with a 600×600 resolution, 42 PPD, 20° monocular field of view, and up to 5,000 nits of brightness. Combined with Lumus’ Waveguide, it delivers a crisp visual experience even outdoors. These specifications fulfill the requirements of an informational AR device (20-35° FoV, high brightness, low power) and provide excellent visibility, especially in outdoor environments. Meta’s choice of LCoS over green LEDoS was a strategic decision based on technology maturity, power efficiency, and the ability to implement full color.

At SID 2025, Meta Reality Labs also announced its work on a photonic integrated circuit (PIC)-based ultra-compact laser microdisplay. The technology offered the possibility of shrinking AR light engines to less than 1㎤, demonstrating a 50-degree viewing angle and high color uniformity. Despite the advantages of mature technology and competitive pricing, LCoS has been limited by the need for bulky optical modules. PICs replace traditional polarizing beamsplitters (PBSs), focusing lenses, and dichroic mirrors by implementing core optical functions such as light gathering, color separation, and polarization control on a chip. PIC-based laser lighting has great potential to scale as a platform for next-generation display technologies. It remains to be seen if the Meta Ray-Ban Display utilizes PICs.

LEDoS is not expected to be fully competitive until 2028 or later, and until then, full-color LCoS is likely to be the key solution for the AR glasses market. OmniVision, as well as Himax Display, Avegant, and Raontec, are working on the next generation of high-brightness, high-contrast LCoS engines, which will make them even more competitive in the near term.

The significance of this announcement is that Meta simultaneously unveiled OmniVision LCoS in commercial products and PIC-based ultra-compact laser microdisplays in research achievements. This demonstrates that the next generation of AR displays is rapidly evolving around the three pillars of miniaturization, efficiency, and quality, and is expected to accelerate the growth of the AR industry ecosystem.

Comparison of conventional LCoS projector and PIC-based LCoS presented at SID 2025 (Source: SID 2025 Digest)

Comparison of conventional LCoS and PIC-based LCoS structure (Source: SID 2025 Digest)

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶UBI Research’s Micro Display Report

[BOE IPC 2025] BOE, 17inch Rollable Portable Device

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[BOE IPC 2025] BOE, 17inch AI Rollable Integrated Solution

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BOE unveiled a 10.18-inch triple fold OLED panel exclusively for Huawei at IPC 2025 (Source: UBI Research)

BOE Unveils 10.18-inch Triple-Fold Panel at IPC 2025…Strengthens Market Strategy with Exclusive Supply to Huawei

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BOE’s 10.18-inch triple fold OLED panel showcased at IPC 2025 (Source: UBI Research)

Triple fold OLED panel unveiled at BOE IPC 2025 (Source: UBI Research)

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.

Earlier in August, at DIC 2025 (Display Innovation China), BOE did not exhibit the triple-fold panel. BOE’s decision not to unveil the panel at DIC, a public exhibition that highlights the latest display technologies across the industry, but instead to present it exclusively at IPC 2025, is interpreted as a strategic choice. While DIC serves as a stage for industry-wide technology sharing, IPC is a platform where BOE emphasizes its differentiated technologies and roadmap directly to global partners and clients. By selectively showcasing the triple-fold OLED panel at its own event, BOE sought to reinforce its brand image and highlight its leadership in the market with a product that requires high levels of technical maturity and reliability.

The triple-fold panel exhibited by BOE features a resolution of 2232×3184 and supports a variable refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 90Hz. Structurally, it achieves an external folding radius of R3.8mm and an internal folding radius of R1.5mm, enabling a design that can fold three times.

Reliability tests confirmed durability of over 100,000 cycles at room temperature, 20,000 cycles under low temperatures, and more than 100,000 cycles in high-temperature and high-humidity environments. In addition, BOE applied a 10-inch UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) to balance mechanical strength and transparency, and reinforced durability by adopting a “Bamboo Book structure,” which places adhesive at the edges of the folding area.

Through this exhibition, BOE demonstrated its foldable display capabilities, differentiating itself from other Chinese OLED panel makers such as Visionox and Tianma. The triple-fold panel requires a combination of complex technologies, including structural design, reliability assurance, and advanced materials, making it a symbolic case that underscores its commercial potential. With this move, BOE is not only strengthening its technological competitiveness within China’s display industry but also reinforcing its independence and leadership in the global market.

Junho Kim, Analyst at UBI Research (alertriot@ubiresearch.com)

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Meta Ray-Ban Display AI/AR Glasses at Connect 2025

Meta Announced New Products: Meta Ray-Ban Display AI/AR Glasses, Evolving Beyond the Original Ray-Ban AI Glasses

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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. Named ‘Meta Ray-Ban Display’, the glasses represent a midpoint product between the existing Ray-Ban AI glasses and Meta’s Orion AR glasses unveiled at last year’s Connect conference. They feature a ‘monocular panel’ positioned at the lower right corner of the right lens. The choice of a single monocular display appears driven by issues like cost and wearing time, and it requires pairing with a smartphone app.

Meta Ray-Ban Display AI/AR smart glasses unveiled at Connect 2025 (Source: Meta)

Meta Ray-Ban Display AI/AR smart glasses (Source: Meta)

These glasses feature a camera, multiple microphones, and speakers, enabling users to command the Meta AI voice assistant to take photos, record videos, play music, and more. The compact display provides functions such as notifications, turn-by-turn navigation, and real-time translation. The core display component utilizes an LCoS single-chip full-color microdisplay. Regarding the optical waveguide, it is known to utilize Arrayed Waveguide Grating (AWG) technology licensed from Lumus. The wristband, based on surface electromyography (sEMG) technology, is the industry’s first product targeting the consumer market. The sEMG technology collects bioelectric signals from the wrist area via multiple electrodes embedded in the bracelet. It then uses algorithms to recognize these signals and convert them into corresponding gesture commands. “It’s the first smart glasses integrating a high-resolution display and Meta’s sEMG wristband while maintaining Ray-Ban’s signature design,” the company emphasized. Meta does not sell this wristband separately; it is sold as a set with the Ray-Ban Meta Display. The price for the AR glasses and sEMG wristband set unveiled by Meta is $799.

Meta officially unveiled five key new hardware products at this event. These include Meta’s first pair of AR glasses, three pairs of AI glasses without displays, and one electromyography (EMG) wristband based on sEMG technology.

Meta Connect 2025 lineup featuring Ray-Ban Display, AI glasses, AR glasses, and sEMG wristband (Source: Meta)

New product lineup unveiled at Meta Connect 2025 (Source: Meta)

Meta remains optimistic about the AI glasses market and continues its strategy to dominate the market. The social media company continues to promote AI-based wearable devices as the next-generation core technology following smartphones, and competition among companies is expected to intensify further.

Namdeog Kim, Senior Analyst at UBI Research(ndkim@ubiresearch.com)

▶2025 Micro-LED Display Industry and Technology Trends Report

BOE OLEDoS AR/VR Microdisplay at IPC 2025

BOE Establishes Microdisplay Development Infrastructure in Beijing… Unveils a Range of AR/VR Products and Roadmap at the 2025 BOE IPC

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AR glasses with 0.49-inch 4496ppi OLEDoS displayed at BOE IPC 2025 (Source: BOE)

0.49-inch 4496ppi OLEDoS AR glasses unveiled at BOE IPC 2025 (Source: BOE)

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. The investment will be funded by the Beijing B20 base and will utilize existing equipment and infrastructure to shorten process validation and yield ramp-up time. This is not a simple expansion, but rather a strategy to internalize silicon microdisplay in Beijing and secure an early mass production system.

BOE unveiled its microdisplay roadmap and new products at the 2025 International Partner Conference (IPC) and related events. BOE demonstrated its technology and commercialization commitment to next-generation applications such as high-resolution AR/VR devices, and BOE will focus its R&D and investment on high-resolution LCDs of 2,000 ppi and above, as well as LEDoS and OLEDoS. In addition, the company plans to establish a new microdisplay production base in Beijing and to secure technology independence by shifting from relying on external design houses to developing its own silicon (Si) backplane technology.

BOE has also reorganized its portfolio by market segment. The premium market will be served by LEDoS and OLEDoS, while the mid-range market will be served by developing and producing AMOLED panels for VR at its Chongqing base. For the entry-level market, a 2,000 ppi LTPS-LCD microdisplay line will be launched at Beijing B20 to enhance cost competitiveness and volume responsiveness. Separately, the transition to MLED backplanes is underway at the Ordos B6 line. The plan is to leverage Gen 5.5 assets to improve the uniformity and reliability of key processes such as sputtering-based metal-electrode thin-film formation, and to advance process maturity by optimizing low-resistance wiring and contact characteristics required for large-area operation.

BOE’s move is likely to change the competitive landscape with Sony, Samsung Display, and others in the AR/VR market. In-house development of the silicon backplane is expected to speed up product launches by shortening the feedback loop for design changes, performance improvements, and power optimization.

The infrastructure shift to Beijing is also expected to enhance supply chain stability and customization responsiveness. By consolidating design, optics, software, and solutions capabilities in Beijing, the plan is to reduce lead times for customization and product generation transitions.

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶UBI Research’s Micro Display Report

OLED emitting material market share by nation, Korea leading overall while China rises in smartphones

OLED Emitting Material Market Landscape Shifts… Korea Maintains Overall Lead While China Advances in Smartphones

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OLED emitting material market share by nation, comparison of Korea and China (Source: UBI Research)

OLED emitting material market share trends by nation (Source: UBI Research)

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. Korean panel makers purchased approximately 36.7 tons, accounting for 59.9% of the total, while Chinese panel makers purchased 24.6 tons, representing 40.1%. By quarter, Korea recorded 18.6 tons versus China’s 12.8 tons in Q1 2025, and 18.1 tons versus 11.8 tons in Q2, continuing a stable lead.

While Korea continues to dominate the overall OLED emitting material market, the smartphone segment shows a different trend. Since 2025, Chinese panel makers have consistently exceeded 50% market share on a quarterly basis, surpassing Korea in the first-half total as well. This indicates that although Korea remains ahead in the overall OLED emitting material market, China’s share is steadily expanding in smartphones, a core application segment. Backed by its strong domestic demand, China has rapidly increased shipments, suggesting that the balance between the two countries is gradually shifting in the medium to long term.

By company, Samsung Display accounted for about 40% of the total OLED emitting material purchases, maintaining the largest share, followed by LG Display, BOE, and Tianma. In contrast, in the smartphone OLED emitting material market, BOE closely followed Samsung Display, with Tianma, TCL CSOT, and LG Display trailing behind. Thus, while Korean panel makers still demonstrate clear strength in the overall market, Chinese panel makers are making notable strides in the smartphone sector.

UBI Research analyst Noh Chang-ho stated, “Although Korea has been overtaken by China in the smartphone OLED emitting material market, Samsung Display and LG Display remain ahead in the overall OLED market, supplying IT panels, QD-OLED, and WOLED,” adding, “However, as Chinese panel makers expand shipments of smartphones and foldables, along with increasing IT OLED production, the gap between Korea and China in the emitting material market is narrowing rapidly.”

Changho Noh,  Senior Analyst at UBI Research  (chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

▶OLED Emitting Material Market Tracker Sample