Progress of BOE’s 8.6-Generation OLED Line (B16) for IT Applications

In March 2024, China’s BOE began construction of B16, an 8.6-generation (2290×2620 mm) OLED production line for IT, in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, with a total investment of RMB 63 billion (approximately KRW 12.4 trillion).

In April 2024, BOE ordered a horizontal evaporator from Sunik Systems, and in May 2025, the B16 line will receive key equipment, including Abaco’s evaporator logistics system and Sunik Systems’ horizontal evaporator.

Unlike Samsung Display’s glass substrate-based hybrid OLED process at its 8.6 generation line, BOE has invested approximately three times the amount of Samsung Display’s investment of approximately KRW 4.1 trillion to introduce a process design that can support both flexible and glass substrates. As a result, it was expected that the B16 line would be able to produce flexible OLED panels for smartphones as well as panels for IT.

However, BOE reviewed the economics of smartphone production on the B16 line and concluded that the 8.6th generation line is less efficient than the existing 6th generation line because it is difficult to secure yields in the high-resolution FMM (Fine Metal Mask) process of 450ppi or higher, and the cost of FMM has also skyrocketed. 

The first mass-produced product of the B16 line is expected to be a panel for a laptop for a brand in China, and development of a 14.8-inch MacBook panel for Apple is also underway. Meanwhile, the 11-inch panel for the iPad is being developed on the B12 (6G) line.

BOE is looking for alternative applications, such as automotive displays, as the B16 line is not efficient enough to produce OLED panels for smartphones.

Chang Ho NOH, UBI Research Analyst(chnoh@ubiresearch.com)

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