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Charts demonstrating the structural hybrid process and efficiency improvements of solution-processed PSF OLED devices presented at ICDT 2026.

Demonstrating the suitability of PSF materials for hybrid processes

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A joint research team from Beijing Summer Sprout Technology and Guangdong Juhua Printed Display Technology announced at ICDT2026 that they had achieved efficiency, color purity, and lifetime on par with vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE) devices by spin-coating phosphorescent-sensitized MR-TADF (hereinafter PSF) materials. This research is drawing attention as it aligns with the technological initiatives of TCL CSOT, which is currently pursuing the mass production of large-area RGB OLEDs based on inkjet printing.

PSF has already been validated as a technology capable of simultaneously achieving high efficiency, high color purity, and low roll-off in vacuum-deposited devices, and Visionox has begun applying PSF materials to AMOLED panels for smartphones.

The device structure adopted in this study is a hybrid method in which the emissive layer (EML) is formed by spin coating, while the electron transport layer (ETL), electron injection layer (EIL), cathode, and capping layer (CPL) are stacked via vacuum deposition. The research team used a process sequence in which the three hole-side layers were formed via spin coating, followed by substrate pretreatment with UV ozone treatment and baking at 230°C. After applying the EML via spin coating, the remaining layers were completed via vacuum deposition. This is a practical approach that focuses on the EML’s luminous efficiency and color purity while enhancing mass-production feasibility.

Structure diagram of a solution-processed OLED utilizing a hybrid process

Structure diagram of a solution-processed OLED utilizing a hybrid process

The PSF device developed by the research team achieved a current efficiency of over 200 cd/A at 1,000 nits. This performance is on par with both existing polymer-based solution-processed devices and vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE) devices. The roll-off characteristics were also found to be virtually identical to those of VTE devices. Depending on the composition, the color gamut satisfied 100% DCI-P3 and 95% or more of BT.2020. The device demonstrated a lifespan up to 170% longer than that of a standalone phosphorescent device.

Operational lifetime (LT95) comparison graph demonstrating the enhanced lifespan of the PSF solution-processed device

Operational lifetime (LT95) comparison graph demonstrating the enhanced lifespan of the PSF solution-processed device compared to phosphorescent OLED devices.

After more than 10 years of research, TCL CSOT began small-scale mass production of inkjet-printed OLED panels at its 5.5-generation line in Wuhan in November 2024 and aims to begin shipping 27-inch 4K 120Hz inkjet OLED panels for monitors in July 2026. Construction began in October 2025 on the Guangzhou T8 8.6-generation fab, where approximately $4.15 billion is being invested to build a dedicated inkjet OLED line with a monthly capacity of 22,500 panels, with mass production targeted for 2027. The key reason TCL CSOT chose the inkjet process is to enhance product competitiveness by directly applying light-emitting materials to RGB pixels without an FMM (Fine Metal Mask), thereby increasing material utilization to over 90% and reducing equipment investment costs by approximately 30% compared to VTE.

Spin coating and inkjet printing both fall within the category of solution-based processes; however, inkjet printing entails a higher level of process complexity than spin coating due to its pixel-level selective deposition. While the intrinsic challenges of the inkjet process—such as deposition uniformity, drying control, and jetting stability—must be addressed independently, a material-level basis has been established demonstrating that PSF molecular materials can maintain high efficiency, high color purity, and low roll-off in solution.

The results of the hybrid process hold value as data directly transferable to a fab environment. It remains to be seen whether the mass production of PSF-based, low-cost inkjet OLED panels will become a cost-driven innovation originating from China that disrupts the FMM-process-based OLED supply structure.

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

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Diagram of different phases of ViP™ OLED devices showing the independent optimization of subpixel common layers to enhance display efficiency.

High-efficiency pTSF-OLED made possible only by ViP™ technology

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Visionox and the research team of Professor Lian Duan at Tsinghua University jointly presented research results demonstrating OLED efficiency improvements through ViP™ (Visionox intelligent Pixelization) technology at ICDT 2026 (International Conference on Display Technology). This presentation is particularly noteworthy as it marks the first co-authored paper between Visionox, which has led the ViP™ process innovations, and Prof. Lian Duan’s group, which developed the pTSF (phosphor-assisted TADF-sensitized fluorescence) mechanism and contributed to its mass production adoption.

OLED panels fabricated using the fine metal mask (FMM) process have a pixel aperture ratio (APR) of only 20–30%. This narrow emitting area forces high current densities through the device, fundamentally accelerating efficiency roll-off and material degradation. On large-area substrates of Gen 8 and above, mask sagging makes precise alignment increasingly difficult, creating serious yield challenges for producing high-resolution OLED panels at 400 ppi and beyond.

The ViP™ technology, disclosed by Visionox in May 2023, patterns pixels via photolithography, enabling an APR exceeding 50%. Furthermore, unlike FMM, it allows the common layers of each R, G, and B sub-pixel — including HIL, HTL, EBL, ETL, and others — to be designed and optimized in complete independence.

The research team systematically investigated the efficiency-improvement effects of ViP™ technology along three axes: materials, layer thickness, and emission mechanism. In the FMM process, the hole transport material (HTM) has traditionally been selected based on the performance requirements of the blue device. With ViP™, however, the common layers for each sub-pixel can be chosen independently to match their respective emission characteristics.

Diagram showing the structural changes of ViP™ OLED devices from Reference to Phase 1 and Phase 2, illustrating the independent optimization of common layers (CAT, CPL, ETL, EBL, etc.) for each RGB subpixel

Structural optimization phases of ViP™ OLED devices revealed by Visionox and the Tsinghua University research team. It overcomes the limitations of FMM by independently designing the common layers of each subpixel to prove efficiency improvements. (Source: Visionox & Tsinghua University)

A comparison of three HTM materials sharing the same HOMO level (−5.2 eV) but differing in hole mobility revealed that a red device based on an HTM with significantly lower mobility degradation under high electric field conditions achieves an efficiency roll-off (G16/G255) of 101% — effectively zero — at high luminance, while extending LT95 lifetime by 48% relative to the reference device.

Two-stage optimization effects were quantitatively verified through SETFOS optical simulation. In Stage 1, individually tuning the cathode (CAT) and capping layer (CPL) thicknesses for the R and B devices alone improved white efficiency by 5%. In Stage 2, further optimizing the HTL, EBL, and ETL thicknesses for each of R, G, and B added an additional 9% (green), 3% (red), and 2% (blue) improvement. The combined white efficiency gain from both stages exceeds 7%, a magnitude comparable to a full year’s efficiency progress achievable through materials innovation (typically 5–10%).

ViP™ enables device structure optimization tailored to each emission color. A blue device based on the pTSF mechanism achieves theoretical efficiency 1.6–2.5× higher than that of a TTA (triplet-triplet annihilation) fluorescent device. Applying the pTSF mechanism across a white panel can boost overall efficiency by up to 55%. However, in FMM-based mass production lines, the HOMO/LUMO energy levels of the HTM and EBM required for pTSF green and pTSF blue pixels are mutually incompatible, making it practically impossible to raise efficiency within a single panel. ViP™ resolves this structural barrier and opens the path to integrating both a pTSF green device and a pTSF blue device within a single panel.

This study suggests that as ecosystem collaboration deepens between material suppliers and equipment manufacturers, the efficiency gains enabled by ViP™ technology will accelerate further. For next-generation applications demanding high resolution and low power consumption — large-format IT panels (monitors, laptops), AR/VR headsets, and automotive displays — the ViP™–pTSF technology combination is poised to emerge as a core source of differentiated competitive advantage that FMM-based mass production lines cannot replicate.

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

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Visionox's latest creaseless foldable display module demonstrating an invisible crease at the ICDT 2026 exhibition.

Creaseless Foldable Technology Competition Intensifies

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Following Samsung Display’s demonstration of a laser-drilling-based creaseless panel at CES 2026 and BOE’s disclosure of its creaseless technology at MWC 2026, Visionox unveiled a creaseless foldable module at ICDT 2026 — signaling an intensifying technological competition at the panel supplier level.

Visionox's creaseless foldable module with PET-free technology exhibited at ICDT 2026

Visionox’s Creaseless foldable module showcased at ICDT 2026. By replacing the internal PET film with high-rigidity non-plastic materials, the crease depth change remains under 20μm even after 200,000 folds. (Source: UBI Research)

Samsung Display changed its approach to the metal support plate at the bottom of the panel — replacing chemical etching with laser drilling to form dozens of microscopic holes, distributing bending stress across the fold line rather than concentrating it at a single point. At CES 2026, a side-by-side “Crease Test” demonstration using a Galaxy Z Fold 7 panel showed no visually perceptible crease. The technology is expected to be adopted for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Apple’s foldable iPhone panels.

BOE redesigned the panel’s internal stack from a single neutral layer to a multi-neutral-layer architecture and applied a gradient modulus approach, distributing and absorbing stress across multiple layers — achieving a crease reduction of over 40% compared to conventional panels. Because only the design was changed without adding external components, manufacturing costs are reduced. The technology has already been applied to Honor Magic V6 and has completed mass-production validation.

Visionox’s creaseless foldable module takes a fundamentally different path from the two approaches above. While Samsung Display controls stress through support plate processing and BOE through internal layer redesign, Visionox addresses the physical root cause of crease at the materials level. The key is the complete removal of the PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film previously used as the internal support material in foldable modules. PET is the root cause of crease formation, as plastic deformation accumulates with repeated folding. Visionox has replaced it entirely with a high-rigidity, non-plastic material, creating a structure in which no permanent deformation occurs even after folding. In addition, a high-recovery OCA (optically clear adhesive) is applied, improving the module’s shape recovery speed after unfolding by 1.6x compared to conventional designs, thereby suppressing the accumulation of local stress.

Visionox has further stacked a multilayer composite cover structure — comprising glass, an ultra-thin protective film, and a nano-reinforced layer — along with a gradient stiffness support plate, minimizing the surface height difference between the folding region and the flat region. Measured results confirm a surface height differential of within 30μm between the folding and flat regions, and a crease depth change of less than 20μm after 200,000 repeated folding cycles. The overall module thickness is 0.4mm or less — 20% thinner than conventional designs — while front impact resistance is improved by 1.3x and rear pressure resistance by 1.25x.

In summary, the three companies are taking distinct physical approaches toward the creaseless goal: Samsung Display through support plate processing, BOE through internal panel stack redesign, and Visionox through direct materials substitution.

With Apple’s foldable iPhone launch expected in the second half of 2026 projected to significantly boost demand for foldable panels, which customers each company secures through its respective creaseless approach will be a critical variable in the reshaping of the supply chain.

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

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Presentation slide outlining Visionox's pTSF technology roadmap from concept to 2026 mass production at ICDT 2026.

Visionox Achieves 95% of BT.2020 with pTSF Technology Advancement

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At ICDT 2026, Dr. Guomeng Li of Visionox presented the mass production roadmap for panels applying pTSF (Phosphor-assisted TADF-sensitized fluorescence) technology. He emphasized that by addressing key limitations of conventional phosphorescent OLEDs—such as broad emission spectra and shoulder peak issues—the technology marks a turning point in OLED color reproduction.

At SID 2025, Visionox had already demonstrated the feasibility of this approach by showcasing a pTSF-based green OLED achieving color gamut at the level of DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB.

Visionox's pTSF technology development and 2026 mass production roadmap presented by Dr. Guomeng Li at ICDT 2026

Visionox’s pTSF development roadmap presented by Dr. Guomeng Li at ICDT 2026. The goal is the full-scale mass production and commercialization of BT.2020 pTSF technology by 2026. (Source: UBI Research)

pTSF, a next-generation OLED emission technology, uses a phosphorescent material as a sensitizer to transfer energy to a narrow-spectrum fluorescent emitter, enabling 100% exciton utilization while improving color purity.

Visionox first presented pTSF performance at SID 2025 with a CIEx of less than 0.21. Less than a year later, at ICDT 2026, the company reported achieving a CIEx of 0.17 and approximately 95% of the BT.2020 color gamut. In addition, Visionox stated that, compared with its mass-produced phosphorescent OLEDs, the new structure delivered more than 30% higher efficiency and over 50% longer lifetime.

According to Visionox, these improvements were achieved by optimizing the combination of host materials, phosphor sensitizers, and narrow-spectrum fluorescent dopants, while also controlling the exciton recombination zone to reduce factors that degrade device performance. In particular, the company explained that expanding the recombination zone helped mitigate TTA and TPA, making it possible to improve both efficiency and lifetime at the same time. Visionox also added that stable characteristics were confirmed in evaluations including temperature-dependent IVL behavior, high-temperature driving stability, and capacitance variation.

Visionox also presented the development history and mass production plan for its pTSF technology. According to the presentation, the concept of pTSF was first proposed in 2014 by Professor Duan’s research team at Tsinghua University. By 2019, the company had established the technical foundation through the development of high-purity green materials based on multi-resonance structures, along with optimization of energy transfer and device architecture. It then proceeded with process and equipment validation as well as yield improvement through G4.5 pilot testing in 2021 and G6 testing in 2024, before unveiling a pTSF technology demonstrator at SID 2025. Visionox stated that in the second half of the same year, the technology entered the early stage of mass production and commercialization through customer products.

Visionox presented 2026 as the point at which BT.2020-level pTSF technology would be applied to mass production, and stated that it plans to further expand commercialization of the technology.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President of UBI Research, commented, “The significance of pTSF lies not only in extending the color gamut, but in its ability to achieve BT.2020-level ultra-wide color reproduction while simultaneously securing both efficiency and lifetime. Competition in the premium OLED market is likely to become increasingly centered on color performance, and high-color-purity emission structures such as pTSF have strong potential to emerge as core technologies in the future.”

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

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[ICDT 2026] Visionox, Automotive Dynamic Foldable AMOLED

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[ICDT 2026] Visionox, Automotive Dynamic Bending AMOLED

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Visual data charts comparing BT.2020 color gamut achievements of BOE, Visionox, and Tianma at the ICDT conference.

China OLED Competition Intensifies on BT.2020… Technology Showdown at ICDT

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At the ICDT (International Conference on Display Technology), held in Chongqing, China from March 31 to April 3, BOE, Visionox, and Tianma showcased AMOLED technologies emphasizing BT.2020 color gamut as a key performance metric. This demonstrated that competition among Chinese OLED manufacturers is increasingly centered on ultra-wide color gamut performance. While premium OLED displays were previously benchmarked at 100% DCI-P3 coverage, the industry is now pushing toward mid-90% coverage of the BT.2020 standard.

BOE Achieves 94% BT.2020 with TSF-Based AMOLED

BOE exhibited a smartphone AMOLED panel based on TSF (TADF-sensitized fluorescence) technology, achieving approximately 94% BT.2020 color gamut coverage. The panel features high resolution, HBM brightness of 2,000 nits, and peak brightness of 7,000 nits, maintaining strong color performance even under high-luminance conditions.

From a technical standpoint, the TSF structure improves exciton utilization efficiency, particularly enhancing color purity in the green region. This enables color reproduction that closely approaches the BT.2020 color coordinates.

BOE's TSF-based BT.2020 94% color gamut AMOLED smartphone panel revealed at ICDT

BOE Achieves 94% BT.2020 with TSF-Based AMOLED (Source: UBI Research)

Visionox Presents High-Efficiency, Mass-Production Strategy Based on pTSF

Visionox introduced an AMOLED based on pTSF (Phosphor-assisted TADF Sensitized Fluorescence), highlighting a color gamut strategy focused on high efficiency. pTSF combines a phosphorescent sensitizer with a TADF mechanism to improve exciton utilization, while maintaining the color purity characteristic of fluorescence and compensating for efficiency loss.

Rather than emphasizing color gamut figures alone, Visionox focused on achieving high color gamut while reducing power consumption by more than 6% and improving lifetime by 20% at the same time. Through its symposium presentation, the company also announced plans to mass-produce high-efficiency AMOLED panels with around 94% BT.2020 coverage in 2026, signaling that the competition has moved beyond the development stage and into commercialization.

Visionox's pTSF structure-based BT.2020 94% high-efficiency AMOLED technology revealed at ICDT

Visionox Targets 94% BT.2020 with pTSF-Based AMOLED (Source: UBI Research)

Tianma Leads Color Gamut Competition with Over 96% BT.2020

Tianma unveiled a panel achieving more than 96% BT.2020 color gamut coverage by combining PSF (Phosphor-Sensitized Fluorescence) technology with improved blue emission characteristics. By enhancing color purity in the green region through PSF and optimizing overall RGB color balance, Tianma further expanded the ultra-wide color gamut.

Tianma's PSF-based BT.2020 96%+ ultra-high color gamut OLED technology revealed at ICDT

Tianma Achieves 96% BT.2020 with PSF-Based AMOLED (Source: UBI Research)

BT.2020 Competition Enters the Commercialization Phase

What became clear at this year’s ICDT is that competition among Chinese OLED makers over BT.2020 performance is moving beyond simple technology demonstrations and entering a commercialization phase aimed at mass production.

Changwook Han, Executive Vice President of UBI Research, stated, “The competitive landscape among Chinese OLED manufacturers is rapidly shifting from a focus on resolution and brightness to color gamut performance based on BT.2020. In particular, competition in the 94% to 96% range is no longer just about numerical superiority, but is evolving into a broader performance race encompassing efficiency and lifetime as well.”

He added, “In the premium OLED market going forward, the key competitive advantage will lie in technologies that can simultaneously achieve ultra-wide color gamut, power efficiency, and reliability.”

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

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Huawei's new foldable smartphone 'Mate X7' highlighting the rapid expansion of the Chinese foldable OLED supply chain.

China’s Foldable OLED Supply Chain Expands as Shipments Sustain High Growth

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Exterior of Huawei's new foldable smartphone 'Mate X7', which utilizes Chinese foldable OLED panels from suppliers like BOE and Visionox

Huawei’s new foldable smartphone ‘Mate X7’, featuring foldable OLED panels from Chinese suppliers. (Source: GSMArena)

As China’s  smartphone market grows rapidly, the panel supply chain is entering a full-scale expansion phase. Companies currently supplying foldable OLED panels to Chinese set makers include Samsung Display, BOE, TCL CSOT, Tianma, and Visionox, forming a competitive landscape between global and Chinese suppliers.

In terms of shipments, Chinese panel makers are showing steep growth in foldable OLED supply. Shipments increased from around 1.3 million units in 2021 to over 10 million units in 2025, representing a CAGR of more than 70%. This reflects not only the expansion of China’s foldable smartphone market but also the rapid rise in localization of panel supply.

By company, BOE leads not only in conventional smartphone OLED panels but also in foldable OLED shipments. BOE maintains market leadership by supplying panels to major brands such as Huawei, Oppo, and Vivo. However, after rising sharply through 2024, BOE’s shipments slightly declined in 2025.

TCL CSOT ranks second in foldable OLED supply, shipping more than 3 million units in 2025. Its key customers include Motorola, Xiaomi, and Honor.

Visionox also supplies foldable OLED panels mainly to Huawei and Honor, while Tianma began limited shipments in 2025, marking its formal entry into the market.

Overall, China’s foldable OLED market is transitioning from an early expansion phase to a stage characterized by intensified competition and customer diversification. Going forward, yield stabilization and cost competitiveness are expected to become critical factors shaping the market landscape.

Detailed information on the foldable OLED supply chain structure, panel makers’ development trends, and shipment volumes by company can be found in UBI Research’s China Trend Report.

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

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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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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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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)

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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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)

▶ Quarterly Small OLED Display Market Tracker Sample

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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)

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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)

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Visionox Unveils ViP (Visionox Intelligent Pixelization) Products at DIC 2025… Achieves Over 90% Yield in Small-Sized Displays

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Visionox’s circular OLED smartwatch panels produced with ViP deposition technology, showcased at DIC 2025.

OLED panel for smartwatches using ViP deposition method unveiled by Visionox

Chinese display specialist Visionox showcased products manufactured using its ViP (Visionox Intelligent Pixelization) technology at the DIC 2025 (Display Innovation China) exhibition held in August 2025. ViP is Visionox’s next-generation core technology, enabling ultra-high resolution, improved device lifetime, and high brightness—representing performance enhancements across multiple dimensions.

At the exhibition, Visionox revealed that panels produced with the ViP method offer a resolution of up to 1700 ppi, an aperture ratio of 69%, a sixfold improvement in device lifetime, and four times higher brightness compared to conventional technologies. The company emphasized that this technology is widely applicable—from AR/VR microdisplays to smartphones, automotive displays, and large-sized TV panels.

A Visionox representative at the exhibition stated, “Among the panels produced using the ViP method on our V3 line, small-sized display panels such as those for smartwatches have achieved yields of over 90%. Yields for medium-sized displays, such as those for smartphones, have also reached around 60%.”

However, since the ViP deposition method is applied to 8.6-generation medium-to-large OLED production lines, the technical difficulty of yield improvement increases with larger substrate sizes. Therefore, further monitoring of yield stabilization will be necessary going forward.

The ViP deposition method is compatible with both regular and irregular panel structures, supports low minimum order quantities, and is compatible with pol-less and transparent display technologies. As such, it is considered well-suited for high-mix, low-volume production and customized display markets.

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

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HKC Pushes OLED Expansion: Smartphone Panel Trial Production Starts, G6 eLEAP Line Planned

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HKC, one of China’s leading display panel manufacturers, is accelerating its transition into the small- and medium-sized OLED market. Moving beyond its traditional focus on large-sized LCDs, the company is now expanding into flexible OLED panels for smartphones and IT devices, while also actively investing in next-generation maskless OLED fabrication technologies.

HKC plans to begin trial production of smartphone OLED panels at its H6 facility in July 2025. The Phase 1 line has been built using secondhand 5.5-generation equipment previously owned by Royole, and features a hybrid structure that applies flexible encapsulation on glass substrates. The TFT backplane has a monthly capacity of 4,000 substrates, and the evaporation process follows a quarter-cut method.

In Phase 2, HKC is incorporating 4.5-generation EVEN equipment transferred from Japan’s Sharp, which is expected to be restored and operational by April 2026. The company also owns a dedicated OLED R&D line, currently undergoing restoration, with completion targeted for September 2025.

Notably, HKC is planning to build a dedicated G6 (6th-generation) OLED mass production line based on eLEAP technology. While Kunshan was initially considered as the investment site, current indications suggest the project will likely shift to Mianyang in Sichuan Province, due to changing policy dynamics and stronger local government partnerships. HKC is currently seeking regulatory approval from the Chinese government for its G6 OLED line based on eLEAP technology. While FMM (Fine Metal Mask) processing is also being considered as an option, it is understood that approval for FMM is highly unlikely due to regulatory constraints. The production line is expected to incorporate secondhand equipment from Japan Display Inc. (JDI), with potential for accompanying technical support.

This strategy signals a broader shift in China’s OLED industry, moving beyond simple production scale-ups to focus on achieving global competitiveness in advanced manufacturing technologies.

A parallel effort is underway at Visionox, which is building a G8.6 OLED line (V5) in Hefei. There, the company is developing and preparing to mass-produce OLED panels using ViP (Visionox Intelligent Pixelization), a maskless pixel formation technology based on photolithography and patents from Japan’s SEL. This approach avoids the resolution and yield limitations associated with traditional FMM processes.

HKC’s eLEAP investment aligns with this broader maskless OLED trend. Developed by JDI, eLEAP technology enables precision pixel formation without metal masks, offering advantages in aperture ratio and panel longevity. HKC signed an MOU with JDI in 2023 for joint development of eLEAP-based OLEDs. Although the companies later scaled back plans for a joint OLED fab, technical collaboration is understood to be ongoing.

The parallel efforts of HKC with eLEAP and Visionox with ViP demonstrate China’s intent to lead not only in OLED manufacturing capacity, but also in core next-generation fabrication technologies. This shift underscores the nation’s strategic ambition for technological self-reliance and global leadership in OLED production—an ambition likely to reshape the future of the small- and medium-sized OLED industry.

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

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Visionox Accelerates V5 Project…Expanding Technological Foundation through Patent Agreement with SEL and Completion of Mask-less OLED Deposition Equipment Order

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Comparison of OLED layer structures: FMM vs. ViP

OLED Layer Structure Comparison: FMM vs. ViP (Source: Visionox)

The key infrastructure processes for Visionox’s V5 project in China are progressing smoothly, signaling the full-scale preparation for next-generation OLED production. In parallel, Visionox has made a significant leap in securing core technological capabilities by signing a strategic patent license agreement with Japan’s Semiconductor Energy Laboratory (SEL).

The V5 line, currently under construction by Visionox in Hefei, Anhui Province, aims to move away from the conventional FMM (Fine Metal Mask) process and focuses on the production of mask-less OLED panels. To that end, the company is advancing its ViP (Visionox Intelligent Pixelization) technology—recently rebranded as mask-less OLED—as a next-generation high-resolution OLED manufacturing method.

Recently, Visionox successfully completed the roofing work for the V5 plant, wrapping up groundwork for major equipment installation. Core production equipment, including OLED deposition systems, has been ordered from AKT, a subsidiary of Applied Materials. Orders for additional essential equipment—such as exposure systems (Nikon), ion implanters (Nissin), and Excimer Laser Annealing tools—are also underway. The technical committee’s review for final investment approval of the V5 line shows positive progress.

In the meantime, Visionox has entered into a licensing agreement with SEL for core OLED-related patents. SEL holds a large number of fundamental patents related to LTPS (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Silicon), oxide TFTs, and OLED driving technologies. The company is developing a lithography-based OLED process called metal maskless lithography (MML). Through this agreement, Visionox aims to reduce global patent risks and strengthen its technological competitiveness in mask-less OLED technologies and high-resolution panel design. Visionox’s mask-less OLED process is based on Applied Materials’ OLED Max (photolithography) technology. Unlike SEL’s approach, which performs cathode processing after the lithography step, OLED Max conducts lithography after forming both the cathode and encapsulation layers. Although SEL’s method may lead to shorter OLED material lifespan, it offers an advantage in improving process yield. The partnership with SEL is expected to become a major milestone in Visionox’s push toward commercialization of next-generation OLED technology.

With progress in the V5 project and expanding global technological partnerships, Visionox plans to continue reinforcing its leadership in the global OLED market through initiatives such as establishing a national-level R&D institute in Kunshan, diversifying AMOLED applications, and improving asset efficiency for sustainable, technology-driven growth.

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

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BOE Opposes Hefei Government’s Withdrawal from B9 Stake… Sensitive to Potential Fund Shift to Visionox

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BOE's OLED Panel Production Complex (Source: BOE)

BOE’s OLED Panel Production Complex (Source: BOE)

Concerns Rise That B9 Funds May Be Diverted to Visionox’s FMM-Based Line Following ViP Investments

BOE is strongly opposing the Hefei local government’s move to withdraw its stake in the B9 OLED plant. The Hefei government is reportedly seeking to divest its shares worth around 20 billion yuan, and there are growing concerns that the funds could be redirected to Visionox’s V5 line—a direct competitor. BOE is closely monitoring the direction of this potential fund reallocation.

Currently, Visionox is investing in a 7.5K production capacity line at the V5 plant, implementing its proprietary ViP (Visionox intelligent Pixelization) technology. Visionox initially planned to build a 15K production capacity line using a ViP + FMM (Fine Metal Mask) hybrid method. However, due to financial constraints, the FMM portion of the investment was put on hold. If the capital withdrawn from B9 is allocated to Visionox, the company could not only complete the ViP line but also proceed with the additional 7.5K FMM-based investment. This would pose a direct long-term threat to BOE’s market share and competitiveness.

For this reason, BOE is opposing the Hefei government’s withdrawal and aims to maintain its leadership in OLED investments in the Hefei region. BOE is also internally reviewing plans to reinvest the B9 equity into new production lines or expand existing ones. Meanwhile, the Hefei municipal government is reportedly considering new investment strategies to restructure the region’s display industry.

This issue of divestment and fund reallocation by the Hefei government signals more than just a financial adjustment—it indicates a potential realignment of technology, capital, and production capabilities within China’s OLED industry. The rivalry between BOE and Visionox is expected to intensify, possibly escalating into a broader strategic competition for OLED market leadership.

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

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Samsung Display’s Foldable OLED Shipments Surge from May – Takes Q2 Market Share Lead

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Monthly Smartphone & Foldable Phone OLED Display Market Tracker

Monthly Smartphone & Foldable Phone OLED Display Market Tracker

According to the Monthly Smartphone & Foldable Phone OLED Display Market Tracker published by UBI Research, a market research firm, Samsung Display’s shipments of foldable OLED panels surged starting in May, securing the top market share in the second quarter of 2025.

In the first quarter of 2025, Samsung Display shipped approximately 250,000 foldable OLED panels, trailing behind major Chinese panel makers such as BOE, CSOT, and Visionox. However, beginning in May, the company significantly ramped up mass production of panels for the upcoming Galaxy Z Flip/Fold 7 series, driving a sharp increase in shipments.

Samsung Display shipped 1.78 million units in May and 1.53 million units in June, accounting for 52% of total foldable OLED shipments in the second quarter, ranking first in the market. Following Samsung Display, BOE recorded shipments of 1.8 million units in the second quarter, CSOT 900,000 units, and Visionox 500,000 units.

Samsung Display is expected to maintain the top share in the third quarter as well. Furthermore, with its exclusive early supply of panels for Apple’s foldable iPhone in 2026, Samsung Display is projected to sustain its dominance in the foldable OLED market.

The global foldable OLED panel market continues to expand. Annual shipments grew from 15 million units in 2022 to 21.8 million in 2023, reaching 25 million units in 2024. The figure is forecasted to grow to 30.8 million in 2025. With Apple’s anticipated entry into the foldable phone market and the increasing number of foldable models launched by Chinese smartphone brands, annual shipments are expected to surpass 50 million units by 2029.

UBI Research Executive Vice President Chang Wook Han stated, “Thanks to the full-scale mass production of the Galaxy Flip/Fold 7 series, Samsung Display is expected to maintain the highest shipment volume in the third quarter,” and added, “The overall foldable phone market is likely to remain at a similar level to last year in 2025, but will begin significant expansion from 2026 with the anticipated release of Apple’s foldable phone.”

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

▶Monthly Smartphone & Foldable Phone OLED Display Market Tracker 

Photolithography-based OLED processes: Challenges and opportunities for next-generation display innovation

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MAX OLED™ from Applied Materials

Patterning process with MAX OLED™ from Applied Materials

OLED technology has become the centerpiece of smartphone displays due to its superior image quality and flexibility. The fine metal mask (FMM) process is currently the dominant technology for patterning RGB subpixels in small and medium-sized OLED displays, such as smartphones.

However, conventional FMM methods suffer from limited aperture (around 30%), uneven brightness due to increased electrical resistance, and high production costs. Due to the sensitivity of OLED materials, photolithographic patterning, which was considered as an alternative to FMM, has also been difficult to commercialize due to concerns about OLED damage during the process.

Applied Materials presented its MAX OLED™ process technology at the SID 2025 conference. MAX OLED™ utilizes a proprietary pixel architecture and a novel process to capitalize on the advantages of conventional photolithography while compensating for the sensitivity of OLED materials. In particular, the sensitive organic layer is protected by thin film encapsulation (TFE) immediately after OLED deposition, which enables multiple complex photolithography and etching processes.

The MAX OLED™ process doubles the aperture ratio compared to FMM, significantly improving pixel brightness, resolution, and display lifetime. In addition, the localized cathode contact structure solves the problem of increased electrical resistance and reduces power consumption by 33% for notebook PC displays and 47% for monitor displays. High resolutions of up to 2,000 ppi are possible, and individual optimization of each RGB color OLED stack is also possible.

From an economic perspective, MAX OLED™ also makes a positive difference. It shortens new product development cycles by significantly reducing photomask lead times and lowering costs compared to FMM. It also increases glass utilization through multi-product in a mother glass (MMG), which is widely applied in LCD processes, and contributes to material cost reduction by approximately doubling OLED material utilization with short source-to-substrate distances.

Visionox recently announced that it is investigating a maskless process (ViP, Visionox intelligent Pixelization) using its MAX OLED™ process to produce 8th generation OLEDs. While Visionox’s announcement is a positive sign for the commercial viability of photolithography-based OLED processes, the company is cautious about investing in mass production as it has not yet achieved sufficient yields. This shows that the complex photolithography process and yield stabilization of MAX OLED™ technology still needs to be validated. The TFE process after OLED deposition for each RGB color, followed by repeated photolithography and etching, requires high precision and process control, which is the main factor contributing to the difficulty in securing yields. The fact that Samsung Display is also conducting pilot evaluations of the MAX OLED™ process demonstrates that the technology is gaining traction with major industry players.

In conclusion, MAX OLED™ is a promising technology that will overcome the limitations of the existing FMM process and revolutionize the performance of next-generation OLED displays. Although the challenge of achieving yields due to the complexity of the process remains, the attention of leading companies in the display industry strongly suggests that MAX OLED™ has the potential to emerge as a key technology to drive the future display market. This will open up the possibility of new applications such as VR displays, transparent OLEDs, and under-panel camera (UPC) integration.

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

▶2025 Small OLED Display Annual Report Sample

▶2025 Mid-to-Large OLED Display Annual Report Sample

Visionox to Establish Kunshan Research Center to Lead Next-Generation OLED and Make Full-Scale Investment in Mask-less OLED

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Visionox Logo

Visionox is promoting the establishment of a national-level laboratory in Kunshan City, located in Jiangsu Province, China, to lead the next generation OLED technology, and the ViP (Visionox Intelligent Pixelization) project is also making investments to secure production lines. At the recent SID Display Week 2025, the world’s largest display event, Visionox reaffirmed its global technology leadership by showcasing AMOLED applications in various fields including automotive, smart home, healthcare, and metabus.

Visionox is preparing to establish a national-level research institute in Kunshan to secure the source technology, the core competitiveness of the display industry. The institute will concentrate on next-generation OLED technology, and the D2 pilot plant located on the existing V2 line will be relocated to the Kunshan institute site to organically integrate research and development (R&D) and prototyping. The Kunshan municipal government will provide financial support for the project, which is expected to serve as an exemplary case of cooperation between local government and business in fostering advanced technology.

The name of the ViP (Visionox intelligent Pixelization) technology will be changed to ML OLED, meaning Mask-less OLED.  The V5 line currently being promoted in Hefei, Anhui Province, is focusing on 7.5K OLED production using Mask-less OLED technology instead of FMM (Fine Metal Mask) method. The technical committee is currently discussing the project, and a final investment decision is expected by the end of June 2025.

Some equipment investments have already been finalized, with LOI (Letters of Intention to Purchase) issued for Nicon lithography equipment, Nissin ion implanter, and APSYSTEM ELA equipment, and AKT, a display equipment subsidiary of Applied Materials, is the likely supplier for deposition equipment. However, the possibility has been raised that investment in FMM-related equipment may be put on hold.

Visionox is also planning a 15K-scale addition to its V2 line, and equipment orders are expected this year. The company plans to secure the necessary funds through the sale of the existing D2 pilot line and patents, as well as policy funding from the Hebei provincial government. The expansion strategy being pursued in parallel with the V5 project is a preemptive response to increasing OLED demand and to improve production efficiency and cost competitiveness.

Visionox is pursuing technology-centered sustainable growth through the establishment of the Kunshan National Research Institute, the transformation of mask-less OLED-centric production lines, and a strategy to diversify AMOLED applications. Through cooperation with the government, asset efficiency, and strategic capital investment allocation, Visionox has simultaneously secured financial stability and technological competitiveness, strengthening its position as a technology leader in the global OLED market.

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

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Automotive OLED Display Trends Seen Through SID 2025

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As the development of intelligent and networked automobiles accelerates, the demand for various types of vehicle displays is rapidly increasing. In terms of display technology, the adoption rate of LTPS TFT LCD and OLED is increasing, and interest in Micro-LED is also growing.

In 2024, the shipment volume of OLED panels for vehicles is expected to increase by 126% year-on-year to approximately 2.48 million units. It is expected to increase to approximately 3 million units in 2025. This is because OLED is expanding its adoption, contributing to luxurious interiors and efficient space utilization, especially in premium vehicles.

LG Display, BOE, Visionox, Tianma, etc. recently presented various OLED vehicle display solutions at the SID 2025 and Shanghai Auto Show. As major automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi, GAC, and Ideal are also installing OLED in their latest models, the market penetration is further expanding.

LG Display has organized an exhibition space dedicated to automobiles under the theme of ‘Driving the Future.’ The concept car on display featured a 57-inch pillar-to-pillar OLED that covers the entire dashboard and an 18-inch sliding OLED for the rear seats.

57-inch pillar to pillar OLED & 18-inch sliding OLED

LG-Display-57-inch-pillar-to-pillar-OLED-18-inch-sliding-OLED

BOE showcased a smart cockpit consisting of a total of eight OLED displays, including a 55-inch transparent OLED sunroof. Key specifications include a 12.3-inch instrument panel and CID (resolution 720×1920), a switchable privacy display with a relative brightness of less than 0.5% at a viewing angle of 48 degrees or more, a 1.5-inch circular OLED with a resolution of 466×466 and 310 PPI, and two CMS OLEDs.

55-inch OLED transparent sunroof

55-inch OLED transparent sunroof

BOE OLED smart cockpit

OLED smart cockpit

Visionox unveiled a smart C-type armrest flexible OLED, a dual-screen integrated flexible OLED, a UDIR flexible OLED for vehicles, and a switchable privacy display at SID 2025.

Visionox UDIR OLED

UDIR OLED

Visionox Dual screen

Dual screen

Visionox Privacy OLED

Privacy OLED

Tianma exhibited a 13-inch slider OLED and a dual 13-inch multi-curvature integrated black OLED display with a curvature range of R800~2000mm.

Tianma 13-inch slidable OLED

13-inch slidable OLED

Tianma 13-inch multi curvature OLED

13-inch multi curvature OLED

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

▶2025 Automotive Display Technology and Industry Trends Analysis Report

Visionox May Expand V2 Line, Aiming for Monthly Capacity of 60K Small-Size OLED Panels

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Visionox-OLED-Shipment

Visionox is reportedly reconsidering the expansion of its V2 line located in Guan, China. The expansion plan had been on hold due to delays in local government investment support, but recent renewed discussions with the Guan municipal government have reignited the possibility of investment. If the plan moves forward, an additional monthly deposition capacity of 15K is expected to be added to the V2 line. Combined with the existing V1 line in Kunshan (5.5-generation, 15K) and the V3 line in Hefei (6-generation, 30K), Visionox would establish a total monthly production capacity of 60K for small-size OLED panels.

Currently, Visionox produces rigid and flexible OLEDs for smartwatches and smartphones at the V1 line, while the V2 and V3 lines mainly manufacture LTPO OLEDs used in flagship smartphones. Major clients include leading Chinese smartphone brands such as Xiaomi, Oppo, Honor, Huawei, and Vivo.

Visionox’s OLED panel shipments have shown clear growth in recent years: 35 million units in 2021, 46 million in 2022, 73 million in 2023, and a sharp increase to 120 million in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of approximately 64.4%. However, shipments in Q1 2025 stood at 26.1 million units, suggesting that the full-year figure may remain similar to that of 2024.

Meanwhile, Visionox is also building a new 8.6-generation OLED line (V5) in Hefei to enter the medium- to large-size OLED market. This line targets IT and automotive applications such as laptops, tablets, and vehicle displays, positioning itself as a strategic hub for Visionox’s portfolio diversification and future growth.

If the V2 line expansion is realized, Visionox is expected to significantly strengthen its small-size OLED production capabilities while simultaneously accelerating a multifaceted growth strategy that includes its entry into the medium- to large-size display market.

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

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Visionox Implements 4th-Generation OLED Technology Using pTSF Mechanism

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Visionox announced at SID 2025 International Display Week that it has successfully demonstrated the commercialization potential of pTSF (Phosphor-assisted Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Sensitized Fluorescence), a fourth-generation OLED technology. This technology is part of hyperfluorescence OLED technology, the fourth generation of OLED technology, and has been attracting attention as a key technology for the next-generation OLED display industry, as it simultaneously satisfies high color reproduction, high efficiency, and long life.

The research team developed green OLED devices with an ultra-wide color gamut that not only exceeds the DCI-P3 standard but also meets the requirements of AdobeRGB and BT.2020. In particular, the newly developed pTSF-based hyperfluorescence OLED device achieved high color purity with CIEx < 0.21 and FWHM (wavelength width) of 21-27 nm and reported up to 12% efficiency improvement and 20% lifetime improvement compared to existing commercial phosphorescence OLEDs.

The pTSF mechanism combines the excellent color purity of fluorescent emitters, the 100% exciton utilization of TADF hosts, and efficient energy transfer from phosphorescent assistant dopants, resulting in a more precise and stable emission system compared to traditional OLED structures. In addition, by optimizing the material deposition process for the G6 mass production line, material usage was reduced by over 10% without compromising quality.

Two prototype products—Product A and Product B—utilizing the pTSF technology were also developed. Compared to existing Visionox OLED products, Product A and B showed 12% and 6% lower power consumption, respectively, while achieving over 99.5% coverage of both DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB color gamuts. Furthermore, both maintained comparable reliability in high temperature and high humidity endurance tests.

A Visionox representative stated, “This milestone marks a pivotal step toward the commercialization of hyperfluorescence OLEDs. Starting with green, we aim to expand pTSF architecture to red and blue devices as well, ultimately achieving full BT.2020 color gamut coverage in next-generation OLED displays.”

The research was presented with sample demonstrations at SID 2025, and was conducted in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry at Tsinghua University, supported by China’s National Key R&D Program.

Wide color gamut Wide color gamut pTSF device flexible AMOLED solution pTSF High-efficiency pTSF device flexible AMOLED solution

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

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[SID 2025] Visionox, Rollable AMOLED (R3)

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Visionox to Invest in Dual OLED Deposition Technologies at V5 Line – Supplier Conference Scheduled for May 22

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Visionox’s ViP(Visionox intelligent Pixelization)

Visionox’s ViP(Visionox intelligent Pixelization)

According to UBI Research’s China Trend Report, Chinese display company Visionox has finalized the technical direction for its V5 OLED production line. The company will invest in two separate 7.5K capacities using its proprietary ViP (Visionox intelligent Pixelization) deposition technology and the conventional FMM (Fine Metal Mask) method. The investment in the ViP-based 7.5K capacity will be carried out first, followed by the FMM investment approximately six months later.

ViP is a high-precision deposition technology based on photolithography, enabling high-resolution OLED production without the need for FMM. Visionox has been intensively developing this technology as a core strategy to enhance its future manufacturing competitiveness. However, challenges related to yield have made mass production using ViP alone difficult. As a result, the company has decided to adopt a dual-track strategy for the V5 line, incorporating both ViP and FMM processes.

To support this plan, Visionox will host a supplier conference in Hefei, China, on May 22. Local government officials are also expected to attend, and the event is anticipated to help resolve outstanding funding issues for the V5 investment.

Visionox’s recent move is drawing attention in the context of the global OLED industry’s ongoing investments in 8.6-generation OLED lines. Samsung Display is currently building an 8.6-generation OLED line for IT applications (30K capacity) in Asan, South Korea, aiming to begin mass production in the second half of next year to supply panels for Apple’s iPads and MacBooks. BOE is also investing in its Chengdu-based 8.6-generation OLED line in China, targeting the production of OLED panels for smartphones as well as IT OLED panels for the domestic market.

Junho Kim, an analyst at UBI Research, commented, “Although there is still a need for significant improvements in yield and technology, Visionox appears to be pursuing enhanced production efficiency and differentiated technological competitiveness through its ViP technology.”

UBI Research’s China Trend Report provides the latest information on Chinese display companies, including shipment data from Chinese OLED panel makers, investment trends, and equipment disclosures.

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

▶ China Trend Report Inquiry

Small OLED display shipments in 2024 are expected to increase by 200 million units compared to 2023 and exceed 1 billion units in 2025

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‘1Q25 Small OLED Display Market Track’

‘1Q25 Small OLED Display Market Track’

According to UBI Research’s ‘1Q25 Small OLED Display Market Track’, which includes application performance and outlook for smartphones, foldable phones, smartwatches, etc., small OLED shipments in 2024 are expected to reach 980 million units, an increase of approximately 200 million units from 773 million units in 2023. The small OLED market is expected to exceed 1 billion units in 2025.

Looking at the 2024 performance, most panel manufacturers in Korea and China saw an increase in shipments of 40 to 50 million units, and in particular, Chinese panel manufacturers TCL CSOT, Tianma, Visionox, and Everdisplay saw shipments increase by more than 50% compared to 2023. BOE, China’s largest panel manufacturer, saw its panel shipments increase by only about 8% due to temporary production suspensions caused by disruptions in iPhone supplies throughout the year.

Not only Chinese panel makers, but also Korean panel makers have seen a significant increase in shipments. As rigid OLED panels began to be applied to Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy A series, Samsung Display’s shipments are expected to surge from 320 million units in 2023 to 380 million units in 2024. LG Display’s smartphone OLED shipments also increased from 52 million units in 2023 to 68 million units in 2024 as its supply of panels for iPhones expanded.

With Chinese panel makers’ shipments steadily increasing, and Samsung Display’s rigid OLED shipments and LG Display’s iPhone panel shipments also increasing, small OLED shipments in 2025 are expected to easily exceed 1 billion units.

“OLEDs are being widely applied to lower-end models of Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy A series and low-cost models from Chinese set manufacturers, and BOE and Visionox’s new 8.6G lines are also designed to produce panels for smartphones, so small-sized OLED shipments are expected to continue to rise for the time being,” said Han Chang-wook, Vice President of UBI Research.

Chang Wook HAN, VP/Analyst, UBI Research(cwhan@ubiresearch.com)

▶Small OLED Display Quarterly Market Track Sample

Samsung Display advances mass production of 8.6G OLED line, Chinese panel companies are catching up

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Hefei Visionox V5 groundbreaking ceremony held last September

Hefei Visionox V5 groundbreaking ceremony held last September

Recently, there is news that Samsung Display is moving up the mass production of the A6 8.6G OLED line to the end of 2025. Following Samsung Display, Chinese panel companies are also rapidly investing.

The biggest reason why OLED panel companies are rushing to invest in the 8.6G OLED line is the chamfer rate. Initially, OLED began to be applied to small and medium-sized products first, and when producing small and medium-sized products of 10 inches or less, a sufficient chamfering rate could be achieved even with the size of a 6G substrate. However, as OLED began to be applied to IT products with large panel areas, unlike small and medium-sized products, the unusable and discarded area in the 6G line increased, and to solve this, a line using a larger substrate was needed.

Samsung Display, the leader in the 8.6G OLED line, began building a production line early this year and plans to begin mass production at the end of 2025. Samsung Display invested in the 8.6G line to mass-produce 2-stack tandem OLED for Apple’s MacBook Pro, but mass-produced it earlier than originally planned, gaining time before mass-producing panels for MacBook Pro. Before mass producing panels to be supplied to Apple, Samsung Display is expected to first mass produce tandem OLEDs to be supplied to laptop set makers such as Samsung Electronics, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.

BOE, a latecomer, also began investing in the 8.6G line. BOE is expected to bring in two deposition machines from Sunic Systems in 2025 and begin mass production in the third quarter of 2026. BOE’s 8.6G line mass production period is from the third quarter of 2026, but like the iPhone, it is expected to be difficult to supply IT OLED panels to Apple in the early stages. Like other 6G lines, it is expected to initially mass produce panels for the Chinese domestic market and improve product quality to supply products to Apple. BOE is currently investing in module lines sequentially, and a total of 18 module lines are scheduled to be invested in Phase 1. Unlike Samsung Display, BOE is simultaneously investing in modules for smartphones and small and medium-sized OLEDs as well as IT OLEDs in the 8.6G line.

Following BOE’s lead, Visionox also invested in 8.6G. Last September, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for Visionox’s 8.6G OLED line, V5, in Hefei, and when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Hefei’s V5 line in October, it received positive reviews. Additionally, it is understood that Visionox officials visited Korean equipment companies and held meetings this month. Visionox plans to attract government investment based on ViP (Visionox intelligent Pixelization), but due to technical difficulties in vertical deposition, it is likely to be used only as a pilot line.

It was discovered that TCL CSOT is also preparing to invest in an 8.6G line based on inkjet technology. There is a high possibility that an investment announcement will be made at the end of the year. The location is Guangzhou City, and the line capacity is 16K for the inkjet method and 16K for the FMM method, with a total investment of 32K likely to be made.

In addition to the companies mentioned above, Tianma also has the possibility of investing in the 8.6G line, and HKC is considering new investments in 6G OLED. Now that Chinese panel companies are following in the footsteps of Samsung Display, which made its first investment, attention is being paid to how Samsung Display will widen the technology gap.

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

▶2024 OLED Technology and Industry Trend Analysis Report for IT Sample

Due to the OLED iPad Pro for Tablet PC, shipments are rapidly increasing, and shipments are expected to increase by more than 6 times in 2024 compared to the previous year.

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According to the “3Q24 Medium-Large OLED Display Market Track” published by UBI Research, more than 12 million OLEDs for tablet PCs are expected to be shipped in 2024 thanks to Apple’s entry into the OLED market for tablet PCs.

As mass production of iPad Pro OLEDs began in the first quarter of 2024, shipments of OLEDs for tablet PCs surged to 1.2 million units in the first quarter and 3.4 million units in the second quarter.

As not only Samsung Display and LG Display, but also Chinese panel manufacturers have begun mass production of OLEDs for tablet PCs, the OLED market for tablet PCs is expected to expand further. Among Chinese panel manufacturers, BOE is expected to ship about 1.5 million OLED panels for tablet PCs in 2024, and Visionox is expected to ship about 800,000 OLED panels for tablet PCs.

Due to the increase in panel shipments by Apple and Chinese companies, OLED shipments for tablet PCs are expected to exceed 30 million units in 2028.

▶Medium & Large OLED Display Market Track Sample

Samsung Display continues to dominate the OLED market for foldable phones

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Foldable OLED shipment forecast

Foldable OLED shipment forecast

According to the ‘2024 Small OLED Display Annual Report’ recently published by UBI Research, OLED shipments for foldable phones are expected to increase from 27.4 million units in 2024 to 52.7 million units in 2028.

According to the report, Samsung Display’s OLED shipments for foldable phones in 2023 will be 13.4 million units, a 6.3% increase from 12.6 million units in 2022. Also, among Chinese panel makers, BOE shipped 6.2 million units of OLED for foldable phones, more than three times the 1.9 million units in 2022, while TCL CSOT and Visionox each shipped 1.1 million units of OLED for foldable phones.

Although there is fierce pursuit by Chinese companies, Samsung Display is expected to still take the lead in the foldable phone market. Samsung Electronics, to which Samsung Display supplies panels, is expected to expand the models of the Galaxy Fold series scheduled to be released this year, and Samsung Display’s foldable phone panels are expected to be applied first to Apple’s foldable iPhone to be released in the future. Based on such technological prowess and competitiveness, Samsung Display’s dominance in the foldable phone market is expected to continue for the time being.

▶ 2024 Small OLED Display Annual Report Sample Download

OLED shipments for IT are expected to reach 31 million units in 2027, with an average annual growth rate of 41%

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According to the ‘IT OLED Technology and Industry Trend Analysis Report’ recently published by UBI Research, OLED shipments for tablet PCs, notebooks, and monitors are expected to reach 31 million units in 2027 with an average annual growth rate of 41%.

This forecast is based on Samsung Display’s 5.5G OLED line, 6G OLED line, 8.5G QD-OLED line, 8.6G (2290 x 2620 mm2) IT line, and LG Display, BOE, and Visionox’s 6G OLED line.

Shipment forecast for IT OLED

Shipment forecast for IT OLED

For IT products, OLED had been a market that received less attention than smartphones or TVs, but has began to receive significant attention due to the increase in demand for IT products in COVID-19 and the prospect of Apple using OLED for IT products.

Previously, Samsung Display was mass producing a small amount of OLED for IT from some of A2 as the 5.5G rigid OLED line and the 8.5G QD-OLED line, and some Chinese companies such as EDO were producing IT OLEDs in small quantities, but in 2024, Samsung Display and LG Display plan to mass produce OLED for Apple’s iPad in earnest from the 6G line, and BOE also plans to mass produce OLED for IT from the B12 line.

In addition, Samsung Display decided to invest in the 8.6G OLED line for IT early this year, and is expected to mass produce various IT products, including notebooks, from the first half of 2026.

Moreover, LG Display and BOE are planning to invest in the 8.6G line as soon as they secure investment funds and customers, and Visionox is also reportedly holding meetings with major equipment companies to invest in the 8.6G line.

If demand for OLED from set companies for IT increases in the future and panel companies invest in 8.6G lines, the IT market is expected to become a new high value-added market for OLED, following the smartphone market.

▶ IT OLED Technology and Industry Trend Analysis Report Sample

OLED panel makers’ 8.6G IT line investment trends, LG Display and BOE’s investment delays

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Apple iPad Pro

Apple iPad Pro

Samsung Display and LG Display are investing in the 8.6th generation IT line with high added value to compensate for the decrease in sales due to the Chinese panel makers’ flexible OLED low-cost offensive and LCD withdrawal.

At the LG Display 2Q earnings announcement conference call held on the 26th, an official from LG Display said, “The announced 6th generation IT-related investments are proceeding as scheduled, and the investments will be made until the first half of next year.”

However, regarding the possibility of investing in the 8.6th generation IT OLED, it stated that “nothing has been confirmed yet”. LG Display emphasized, “We will carefully look at the possibility and progress of technology development and whether market demand is developing to a level that can contribute to the company’s profits before making an investment decision.”

LG Display’s 8.6th generation IT line investment is expected to be delayed compared to Samsung Display due to difficulties in securing new line investment funds due to operating losses, but it is expected to be able to supply panels to Apple from 2026.

Not only LG Display, but also Chinese panel maker BOE’s investment is being delayed. Samsung Display can secure Samsung Electronics and Apple, and LG Display can secure LG Electronics and Apple as customers, but BOE is expected to take at least two years to invest in the 8.6G line for IT because of uncertainty in securing customers.

Another Chinese panel maker, Visionox, is also preparing to invest in the 8.6G line for IT. Visionox plans to announce its investment in the 8.6th generation line with a total capacity of 30K in September.

On the other hand, Samsung Display’s investment in the 8.6th generation IT line has already been decided. Samsung Display plans to apply Oxide to the TFT of the 8.6th generation IT line and build it with 2 stack RGB OLED. Samsung Display had previously developed 8.6th generation vertical deposition 2 stack RGB OLED as an IT line, but the investment was decided for 8.6th generation horizontal deposition. Canon’s exposure machine is planned to be brought into Samsung Display’s IT line in April 2024, and negotiations on the price of the deposition machine with Canon Tokki have already been completed.

▶ 2023 Medium and Large OLED Display Annual Report Sample Download

Samsung Display’s foldable OLED expected to exceed 50 million units in 2027

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Foldable OLED shipment ratio forecast

Foldable OLED shipment ratio forecast

According to the ‘2023 Small OLED Display Annual Report’ recently published by UBI Research, Samsung Display’s OLED shipments for foldable phones are expected to reach 50.9 million units in 2027 with an average annual growth rate of 28.1% from 18.9 million units in 2023.

According to the report, Samsung Display’s foldable OLED shipments in 2022 were analyzed to be 12.6 million units, accounting for 85.1% of global foldable OLED shipments in 2022. BOE, TCL CSOT, and Visionox mass-produced some foldable OLEDs, but Samsung Display led the foldable OLED market.

It is expected that Samsung Display will continue to dominate the foldable OLED market in the future. It seems difficult for TCL CSOT and Visionox to record annual shipments of more than 1 million units by 2027, and unless LG Display also secures a customer, the time for mass production of foldable phone panels is unclear.

Lastly, the report forecasted global OLED shipments for foldable phones to be 61.4 million units in 2027, with Samsung Display expected to account for 82.9% of the market with 50.9 million units and BOE with 9.6 million units and 15.7%.

▶ 2023 Small OLED Display Annual Report Sample Download

[China Trend Report] Visionox Orders 6th Generation Vertical Vapor Deposition for IT

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According to a Chinese trend report published twice a month by UBI Research, Visionox ordered sixth-generation vertical vapor deposition machines for R&D on the V3 line.

Visionox Ordered Vertical Vapor Deposition, Source: Chinabidding.com

Visionox Ordered Vertical Vapor Deposition, Source: Chinabidding.com

Visionox’s V3 line is operated on with 30K/Month to mass-produce flexible OLEDs and this investment was done mainly on deposition process equipment in the spare space of the V3 site without investing in cells or module process equipment for IT.

The 6th generation vertical vapor deposition machine invested by Visionox this time is considered to be a prior investment to secure the technology of vertical vapor deposition and to determine the possibility of mass production in the 8th generation or higher in the future. The deposition process in the existing OLED line is being carried out as a horizontal deposition process and due to the issue of ledger glass and FMM control, FMM technology is applied to half-cut in the 6th generation line for mobile devices and open-mask technology in the 8th generation line for TV.

Since glass and masks are less affected by gravity than horizontal deposition, vertical deposition has the advantage of securing greater productivity by allowing deposition without cutting the ledger glass. However, mass production is still unclear.

If Visionox secures technology for vertical deposition through this investment, it is expected to invest in new lines for 8.5th generation IT without half-cut in the future.

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Is China’s 6G flexible OLED line reorganized?

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According to the ‘2022 OLED Display Semi-Annual Report’ recently published by UBI Research, it is predicted that the 6G flexible OLED line in China will be reorganized.

Representative companies that produce flexible OLED for smartphones in China are BOE, TCL CSOT, Tianma, and Visionox. EDO also owns some flexible OLED lines, but is mass-producing panels mainly for rigid OLED.

Among them, TCL CSOT and Visionox have recently continued to business difficulties, the possibility of reorganization of its flexible OLED line in China is being raised.

TCL CSOT mainly supplied panels to Xiaomi, but recently, due to panel performance issues and Tianma’s promotion, it was found that the 3Q utilization rate of the T4 line with a monthly capacity of 45K was only 10%.

In particular, the operation of ph-3 is being delayed indefinitely due to the low utilization rate of ph-1,2. In addition, TCL CSOT has tried to promote the panel supply for the Apple iPhone series, but it does not seem to get good results.

Utilization rate of TCL CSOT T4 line until August 2022, Source: 2022 OLED Display Semi-Annual Report

Utilization rate of TCL CSOT T4 line until August 2022, Source: 2022 OLED Display Semi-Annual Report

Visionox, which mainly supplies flexible OLED to Honor, has recently been operating the V3 line with a monthly scale of 30K, but the panel price is set at $30 or less, and its sales are greatly affected. It is a situation in which the utilization rate is guaranteed by securing a clear customer, but profits are not guaranteed.

For this reason, there is a possibility that BOE will take over the T4 line of TCL CSOT and the V3 line of Visionox. Daejeong Yoon, an analyst at UBI Research, said, “In the case of the T4 line, if BOE puts OLED facilities into the B20 LTPS line in the future, the possibility of taking over the T4 line of TCL CSOT and using it, or after the sale of the V3 line from Visionox, there is a possibility to acquire a part of the T4 line. In the case of the V3 line, it is also heard that the Hefei government has offered to acquire BOE.”

Although it is unlikely that China’s 6G flexible OLED line will change rapidly right now, attention is focused on how Chinese panel makers will continue to operate their lines in the future in a situation that has been evaluated as over-investment in the past and the market stagnation.

▶ 2022 Small OLED Display Semi-Annual Report Sample Download

Chinese Panel Makers in Crisis! Will the Display Business’s Deficit Increase This Year?

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<Honor 70 With Panels Supplied by Visionox>

Chinese panel makers such as Visionox and BOE are expected to face losses due to cost pressures.
The operation rate of Visionox was analyzed to be high. This is because Visionox is exclusively producing 70-80% of Honor, a large Chinese smartphone manufacturer.
However, despite the high operation rate, Visionox’s business status is precarious at best. Through cooperative efforts, Visionox was allocated most of Honor’s panel production quantity, but it is known that Honor has requested additional panel price reduction. According to some sources, Visionox is currently facing a loss of about 200 million yuan per month due to the reduced panel price.
BOE, the largest panel maker in China is also facing trouble. BOE along with Visionox had previously been in charge of panel production for Honor but received almost no allocation of production volume from Honor. Earlier this year, BOE faced tremendous difficulty due to the cancellation of existing iPhone 13 shipments to Apple. In April, BOE’s CEO Gao Wenbao felt a sense of crisis due to pressure on OLED and LCD volume and price and gave direct orders on cost reduction. Currently, BOE’s OLED line operation rate is less than 40% and it is estimated that the OLED business unit may incur a loss of about 10 billion yuan this year.
LCD, which is one of the main businesses of Chinese panel makers, is continuously falling in prices and the supply and demand of panels from smartphone set makers are sluggish. If an appropriate countermeasure is not found, Chinese panel makers will continue to experience a growing deficit in the display business.

[China Trend Report] Honor Magic4 Series, Panel Supply from BOE and Visionox

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According to the ‘China Trend Report’ published by UBI Research, Honor, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, announced Magic4 and Magic4 Pro at MWC 2022 held on February 28th.

Both products are 6.81 inches in size. Magic4 has a resolution of 1224×2664 and Magic4 Pro has a resolution of 1312×2848. The peak brightness of both products is 1,000nits and the refresh rate is 120Hz. LTPO TFT and 1,920Hz high frequency PWM dimming technology are applied.

The display panel is supplied by Chinese panel makers BOE and Visionox. The DDIC is supplied by Taiwanese IC chip maker Novatek. BOE supplies panels of three models: Magic4, Magic4 Pro, and Magic4 Pro plus. Visionox supplies panels of two models, Magic4 and Magic4 Pro.

Detailed mass production line and quantity estimation of Honor Magic4 series are included in ‘China Trend Report’. The ‘China Trend Report’ provides various information on the Chinese display industry trends, such as the latest issues of major Chinese display companies, line trends and shipments, equipment disclosures by company, and introduction of new products in China. The report can be inquired on the UBI Research website.

[UBI Research China Trend Report] Chinese Panel Makers’ Total Shipments of OLED Panels for Smartphones in the Fourth Quarter of 2021 Increased by 26% Compared to the Third Quarter

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26% Increase in Total Shipments of Chinese OLED Panels for Smartphones in the Fourth Quarter compared to the Third Quarter

 

According to UBI Research’s ‘February 1st China Trend Report’, total shipments of OLED panels for smartphones by Chinese panel makers in the fourth quarter of 2021 were 44.8 million units, a 26% increase from 35.57 million units in the previous quarter. By company, BOE shipped 20.9 million units and occupied a 46.7% share, followed by Visionox with 9.7 million units, EverDisplay Optronics with 5.5 million units, CSOT with 5.5 million units, and Tianma with 3.1 million units.

 

By substrate, flexible OLED panel shipments were the highest for BOE with 20.9 million units, followed by CSOT with 5.5 million units, Visionox with 4.7 million units, and Tianma with 3 million units. BOE’s panel shipments increased the most compared to the previous quarter with an increase of 5.3 million units, followed by Visionox by 1.9 million units and Tianma by 1 million units. CSOT’s panel shipments decreased by 300,000 units from the previous quarter.

In the field of rigid OLED panel shipments, EverDisplay Optronics shipped 5.54 million units, a decrease of 80,000 units compared to the third quarter, but maintained the No. 1 position in rigid OLED panel shipments with a market share of 52%. Visionox, in second place, shipped 5.04 million units, up 43% QoQ, chasing EverDisplay Optronics. Tianma’s rigid OLED panel shipments were 120,000 units, accounting for only 1%.

The details can be found in the ‘UBI Research China Trend Report’, and inquiries can be made on the UBI Research website.

[2021 Visionox Technology Innovation Conference] Chief Executive Officer Zhu Xiujian, “We will provide the ultimate experience through form innovation, basic performance enhancement, and function integration”

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At the Visionox Technology Innovation Conference in 2021, Zhu Xiujian, Chief Executive Officer of Visionox Technology Product Engineering Center, gave a presentation on OLED industry trends and Visionox’s advanced technology exploration.

In the OLED industry trend, Chief Executive Officer Zhu emphasized, “Flexible OLED is expected to occupy more than 30% of the panels for mobile devices after 2023, and cost reduction is the only way to expand the market.”

In the OLED technology change for mobile devices that followed, “From 2011 to 2018, a full screen with a notch or a narrow bezel became a trend, from 2019 to 2020, we pursued morphological differentiation such as camera pop-up, punch hole, U-notch, and under panel camera,” he said. He also announced, “After 2021, basic performance such as high refresh rate and low power consumption has been strengthened, and more differentiated technologies such as foldable and advanced UPC are being developed.”

Finally, the Chief Executive Officer mentions form innovation, basic performance improvement, function integration and advanced technology innovation for Visionox’s product innovation solution, full screen and various folding technologies for shape innovation, visual experience and low power consumption with improved pixel structure and color performance for basic performance improvement, cost reduction through layer integration, fingerprint recognition or touch pressure sensing technology for functional integration, and advanced technology In Innovation, he finished the presentation by mentioning micro LED and saying that it will provide optimal solutions to users.

Flexible OLED Leading the OLED Panel Market from 2019

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■ Flexible OLED is expected to ship 480 million units in 2019, surpassing Rigid OLED shipments.

■ Full-screen OLED among Flexible OLED is expected to have an average market share of 78.3% by 2022, dominating the market.

■ Foldable OLED is expected to ship in earnest from 2019.

Flexible OLED shipments are expected to exceed rigid OLED shipments in 2019. According to the ‘2017 Flexible OLED Annual Report’ published by Ubi Research, flexible OLEDs are expected to ship 480 million units in 2019, surpassing 409 million units of rigid OLED shipments. In addition, flexible OLED shipments will grow at a CAGR of 41% starting in 2018, reaching 1,285 million units in 2022 with forecasted revenue of US$ 59.4 billion.

<OLED Market Share Forecast by Substrate in 2018 ~ 2022>

Recently, as the hardware technology of mobile devices has been leveled up, set makers targeting the premium market are trying to differentiate their products by adopting OLED. Especially, set makers are beginning to introduce flexible OLED capable of full screen, as the needs of consumers who want a wider screen in mobile devices (even in the same sizes) on the increase.

 

Accordingly, panel makers are continuing to invest in flexible OLED mass production. Since Chinese panel makers such as BOE, CSOT and Visionox are expected to start mass production of Gen6 flexible OLED starting in 2018, flexible OLED shipments will likely grow at an average growth rate of 59% per annum, reaching 354 million units by 2022.

 

This report compares the structure and process of rigid OLED and flexible OLED, and analyzes the trends of technology development for foldable OLED implementation by layer. It also compares the flexible OLED application technology of Samsung Electronics, Apple, and LG Electronics which released mobile devices with full screen OLED. The report also forecasts the flexible OLED market from 2018 to 2022 by categorizing into various perspectives including flexible type, country and generation.

 

According to the report, full screen OLEDs of flexible OLEDs will ship 265 million units in 2018 with a market share of 82.1%, and 1,022 million shipments will be made in 2022, accounting for 79.5% of the market, leading the flexible OLED market. In addition, the foldable OLED, which has been receiving a great deal of attention recently, is expected to ship 5 million units from 2019 and 53 million units by 2022.

<Foldable OLED Shipment Forecast in 2018~ 2022>

 

IoT Era – Smart interface focused on display

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With the Google’s comments in 2015 that the new IoT era is coming, the 13th China International Display Conference started with the presentation of BOE, a large Chinese display company, with the topic of the era of smart interfaces to be developed in the future.

Randy Chen (BOE, Sales Marketing Executive) shared the overall IT market trend as the first presentation and delivered the BOE’s strategy within it. At the heart of the IOT industry, which is expected to account for around $ 10 trillion in 2050, smart interfaces that link 5G communications and electronics to displays will play a big role and emphasized 8K and flexible display as BOE’s survival strategy. For this, he announced that they are working to build the 8K Industry Alliance and continuing to invest in the production of flexible displays starting with Chendu’s G6 Flexible Line. OLED panels produced in the Chendu B7 line, which began operating in the second half of this year, will be supplied to a smartphone maker in Shenzhen and expected to be seen in the market early next year.

Next, Xiuqi Huang (GVO, Vice President) of Visionox, who first started producing OLEDs starting with PMOLED, mentioned the change of smartphone trend and said that a mobile device with a foldable and rollable type using a flexible panel will be introduced in the future. He said that the technological development is required not only in design but also in related equipment and materials and Visionox has also been actively developing its technology.

CSOT, which produces QD-LCDs together with Samsung Display, mentioned the development potential of QLED and OLED TV and said that it was spurring technological development and investment as a latecomer. Especially, it was developing large-area inkjet printing technology that has advantages of relatively high material utilization rate and price competitiveness, on the other hand, it shared the goal of developing a smartphone panel that minimizes Bezel.

Following the presentation of representative panel companies in China, Lee Choong-hoon of Ubi Research, a global OLED research company, forecasted the market size of the OLED market, which is already leading the small-medium-sized panel market and the premium TV panel market and discussed why OLEDs have grown rapidly as a next-generation display. Ubi Research, as an OLED professional research company, is suggesting directions for future growth of OLED based on years of data and research experience.

In current display industry, major global smartphone makers such as Apple, Samsung and Huawei already have plans to apply OLED to all flagship models and TV companies such as LG Electronics and Sony have also shown that OLED TVs can only succeed in the premium market. This is why we expect the development of various types of panels and various applications that maximize the advantages of OLED forward.

Visionox Announced OLED’s Own Innovative Technology is Flexible Display

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Visionox’s principle researcher Li Lin gave a keynote speech with a theme “Development of Foldable AMOLED Display” at the 3rd OLED Korea Conference held for two days from March 8 to 9 by UBI Research.

Principle researcher Li Lin explained the development trend of flexible display, saying “Initial CRT was originally developed as an oscilloscope, but due to the development of full-color technology, it has been used commonly in our lives. LCD was also developed as a segment display, but due to the development of semiconductor technology, TFT black plane was applied to LCD so that LCD could be able to be used for smartphone and large-screen TV as well. The combination of the latest electronic technology and material technology enables display innovation, and the most innovative technology of OLED different from existing displays is a flexible display, Visionox is intensively developing now”.

In addition, he introduced the development history of Visionox’s flexible display, unveiled touch sensor 7-inch foldable AMOLED display that was developed in November 2016, and announced this module featuring 180° out-folding passed a folding test.

<Flexible AMOLED display with the touch-sensor featuring 180° out-folding, Source: Visionox.com>

He added that in order to develop foldable display, it is very essential to improve reliability of TFT, use durable materials such as strong OCA, scratch-resistant and durable cover window film, thinner circular polarizer layer, and panel-combined touch panel, and decrease module thickness.

Meanwhile, principle researcher Li Lin said “The mass production of Flexible OLED panel finally depends on the yield improvement. But, skills and experience for mass production are still insufficient.” Regarding the question about the development of circular polarizer layer, he answered “Reducing thickness is a key. And, we are considering the way to combine with another layer.” Lastly, regarding the development of Touch panel, “Among various technologies, especially on-cell technology is now under examination”, and regarding materials, “Metal mesh seems to be a good alternative, but there is no specific plan yet” he announced.

AMOLED panel for smart phones, just around the corner of 100million-unit shipment in a quarter

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According to UBI Research, the shipment amount of AMOLED panel for smart phones in the 3rd quarter of 2016 was announced to be counted as 96million units.

It is the figure increased for 103% compared with the last quarter, and increased for 148% compared with the same period of last year, and it renewed the quarterly highest shipment amount once again, after the last quarter.

The person in charge of UBI Research mentioned that “The output of flexible AMOLED panels for Galaxy Note 7 was reduced compared to the plan due to the discontinuation of the production of Galaxy Note 7, however, the increase in shipments of AMOLED panels for China and Galaxy s7 series is seemed to play a important role in the increase of shipments in the third quarter.”

Currently, Samsung Display occupies more than 91% of the AMOLED panel market for smart phones, and Chinese panel makers such as BOE, EDO, Tianma, and Visionox are conducting mass production with small quantities.

In addition, Apple is expected to apply the flexible AMOLED panel to some models of the iPhone to be launched in 2017, therefore, future AMOLED panel market for smart phones will be increased continuously.

UBI Research expects that the annual shipment amount of AMOLED panel will form the market volume as about 1.4billion units by 2020 with the average annual growth rate of 41%, and flexible AMOLED panel among them will account for about 61%.

Smart Phone AMOLED Panel Shipment Forecast, Source : UBI research

BY HYUNJUN JANG, HANA OH