OLED Tablets - Introduction and Latest Industry News
What is an OLED display?
OLED is short for Organic Light Emitting Diode, a device composed of thin carbon-based films placed between two electrodes that creates light with the application of electricity. Unlike other screen technologies, (like LCDs), which require backlighting, OLED displays are emissive devices - they emit light rather than manipulate transmitted external light.
OLEDs provide brighter, crisper colors and contrast on electronic devices and use less power than conventional light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or liquid crystal displays (LCDs) used today. This revolutionary technology is fit for various types of screens, like computer screens, mobile phones, tablets, TVs and more. OLED screens are light, thin, high-resolution and contain individually-lit pixels that make for true blacks and superior color contrast.
The current OLED tablet market
OLED displays are already very common on mobile phones (in fact it is the dominant technology, with a market share of over 50%), as Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Xiaomi and others adopt OLED displays in their smartphones.
OLEDs are also used in tablets, and this is a growing market. Samsung, Microsoft, Huawei and others are already shipping OLED-powered tablets. In 2024 Apple launched its first OLED tablets, the 2024 iPad Pro devices. It is likely that Apple's move will cause an increased adoption of OLEDs in tablets from other companies.
Click here for a full list of the latest OLED tablets on the market.
Samsung Display aims to increase its AMOLED production by 10% in 2025, hoping to sell more tablet displays and foldable displays
According to a report from Korea Samsung Display aims to increase its small-sized and mid-sized AMOLED panels production in 2025 by 10.25% compared to its 2024 production (or 475 million panels up from 432 million panels).
Of course SDC's production plans depend on market demand, but it seems as if the company believes the OLED market is set to grow or that the company aims to grab a larger share of the market. SDC mostly aims to increase production of IT panels (laptops and tablet displays) and foldable smartphone OLED panels.
BOE may face delays in its 8.6-Gen IT flexible OLED line, as one of its suppliers faces financial problems
Towards the end of 2023, BOE officially announced its plans for a 8.6-Gen flexible LTPO AMOLED line in Chengdu. The agreement with Chengdu's local government was signed in early 2024, and in April BOE announced it is starting to construct the new fab. A few weeks ago BOE said it finished the construction of the main outer structure in this project, and that the company is on track to finish the fab by May 2026, with mass production expected by October 2026 - and full production in 2029.
Today there is a report from Korea that one of BOE's suppliers, Hansong Neotech, faces financial problems (and its stock has been delisted from the Korean stock exchange). The company may not have enough money to coninute its operations and build the BOE systems.
Samsung is on track to start producing IT OLEDs at its 8.6-Gen A6 production line in 2026
Samsung Display is progressing as planned with its 8.6-Gen AMOLED production line. The company recently completed the installation of all major equipment in the new line, and mass production is still expected to begin in 2026.
Samsung Display is now focusing on testing, calibrating and improving all process steps, as the new fab includes new technologies that haven't been deployed before in OLED production.
Apple reportedly established four new display research labs in China, aiming to expand its OLED supply chain in China
According to industry reports, Apple recently established four display research labs in China, in Beijing, Shenzhen, Suzhou, and Shanghai.
Apple has reportedly formed an alliance with China's leading OLED makers, as the company gets ready to deploy OLED panels in its laptops and tablets. Apple is interested in diversifying its supply chain and not rely exclusively on Samsung Display and LG Display for its smartphone and IT AMOLED panels. The main goal of the new research labs is to test OLED panels produced by Chinese display makers, and evaluate and compare them to LG's and Samsung's OLEDs.
Chemtronics starts building a 8-Gen etch factory to support Samsung Display's 8-Gen IT AMOLED line
The Elec reports that Korea's Chemtronics is constructing a new fab at Sejong City that will be able to etch 8-Gen OLED substrates. This fab is built specifically for Samsung Display's new 8-Gen IT AMOLED line. The Elec said that Chemtronics already spent almost $70 million on this new fab, with Samsung supporting it with an investment as well.
The new fab will receive finished 8-Gen IT TFE rigid AMOLED panels from Samsung Display's upcoming A6 line, on a glass substrate. The new etching fab will reduce the thickness of these OLEDs from 0.5 mm to 0.2 mm, to enable lighter and thinner tablet and laptop OLEDs.
Rain Technology launches its switchable OLED display privacy solution
Rain Technology announced a new technology, called OLED Switchable Privacy, that is designed to protect OLED displays. Rain Technology says that its privacy technology already shipped in millions of LCD laptops and other displays, and is now ready for OLED displays for the first time.
OLED Switchable Privacy is embedded in the display panel smartphones, tablets or laptops, directing and controlling light from the display, thus allowing enterprises, consumers and application developers to hone unprecedented levels of automated visual security.
BOE progresses with the construction of its 8.6-Gen flexible AMOLED line in Chengdu
Towards the end of 2023, BOE officially announced its plans for a 8.6-Gen flexible LTPO AMOLED line in Chengdu. The agreement with Chengdu's local government was signed in early 2024, and in April BOE announced it is starting to construct the new fab.
Visionox shares more details on its upcoming 8.6-Gen IT AMOLED line in Hefei, construction will begin towards the end of 2024
In May 2024, Visionox announced its plan to build a new AMOLED production line, targeting the IT display market - laptops, monitors and tablets. The company said that it will best 55 billion Yuan (around $7.6 billion USD) to build a 8.6-Gen production line in Hefei, Anhui province, with a monthly capacity of 32,000 substrates.
Yesterday Visionox shared some more details about its project and plans. The company will build the new fab with support from two local government-owned firms, both of which are partners at Visionox's existing 6-Gen AMOLED line in Hefei. In the first step for this new project, the three partners (Visionox and the new government firms) will invest a total of $282 million USD. Visionox will only hold 20% of the JV.
UBI Research: OLED tablet shipments to jump over 500% in 2024 to reach 12 million units
UBI Research estimates that 12 million OLED tablet panels will ship in 2024, and increase of over 500% from 2023 (1.84 million units), following Apple's adoption of OLEDs in its iPad Pro devices for the first time.
UBI sees the tablet OLED display market continuing to grow, and is expected to reach 30 million units in 2028. The current market leaders are Samsung Display and LG Display, but other display makers are also targeting this market, with BOE aiming to ship 1.5 million OLED tablet panels in 2024, and Visionox around 800,000 units.
DSCC: OLED panel shipments jumps 50% in Q2 2024
According to DSCC, OLED panel shipments increased 50% in the second quarter of 2024, compared to the second quarter of 2023. Compared to the previous quarter, shipments increased 13%.
DSCC says that OLED tablet shipments increased 356% in the quarter compared to last year (led by Apple's adoption of AMOLEDs in its iPad Pro devices). OLED smartphone spanel shipments also 49%, while OLED TV panel shipments increased 30% from 2023.
