OLED-Info - OLED industry portal

Bright Side with Brannan | Open-Shell Emitters for OLEDs: A Radical Alternative?

Ron Mertens — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 06:00:08 +0300

We're excited to launch Bright Side with Brannan, a new column by Prof. Alexander Brannan of the University of Manchester. In this column, Prof. Brannan will explore the science behind OLED technology — the materials, the physics, and the open questions driving the field forward. The following article is the first in the series.

OLED emitter materials are currently dominated by closed-shell compounds. This means their occupied molecular orbitals, including the highest occupied molecular orbital, or HOMO, are fully occupied by paired electrons in the ground state. In other words, there are no unpaired electrons.

This electronic structure underpins the conventional OLED emitter families: fluorescent, phosphorescent, and thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters. In each case, the excited states are usually described within the traditional singlet and triplet framework.

Saudia and Azerbaijan Airlines both deploy Panasonic Avionic's Astrova 4K OLED displays

Ron Mertens — Sat, 06 Jun 2026 06:10:17 +0300

Panasonic Avionics announced that two new airlines have deployed its Astrova 4K OLED entertainment systems. Saudia has installed the new systems aboard its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft.

Azerbaijan Airlines has deployed the Astrova OLEDs on 11 of its Airbus narrowbody aircraft (six A321neo and five A320neo aircraft).

LG Display orders Avaco's OLED deposition automation systems for its new OLED production lines

Ron Mertens — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:55:34 +0300

A few months ago, LG Display announced a new plan to invest $745 million in its OLED production facilities, to improve ‌its ⁠technological competitiveness, following a $925 million plan announced last year to advance its OLED technologies and production facilities.

This week Avaco announced that LG awarded it with a contact to supply 6-Gen AMOLED vacuum automation equipment.

Acer AR Vision GR0

Ron Mertens — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 09:45:15 +0300

The Acer Vision GR0 smart glasses utilize dual FHD 60Hz OLED microdisplays, and offer a large 172" virtual screen. The GR0 can be connected to smartphones or laptops, and weigh 69 grams.

The GR0 has built-in 3DoF head tracking sensors, accelerometers, proximity sensors, and magnetometers.

Meta said to delay its OLED microdisplay VR headset to 2027, more details emerge

Ron Mertens — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:57:27 +0300

Last year we reported that Meta is said to be working on a new Quest VR headset, powered by OLED microdisplays, that will be supplied by both BOE and Seeya. It was believed that Meta aims to release the headset in 2026, and now we hear that Meta will likely delay the launch to 2027, and some more interesting specifications have surfaced.

The original Oculus Rift, and then the 2019 Oculus Quest both adopted OLEDs, but since then Meta opted for lower-cost high-performance LCDs. Now that competition is intensifying with Apple and Samsung aiming at the high-end part of the market, it makes sense for Meta to upgrade the performance of its VR headsets - and OLED microdisplay provide improved form factor, image quality, and power consumption. The rise of OLED microdisplay production in China also means that prices are getting lower.

Universal Display opens up a new OLED technology and innovation center in Chengdu, China

Ron Mertens — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:23:47 +0300

Universal Display Corporation announced that its OLED Technology and Innovation Center in Chengdu, China, is now open. UDC says that this new center marks the company's continued expansion in the region and its commitment to supporting the next phase of OLED innovation.

UDC's new Chengdu facility features state-of-the-art laboratories and a dedicated customer support center. The site is designed to support materials characterization, device optimization and application development.

The MicroLED Industry Association expands rapidly in 2026 with 16 new global members

Ron Mertens — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 06:00:05 +0300

The MicroLED Industry Association reports a strong momentum in 2026, adding 16 new member companies since the beginning of the year alone. This rapid influx underscores the the association's rising influence as a central industry platform - and more interestingly for OLED developers, signals an increased interest in microLED technologies for displays and optical I/O.

The association reports that its new members span a wide range of technologies and capabilities across the MicroLED value chain, representing a diverse cross-section of the MicroLED ecosystem, spanning materials, equipment, device design, manufacturing, and testing.

The 2026 Audi Q4 e-tron uses OLED taillights powered by OLEDWorks

Ron Mertens — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:14:24 +0300

OLEDWorks announced that the new 2026 Audi Q4 e-tron EV SUV utilizes the company's Atala OLED panels for the digital OLED rear lights.

OLEDWorks says that the OLED lighting in the new Audi car uses light "not only as a functional safety feature, but also as a defining customer experience". The digital OLED rear lights of the Audi Q4 e‑tron reflect this approach through their distinct light signature and refined, highly uniform illumination.

UBI: we revised down our OLED material market estimate by 12.8%, as smartphone OLED shipments decline

Ron Mertens — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 15:30:04 +0300

UBI Research says that it has revised down its 2026 OLED material market estimates by 12.8%, due to the decrease in smartphone AMOLED panel shipments, caused by the rising memory prices.

Back a few months ago, UBI estimated that the global OLED material market will reach $2.91 billion in 2026. This has now been revised to $2.54 billion.

China's 15th five-year plan and the implications for the OLED display industry

Ron Mertens — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 06:00:07 +0300

When China published its 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP, 2026–2030) in March 2026, many assumed that the display industry had been handed another wave of state-level support. The assumption was understandable — but it requires a more careful reading.

A Chinese five-year plan is the country’s central blueprint for economic and social development over a five‑year period, setting binding and indicative targets that guide policy, investment, and regulation at every level of government. First introduced in 1953 and inspired by Soviet-style planning, these documents have evolved from rigid production quotas to a hybrid system that combines market mechanisms with state-directed priorities in areas such as technology, industry upgrading, environment, and social welfare.

This article examines what the plan does and does not say, what it means for Chinese display investment, the implications for Korean display makers, and how alternative geographies — Japan, India, and the United States — are positioning themselves following this new plan.

Reports suggest Samsung is considering expanding its flexible and foldable OLED production hub in Asan

Ron Mertens — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 18:28:17 +0300

Reports from Korea suggest that Samsung Display has decided to expand its OLED production hub in Asan, looking to expand its flexible (mostly foldable) OLED capacity.

It seems as if Samsung is seeing higher demand for foldable OLEDs in the future, starting with Apple's first foldable OLED smartphone launch later this year.

Samsung Display developed a 20% thinner gaming laptop AMOLED display

Ron Mertens — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:10:17 +0300

Samsung Display is showcasing a new laptop OLED panel, that is 20% thinner compared to Samsung's currently produced laptop AMOLEDs.

The company says it has achieved this slimmer design by etching both the Thin Film Transistor (TFT) substrate glass and the encapsulation glass to reduce their thickness by more than 30%, while also using its proprietary process know-how to resolve the potential warping that can occur when panels become thinner.

Xiaomi 17T / 17T Pro / 17 Max

Ron Mertens — Fri, 29 May 2026 21:41:12 +0300

The Xiaomi 17T smartphone offers a 6.59" 1268x2576 120Hz 3500 nits (peak) AMOLED display, Mediatek Dimensity 8500 Ultra, 12GB Of RAM, and up to 512GB of storage.

The Xiaomi 17T Pro offer a 6.83" 144Hz 3500 nits (peak) 1280x2772 AMOLED display, a Mediatek Dimensity 9500 Ultra chipset, 12 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of storage.

The EU ban on PFAS materials in 2028 may challenge OLED producers, Korean makers ask for a 12 years grace period

Ron Mertens — Fri, 29 May 2026 19:09:54 +0300

The European Union is planning to introduce new restrictions on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in 2028, which could pose problems for OLED producers.

OLED panels utilize PFAS materials, in display coatings and films. The Korea Display Industry Association (KDIA) said it formed a "Display PFAS Response Task Force" and submitted a second opinion letter to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), requesting a grace period of at least 12 years based on the absence of replacement materials and commercialization challenges.

Samsung developed a 31.5-inch 4K 360Hz QD-OLED monitor panels

Ron Mertens — Fri, 29 May 2026 18:56:05 +0300

Samsung Display announced that it has successfully developed the first QD-OLED for monitors to combine 4K resolution with a 360Hz refresh rate.

Samsung says that with the rise of games featuring photorealistic graphics and ultra-high-definition video content, consumer demand has continued to grow for monitors that can deliver both high resolution and fast screen transitions - and SDC is focused on developing a top-tier QD-OLED for monitors.

Samsung Display looks to sell its Tianjin AMOLED module factory, as demand for rigid OLEDs in China is declining

Ron Mertens — Fri, 29 May 2026 14:39:51 +0300

According to reports from Korea, Samsung Display has decided to sell its OLED module fab in Tianjin, China, as demand for its rigid AMOLED is declining, espsecially in China, and the company wishes to consolidate all its AMOLED module production capacity in Vietnam.

The SDC Tianjin module line has the monthly capacity to produce around 13 million rigid smartphone AMOLED display modules.

YAS to supply evaporation sources for CSOT's 8.6-Gen IT AMOLED line

Ron Mertens — Thu, 28 May 2026 17:01:50 +0300

Korean OLED equipment maker YAS is set to supply deposition equipment and evaporation sources for TCL CSOT's 8.6-Gen inkjet IT AMOLED production line. The evaporation sources deal is estimated at 10 billion Won ($6.6 million USD).

It is reported that YAS signed a contract with CSOT on April 2026, to supply both evaporation systems and sources, but the details were not disclosed yet. This specific supply deal is part of that April contract, and includes 6 linear evaporation sources and 72 point evaporation sources.

The Valve Steam Deck OLED is back in stock, but with a sharp price increase

Ron Mertens — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:58:19 +0300

In February, Valve announced that it is facing challenges in its memory supply chain, and stopped orders for its Steam Deck OLED gaming console, This was a good example of how rising memory prices harm supply chains, and also cause vendors to opt for lower-cost LCDs over OLEDs to offset the cost.

The company now announced that the Steam Deck OLED console are officially back in stock - but with a substantial price increase. The entry-level 512GB model, for example went up from $549 to $789. Valve stated that "these new prices reflect the current state of component costs and other global logistical challenges across the industry as a whole".

LG Display starts producing 240Hz RGB Stripe OLED monitor panels

Ron Mertens — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:11:20 +0300

LG Display announced that it is beginning to mass produce the world's first 240Hz RGB Stripe OLED panel, and will soon start shipping it to monitor vendors. The first panels are 27" 4K panels.

RGB Stripe OLED features a structure in which red, green, and blue (RGB) subpixels are arranged in a linear stripe, enabling clearer rendering of small text and numbers compared to conventional displays. LG says that this architecture reduces eye strain and provides a more comfortable viewing experience during prolonged use, such as document work, stock and financial trading, coding, and content editing.

OLED-Info Pro: Everything You Need, One Subscription

Ron Mertens — Wed, 27 May 2026 06:00:05 +0300

Following the OLED industry shouldn’t mean struggling to get valuable information, tools and analyses - yet that’s the reality today. OLED-Info Pro changes that.

For $24.99 per month — or less on an annual plan — you get complete access to everything we offer. No tiers. No add-ons. No surprises. One subscription. Full access.

LG Display chooses Sunic System to supply it with 6-Gen OLED deposition systems

Ron Mertens — Tue, 26 May 2026 14:58:32 +0300

Sunic System announced that it has signed a contract with LG Display to supply it with 6-Gen OLED deposition systems.

LGD will use these new systems for the expansion of its AMOLED fab in Paju, Korea.

Samsung Display details the AMOLED screens it will supply to the Ferrari Luce EV

Ron Mertens — Tue, 26 May 2026 10:14:57 +0300

In February, Ferrari shared the interior design of its upcoming Luce EV, with several AMOLED displays, supplied by Samsung Display (following the two companies 2023 partnership).

Today Samsung Display announced that it is indeed the supplier of these AMOLEDs - and that there are actually four different displays.

Simulating blue PHOLED devices, by SCM

Ron Mertens — Mon, 25 May 2026 10:36:48 +0300

In this lecture Bart Klumpers from SCM explores the company’s OLED simulation capabilities, including how blue PHOLED devices can be modeled.

Bart explains how software simulations serve as powerful tools for generating insights that are difficult to obtain or interpret through experimental methods. The lecture also demonstrates how these simulations can support more efficient device design and optimization.

O-Vision (Aoshi) Technology raises its Series-B funding round as it plans to scale up its photolithography-based OLED microdisplay production

Ron Mertens — Sun, 24 May 2026 17:14:43 +0300

Guangzhou O-vision (Aoshi) Technology has successfully concluded its Series-B funding round, raising over 100 million RMB (about $14.7 million USD). The company plans to use the funds mostly towards the construction of its 12-inch K2 OLED microdisplay fab.

O-Vision organic photolithographic patterning technology process

Aoshi has previously concluded its seed and Series-A funding round, which together raised over 150 million Yuan (over $22 million USD).

Samsung reaches commercial-level 90% yields at its A6 8.6-Gen line, on track to begin full scale production in June 2026

Ron Mertens — Fri, 22 May 2026 09:53:34 +0300

According to the latest industry news, Samsung Display has managed to increase its A6 8.6-Gen IT OLED line yields to over 90%, with parts of the process achieving yields of over 95%. These are commercial-level yields, and Samsung is ramping up production at the new fab, and will begin full-scale production next month.

A couple of months ago we reported that Samsung Display may be delaying the A6 ramp up, following some technical challenges - and demand concerns. But it appears as if this is not the case, and Samsung is actually right on schedule.

Researchers use π-Electron reorganization to achieve the highest-efficiency narrowband red fluorescence OLED emitters

Ron Mertens — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:43:23 +0300

Researchers from Sichuan University have used π-electron delocalization of classic PAHs molecules, through skeleton reconstruction, to design red fluorescence narrowband OLED emitters that offer the highest efficiency to date (24.2% EQE).

The researchers explain that their material design strategy enables the controllable transition of aromaticity from global delocalization to local localization, restricts long-range π-electron delocalization, suppresses excited-state vibrational coupling, and thus promises intrinsically narrow-spectrum emission materials.

Omdia: the <5-inch automotive AMOLED market set to grow quickly as car makers look for emotional and differentiated aesthetics

Ron Mertens — Thu, 21 May 2026 11:08:42 +0300

Omdia shared an interesting forecast, looking at small-sized automotive AMOLED displays (under 5 inches). Omdia estimates that 200,000 displays shipped in 2025, but the market will grow fast and reach 1.5 million units by 2030 (a total growth of 541%).

Omdia says that the general trend in the automotive screen is to replace traditional small control screens with large centralized displays. But there is also a growing demand for small-sized screens for emotional value, intelligent interaction, and differentiated cockpit aesthetics.

Will BOE convert its B18 8.5-Gen LCD fab in Nanjing to WOLED production?

Ron Mertens — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:26:35 +0300

Reports from Korea claim that BOE is looking to upgrade its pilot WOLED (WRGB) production capabilities. According to the company's plan, it will convert some of its B18 8.5-Gen LCD fab in Nanjing to WOLED production.

Asus ROG Swift OLED PG49WCD (QD-OLED)

BOE currently produces WOLED displays at a limit pilot scale at its pilot line in Hefei. The new plans calls to upgrade a large portion of the B18 fab to WOLED production which will give BOE a monthly capacity of around 16,000 - 18,000 8.5-Gen substrates. This will enable BOE to finally begin mass scale large-area WOLED panel production, targeting monitors and perhaps TVs as well.

OLED under macro-pressure: memory prices, geopolitics and LCD challenges

Ron Mertens — Wed, 20 May 2026 06:00:05 +0300

Towards the end of 2025, we believed that 2026 will be another year of increased AMOLED panel shipments, even without taking into account the two new 8.6-Gen IT OLED Lines that are expected to begin production. But as 2026 started, everyone started to realize that macro constraints are starting to shape OLED panel demand, and the AMOLED market started to contract.

The clearest example is memory. DRAM and NAND prices are both rising sharply, due to AI datacenters demand. This increased the cost of smartphone production, which led to a lower demand - some analysts estimate that smartphone shipments will fall around 10-14% in 2026. The main problem lies in low cost smartphones that already suffer from low margins. For OLED makers, the problem is even worse - as some brands are switching to lower cost LCDs in their budget and mid-range smartphones.

In this article we examine the three new macro constraints that are shaping the OLED industry in 2026, why this matters now more than it did in previous cycles, what we learned from the post-COVID IC shortage, the return of LCDs, which OLED segments are more resilient, and deeper implications for the next chapter in the OLED industry's growth story.

Viewtrix to IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on May 27

Ron Mertens — Tue, 19 May 2026 16:50:27 +0300

China-based display driver IC designer Viewtrix Technology is set to IPO at the Hong Kong stock exchange (Main Board), on May 27. The company will trade with the ticker 3310.HK.

Viewtrix (also known as Yunyinggu Technology), plans to offer 52,9 million shares, with an initial price of 20.8 HKD. Viewtrix hopes to raise around 997 million HGD (or $127 million USD) from the IPO.