Samsung and LG are investing billions of dollars to build new production lines in order to capture the OLED mid-size screen market. These screens are expected to be used in Apple’s future iPad and Mac products to bring a better visual experience to users.
Image source: Apple
According to Nikkei Asia, OLED screens are more difficult to manufacture than LCD screens, especially in medium to large sizes. But OLED screens are favored by companies like Apple because of their higher contrast, lower power consumption and thinner thickness. Currently, Apple’s iPhone and Apple Watch already use OLED screens, while iPad and Mac are still using LCD screens.
To meet Apple’s demand, both Samsung and LG are accelerating the expansion of their OLED production capacity and adopting more advanced technologies to improve production efficiency and reduce costs.
Samsung is investing $3.05 billion in new OLED production lines at its main plant in Tangjin, South Korea. These lines will use 8.6-generation glass substrates, more than double the size of the current 6-generation glass substrates used, allowing for more screen panels to be made. Samsung expects to begin mass production of mid-size OLED screens in 2026, just in time for the launch of the new MacBook Pro.
LG is investing $2.5 billion in a new OLED production line at its plant in Paju, South Korea, and LG has yet to keep pace with Samsung, still using Gen 6 glass substrates. However, LG also has the advantage of having a unique white OLED technology that provides a more uniform and stable display.
Samsung and LG are both global OLED market leaders, with about 80% of the market share. But they also face stiff competition from Chinese manufacturers, such as BOE, Visionox, and Hophitsu, which have dominated the LCD market and are also actively expanding their OLED production capabilities. However, Chinese manufacturers have yet to make significant progress in mid-size OLED screens, so mid-size OLED screens are seen as the last growth market in the display industry and a target for Samsung and LG to compete for.
