If you’re planning on buying a good TV in 2026, you are probably faced with one of the biggest dilemmas in years: Do you buy a budget MiniLED TV right now, or wait a few months for OLED to get even cheaper? MiniLED models have never been more affordable. At the same time, OLED panel prices are collapsing, and entry level OLEDTVs have also become more accessible. So here’s a breakdown of everything you should consider.

The 2026 Price Reality

For the first time in years, OLED is no longer the “luxury only” option. In 2026, solid 55-inch MiniLED TVs sit comfortably in the $500–700 range, while premium MiniLED models stretch toward $1,000. That used to undercut OLED by a massive margin.

But this is not the case anymore. OLED TVs are now starting around $599, which is near all-time lows, thanks to major manufacturing cost reductions. The cost to produce a 65-inch OLED panel has dropped from roughly $1,000 in 2020 to under $500 by 2025-26. That shift alone is reshaping the mid-range TV market. In simple terms, the price gap between MiniLED and OLED has nearly disappeared.

The Game Changed in OLED Panels

The biggest disruption in 2026 isn’t just pricing, it’s the new OLED SE panels. Launching in Spring 2026, this cost-optimized OLED panel removes the polarizer layer to reduce production costs while still delivering around 1,000 nits of peak brightness and 95% DCI-P3 colour coverage. That’s more than enough for cinematic viewing and HDR content. So you can expect to see this panel in models like the LG B6 and the Samsung S85H.

This isn’t a stripped-down OLED. It’s essentially a smarter, cheaper OLED, which changes the buying equation dramatically. If you can wait a few months, these models may undercut many mid-range MiniLEDs while delivering true OLED performance.

Real-World Reliability: Burn in and Long Term Use

Budget MiniLED TVs offer a compelling package right now. These are often brighter panels than most OLEDs at the same price point, more affordable than top OLED counterparts, and offer better longevity. This is especially true for users who are concerned about burn-in, which is basically when static logos or UI elements become permanently visible over long periods. However, recent testing shows major improvements.

Many OLED TVs now last well over 10,000 hours without significant issues when used normally, marking a longer lifespan than typical ownership cycles. Still, if your usage includes long periods with static images (news tickers, desktop mirroring, gaming HUDs), MiniLED might remain the safer choice for worry-free daily use. OLED’s pixel-level control and pixel refresher tech have helped greatly, but the theoretical risk still lingers for some buyers.

Buy Now or Wait?

When deciding, consider your priorities:

Buy a Budget MiniLED TV if:

• You want a bright, vibrant screen today without waiting
• You watch a lot of sports, daytime TV, or HDR content in bright rooms
• You’re worried about OLED burn-in risks
• You don’t want to wait for price drops later

Wait for Cheaper OLED TVs if:

• Contrast, black levels, and cinematic picture quality matter most
• You want wide viewing angles for a larger family or living room
• You’re willing to time purchases with sales or panel price drops in 2026
• Your budget can stretch a bit for an OLED TV with better picture fidelity

The Takeaway

Budget MiniLED TVs are a solid choice in 2026, delivering bright, colorful images and strong performance right now. But OLED’s advantage in contrast, black depth, and cinematic picture is becoming more accessible as prices fall and newer, cheaper models arrive. If you need a TV right now, a MiniLED will satisfy most users beautifully. If you want the best possible picture and can time your purchase, waiting a few months for an affordable OLED could deliver more long-term value.

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Details of LG’s next-generation OLED TVs appear to have leaked just days ahead of their expected unveiling. The information points to two new flagship models for 2026: the LG OLED G6 and LG OLED W6, both said to introduce a major panel upgrade focused on brightness and image quality.

According to a German publication, the two TVs will debut a new tandem OLED panel marketed as “Hyper Radiant”, paired with what LG reportedly calls Brightness Booster Ultra. The company is said to be targeting a significant brightness jump, with figures suggesting up to 3.9 times higher brightness than LG’s entry-level B-series OLEDs. That would also place the new panel well ahead of the current G5, which already improved peak brightness over earlier generations.

The OLED G6 continues LG’s familiar Gallery Series design, built to sit flush against a wall. Size options reportedly range from 48 inches all the way up to a massive 97-inch model. LG is also said to be using an improved anti-reflective coating, which should help preserve deep blacks and contrast in brightly lit rooms. Powering the TV is the new α11 AI processor, claimed to deliver notably stronger AI performance for upscaling and picture optimization.

Gaming support remains a major focus. The G6 is expected to offer a 165Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision HDR for games, HDMI auto low-latency mode, and support for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync. Wireless features like AirPlay 2 and Google Cast are also said to be included.

The OLED W6 appears to share most of the G6’s core hardware but adds LG’s Zero Connect Box. This external hub handles HDMI and USB connections and transmits signals wirelessly to the display, leaving only a thin power cable attached. The W6 is expected to launch in 77-inch and 83-inch sizes.

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Following their showcase at CES earlier this year, LG Electronics has officially launched their OLED evo B4 series TVs. These TVs were available for pre-sale earlier this month and are now on the market.

The LG TV has Dolby Vision and Atmos Support for a great cinema experience

LG offers the OLED evo B4 series in two screen sizes: 65 inches and 77 inches. The 65-inch model carries a price tag of 13,999 yuan (approximately $2,080 USD), while the larger 77-inch model retails for 19,999 yuan (approximately $2,980 USD). The TVs come equipped with LG’s α8 AI audio/picture chip, promising exceptional image and sound quality. The 4K 120Hz panel delivers sharp visuals with smooth motion, perfect for fast-paced content or gaming.

The LG OLED evo B4 series boasts a variety of features designed to create an immersive viewing experience. Dolby Vision & Atmos support ensures stunning visuals and captivating audio. Additionally, the TVs offer 9.1.2 virtual surround sound for a cinematic audio experience.

The LG series prides itself on 100% color accuracy and a 100% color gamut, ensuring a wide range of vibrant and realistic colors. Gamers will appreciate the 0.1ms response time, minimizing input lag for a more responsive experience.

The LG OLED evo B4 series utilizes the webOS smart TV platform, offering easy access to streaming services and other applications. Users can also enjoy an ad-free startup experience. For comfortable viewing, the TVs come equipped with AI blue light reduction mode and FILMMAKER mode. Additionally, they boast low blue light, flicker-free, low glare, and no reflection certifications, promoting eye comfort during extended viewing sessions. The LG OLED evo B4 series caters to gamers by offering compatibility with NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium technology. These technologies reduce screen tearing and ensure smoother gameplay.

(Via)

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Samsung has thrown a curveball in the OLED TV game with the S85D series. Targeting LG’s stronghold on entry-level models, the 55-inch, 65-inch, and 77-inch S85Ds start at $1,699.99. Here’s a surprising twist, these sets likely use LG Display panels, indicating towards a possible shift in the competitive landscape.

Interestingly, the Samsung TVs likely use LG display panels

Samsung remains tight-lipped about the panels but emphasizes its NQ4 AI Gen2 processor for a top-notch viewing experience. This downplays the potential lack of Dolby Vision, a feature present on LG’s OLEDs. However, Samsung counters with a unique advantage: a native Xbox cloud gaming app on their Tizen OS, something LG currently lacks.

Gamers will also appreciate the standard-setting 120Hz refresh rate across all four HDMI ports. Interestingly, Samsung avoids mentioning quantum dots with the S85D. Instead, they highlight “Pantone-validated colors” and “pure blacks and bright whites,” suggesting the use of more affordable WOLED panels to hit their price targets.

The S85D series seems to be a strategic move for Samsung. It offers a budget-conscious entry point for OLED TV buyers, while fostering an unexpected collaboration within the industry. Considering Samsung prides itself on its LED panels, this crossover to LG may be suggestive of new things to come in the future.

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Market research agency Omdia says that Samsung Electronics is going to ramp up its use of LG WOLED panels in its products this year. Samsung will reportedly use 700,000 to 800,000 WOLED panels in its OLED TVs this year. To give you a context, this is up from last year’s 10-20 thousand units.

Samsung will use significantly more LG WOLED panels compared to last year

LG Display is expected to manufacture nearly 6 million units this year, from which LG Electronics will utilize 3.5-4 million. LG Display will ship the rest to other manufacturers such as Sony and Samsung. According to the market research agency, Samsung Electronics will purchase a significant proportion of the rest of the LG panels.

Notably, Samsung Display is also one of the big players in the display manufacturing industry, and the company will reportedly manufacture 1.4 million QD-OLED panels this year. Among these, Samsung Electronics themselves will use 1.1 million (nearly the full of it) and they will share the rest with Sony. So, it seems from the research data, that Samsung is focusing on manufacturing QD-OLED panels and fulfilling their demand of WOLED panels with supplements from LG Display. Notably, Samsung is expected to manufacture nearly 2 million OLED TVs this year, which is reportedly double as compared to last year.

Market research reveals that the overall OLED TV sales are expected to reach 6.3 million units this year, with Samsung and LG accounting for 5.5 million units. In summary of the research data, Samsung will utilize LG’s B series and C series TV-level WOLED panels in its OLED TVs but will continue to use in-house QD-OLED panels for its high-end TV products like the S95D that was unveiled at CES this year.

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(Source)

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Samsung has just unveiled the new S95D, which is its third generation QD-OLED TV. During the ongoing CES event, the company announced this high-end TV that aims to stand out with some impressive features. It is not only the brightest OLED TV from the brand and its even Glare Free.

Samsung S95D QD-OLED TV Specs

The South Korean tech giant claims that the new OLED TV is capable of removing any noticeable reflections. This will enable the most seamless and uninterrupted viewing experience even with light hitting the TV screen. However, Samsung seemingly didn’t make any major trade offs for this Glare Free experience. The company used a “specialized hard-coating layer and surface coating pattern” to make sure that the viewing angles don’t take a hit and that it faces no color distortion.

The S95D QD-OLED TV is the brand’s brightest OLED screen ever from Samsung. Not only this, it is available for up to 77 inches in size and offers a 144Hz refresh rate as well. In other words, you can even use it for an enhanced gaming experience. Pantone has even validated the AI powered color accuracy feature on the S95D. All of this is packed in an ultra-thin 11mm body and it comes with Samsung’s One Connect Box.

Samsung’s new QD-OLED TV runs on the latest version of its proprietary Tizen OS, which runs on the user’s Samsung ID. The TV also feature HDR10 and HDR10+ support. The company has also announced a slightly cutdown S90D OLED TV option, which skips the glare free finish and design elements of the flagship model. With the CES 2024 kicking off, you can click here to check out our latest coverage of the ongoing event. Recently, another one of Samsung’s innovations is the Music Frame, which lets you listen to music in a photo frame.

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Haier has unveiled its latest addition to the smart TV lineup with the launch of the C11 OLED TV in India. This new TV promises an immersive viewing experience with a 4K 120Hz OLED display and Dolby Vision IQ. The Haier C11 OLED TV comes in two sizes, 65 inches, and 55 inches.

With a sleek bezel-less design and a stylish metal stand, the TV complements modern living spaces. It allows for wall mounting or placement on any surface. The wide color gamut and high contrast ratio enhance picture quality. It also runs on Google TV, offering a user-friendly interface that can be controlled using voice commands, making channel changes, volume adjustments, and content searches convenient.

For gamers, the Haier C11 OLED TV includes features like Motion Compensation Technology, a variable refresh rate, and Game mode. Connectivity options are robust, including Wi-Fi, Chromecast, Bluetooth 5.1, and USB 2.0.

In the audio department, this TV offers a built-in soundbar and powerful 50-watt Harman Kardon speakers. The inclusion of Dolby Atmos ensures a rich audio experience.

Price & availability

This OLED TV is now available for purchase in India with the 55-inch model starting at Rs 1,69,990 ($1,909) and the 65-inch model available at Rs 2,15,990 ($2,593) price point.

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In India, Lloyd has recently introduced its latest lineup of advanced QLED and HD Ready TVs. The QLED TV series presents a captivating viewing experience with its range of sizes, including models measuring 43″, 50″, and 55″. These TVs offer stunning visuals, incorporating intelligent features like 4K upscaling and MEMC technology, while also supporting HDR10 for enhanced color and contrast. Now, let’s delve into the specifications and features of these exciting new television models.

Llyod QS850E QLED TVs and 32WS550E TV specs

For those seeking a more compact option, the HD Ready WebOS TV, represented by the 32WS550E model, delivers impressive picture quality on its 32″ screen. The TV exhibits rich colors and deep contrast, ensuring an engaging visual experience. Both the QLED and HD Ready TVs grant access to major OTT apps, personalized content recommendations, and feature Dolby Audio technology, which guarantees crystal-clear sound.

Smooth and fluid visuals are made possible with Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation, and ALLM technology incorporated in both TV models. Additionally, the inclusion of HDR10 and HLG further enhances brightness and color reproduction, resulting in captivating imagery.

The provided Magic Remote offers effortless navigation and control of the TVs, while the integration with Apple devices brings added convenience and access to Apple TV, AirPlay, Apple Music, and Apple Homekit.

The Lloyd QS850E QLED TVs are equipped with 4K QLED displays, offering resolutions of 3840 × 2160 pixels across the 43″, 50″, and 55″ variants. The HD Ready Model, 32WS550E, features a 32″ HD Ready LED screen with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. These TVs support HDR10, HLG, and MEMC technology to optimize the visual experience. With 20W speakers and Dolby Audio technology, the TVs deliver immersive audio quality, complementing the exceptional visuals.

Connectivity options include 3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a Wireless LAN Adapter, ensuring easy connectivity with other devices. Built-in apps such as YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+Hotstar provide seamless access to popular streaming platforms.

Pricing & availability

The QS850E QLED TV from Lloyd is available in three different sizes, with the 43″ model priced at Rs. 29,999, the 50″ model at Rs. 39,999, and the 55″ model at Rs. 44,990. Additionally, the 32WS550E HD Ready TV can be purchased for Rs. 13,999. These television models are conveniently available for purchase on Flipkart.

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(via: Fonearena)

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Panasonic has unveiled its highly anticipated MZ2500 series OLED TV in Japan, setting a new benchmark for home entertainment. This flagship television range combines cutting-edge technologies, including micro-lens OLED panels and an advanced HCX Pro AI processor, to deliver an unrivalled viewing experience.

The MZ2500 implement AI for Image Enhancement

What sets the MZ2500 series apart is its integration of micro-lens technology into the OLED panels. This groundbreaking feature allows the TV to automatically optimize picture and sound quality based on the content being enjoyed. Powered by the HCX Pro AI processor, viewers can expect nothing less than breathtaking visuals and immersive audio tailored to their preferences.

To further elevate the audio experience, Panasonic has equipped the MZ2500 TVs with top and side speakers, resulting in a truly enveloping 360 3D sound effect. The 65-inch model boasts an impressive speaker power of up to 160W, while its 55-inch counterpart offers a robust 150W output. With this audio setup, users can expect to be completely immersed in their favorite movies, TV shows, and games.

The MZ2500 series boasts a 4K Master HDR OLED panel that sets it apart from the competition. This panel delivers enhanced brightness and vivid colors, providing a visually stunning experience. Panasonic’s commitment to reproducing professional-grade visuals is evident in their unique adjustment process, ensuring smooth black gradients and accurate color transitions. The company claims that each OLED panel undergoes meticulous measurements and precise fine-tuning of white balance and color gradation during production, guaranteeing exceptional picture quality.

Driving the MZ2500 series is the state-of-the-art HCX Pro AI processor, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence for image analysis. Leveraging Panasonic’s extensive collaboration with Hollywood, the processor optimizes colors and textures, bringing out the subtle nuances in every frame.

Gaming enthusiasts will be delighted to know that the MZ2500 series is designed with their needs in mind. With minimal image input lag, Panasonic claims it to be the leader in OLED TV industry. The TVs come equipped with an HDMI 2.1 interface that supports various gaming technologies, including VRR, Nvidia G-SYNC, Nvidia SPD game mode, AMD FreeSYNC Premium, and VRF variable refresh rate technology. This means gamers can enjoy seamless 4K 120Hz image transmission and connect their PS5 or Xbox consoles effortlessly. The TVs even support cable for power supply, ensuring convenience during intense gaming sessions.

In terms of HDR capabilities, the MZ2500 series supports multiple formats such as Dolby Vision IQ, Dolby Vision, Filmmaker Mode, and HLG Photo. With HDR10+ adaptive function, the TV automatically adjusts the picture based on ambient light conditions, providing optimal visual performance at any time of day. Additionally, the MZ2500 series supports dual Bluetooth connections, enabling simultaneous pairing with two devices. The smart system also features Alexa voice control for added convenience.

The Panasonic MZ2500 series is scheduled to launch on July 21st, and avid entertainment enthusiasts can look forward to a transformative OLED TV experience. Immerse yourself in breathtaking visuals, lifelike sound, and cutting-edge technologies that make every moment truly extraordinary.

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(Via)

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Samsung has just teased the launch of a new product in the India market. The company is gearing up to launch new TV models, which are believed to be the first ever OLED TV models in the region. So here’s what we know so far.

The South Korean tech giant teased the new OLED TV launch with a new microsite on its official Indian website. Here, we can see the company telling us to “Get Ready For More” followed by a “WOW”. Below this teaser poster, the brand offers a way to “Register your interest in the Next Quantum Leap in display technology”. In other words, Samsung is set to launch a new TV lineup outside of its QLED TV lineup.

Meaning, the new TV are likely to be based on the OLED display technology. Apart from this, the company did not reveal any finer details regarding the upcoming TV model. However, Samsung just recently announced two new 4K OLED TV in the American market. This includes the new S95C and S90C, which are the from its latest OLED 4K TV lineup. These are offered in multiple versions, namely 55 inch, 65 inch, and 77 inch display sizes.

The company released the new 4K OLED TVs, which starts from 1,889 US Dollars. The S95C and S90C models feature AI powered Neural Quantum processor for dynamic and vibrant color reproduction. Keep in mind that this still just speculation and Samsung might decide to launch neither of these TV models, or perhaps just one of them in the Indian market. So stick around for more updates regarding this matter.

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Sony has unveiled its 2023 Bravia XR lineup, which includes a range of televisions with iterative refinements and modest improvements. While a QD-OLED television leads the launch line, the company is still showcasing its image processing as a major selling point. Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR is said to be what sets its TVs apart from the competition, and this year, the company is introducing XR Clear Image, a feature that automatically adjusts picture quality based on the source material.

With the increase in popularity of high-end consoles, such as the Sony Playstation 5 and the Xbox Series X, Sony has also focused on enhancing the gaming experience. All of its TVs are capable of 4K gaming at 120Hz, although only two HDMI 2.1 ports are available, with the other two being HDMI 2.0. Sony’s integration with the PS5 remains strong, but new gaming software features will also extend to Xbox.

The X90L is a full-array local dimming LED TV designed to offer excellent performance at an affordable price point. To add a premium detail to the TV, Sony has updated the bezel from plastic to aluminum and increased local dimming zones and peak brightness by up to 60% and 30%, respectively. It’s also the largest screen size amongst the new lineup, clocking in at a 98-inch display. 

The A80L OLED comes in an 83-inch size, with upgrades including slightly better dialogue clarity and 10% brighter performance. However, it is otherwise very similar to 2022’s A80K WRGB OLED TV. Lastly, the QD-OLED A95L is the most impressive TV in the new lineup, promising up to 200% better peak brightness than its predecessor, the A95K, and offering strong competition to LG’s C2 and C3.

Software-wise, Sony is also introducing an Eco Dashboard to promote eco-friendly options and energy-saving techniques, which is accessible from the home screen. Additionally, there is a settings menu tailored to gaming, allowing for easy toggling of VRR, motion blur reduction, black equalizer, contrast adjustments, and an on-screen crosshair.

In summary, while Sony’s 2023 lineup of Bravia XR TVs offers modest improvements compared to their predecessors, the company’s focus on image processing and gaming capabilities, along with the introduction of an Eco Dashboard and gaming settings menu, will provide customers with an enhanced viewing experience.

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CES 2023 kicked off earlier this month, with brands across the globe exhibiting the latest and greatest in tech for the year. We saw a lot of announcements at the Las Vegas event across different categories like beauty products, health monitoring, cleaning, automobiles, smart TVs and even VR. Now that the event has come to an end, let’s look at some of the most interesting announcements from the event this year.

So these were some of our favorite products unveiled at CES 2023.

LG’s Massive 97-inch Wireless OLED TV

One of the biggest highlights of CES 2023 was LG’s massive 97-inch wireless TV.

Sure, you might have seen wireless TVs in the past, but LG managed to take things up a notch with high bandwidth streaming to a massive 97-inch OLED panel. The final setup, which leaves the large TV with almost no wires (you still have one power cable), is ideal for a minimalistic home. The streaming box, which can be placed up to 30 feet away from the TV, can stream content in 4K 120Hz resolution without any lag or interference from objects in between.

Withings U-Scan

Health centric brands are looking for smarter ways to analyze health data and make recommendations. And the Withings U-Scan takes a unique approach to gathering this data and telling your body’s health metrics.

The U-Scan is an oval-shaped sensor that attaches to your toilet bowl to analyze your urine sample. Urine has always been a very important source of information for doctors. So, with the new U-Scan sensor, you can monitor nutrition and metabolic information by analyzing ketone, vitamin C levels, and even your urine’s PH levels, telling you how your body is performing on a daily basis.

BMW COLOR-CHANGING CAR

BMW has been working on a color changing car concept for the past few years. But this year, it seems to have finally managed to improve its concept by adding the ability to shift between 32 different solid colors.

Unlike last year’s model which could only switch between Black, White, and Gray, this year’s i Vision Dee can switch between a total of 32 solid colors. Users can even mix up different colors, thanks to the 240 E Ink e-paper segments on the car, all of which can be controlled independently. Apart from its unique color changing appearance, the concept comes with AI-powered virtual assistants and a new-age full-windshield heads-up display.

The BMW i Vision Dee does not have a tentative release date or even production timeline. But, BMW is clearly making progress in bringing this technology closer to market release.

Acer eKinekt BD 3

Standing desks are cool, but what’s cooler in 2023? Well, Acer thinks working out while working on your laptop is the next big thing in desk designs.

If you thought you didn’t have enough time to workout because of your long working hours, Acer has got you covered with its Acer eKinekt BD 3 desk. This unique desk allows you to cycle while working on your laptop, allowing you to burn some crucial calories without interrupting your schedule.

What’s cooler is that your hard work doesn’t go to waste because the desk converts the kinetic energy generated while pedaling to charge your gadgets using two Type-A and one Type-C ports on board.

Lumus AR Lenses

Companies have long been striving to develop AR glasses that are non-intrusive and bulky, and Lumus seems to be pretty close to this end goal. The company unveiled the Z-Lens 2D waveguide tech at CES 2023 which offers a 2K x 2K resolution AR glasses in vibrant colors and a bright heads-up display in the size of your regular glasses. What’s more, you can even add prescription lens on these glasses.

One of the biggest highlight of these waveguide glasses is that it’s practically indistinguishable from a regular pair of glasses from the outside. This will definitely help in a wider adoption of AR tech in the market.

So these were some of the best products we saw at CES 2023 this year.

Do you think any other product that stood out at CES this year? Let us know in the comments sections below.

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Supply problems caused by excessive demand during the Covid-19 period have disappeared. This causes many companies to experience a decrease in their sales and to paint a statistically lousy picture. Unfortunately, technology manufacturers and suppliers are at the forefront of the sectors experiencing problems. However, according to Omdia’s latest report, display demand expected to rebound in 2023.

Omdia research finds display demand expected to rebound in 2023

Omdia’s latest Display long-term demand forecast tracker indicates that demand for displays in 2023 will grow by 6.2% year-on-year. The sector went through a challenging period, especially in 2022, due to increased inflation and interest rates. A decline was expected following the Covid-19 pandemic, but global economic conditions, supply problems and the energy crisis have worsened the situation.

In fact, 2022 will go down in history as the first year when flat panel displays see negative growth in space demand. Yet, according to Ricky Park, Senior Principal Analyst in Omdia’s Display research practice, if there are signs that inflation will decrease and the global economy will give positive signals, this trend will change in 2023 and 2024.

Park said on the subject: “panel prices and retail prices that have fallen for more than a year can stimulate consumer sentiment, especially the recovery speed of demand for ultra-large sized TVs, which have seen a sharp decline in prices. This will lead to a fast recovery in area demand.”

Big screen gets more common as it gets cheaper

Large panel manufacturers produce 75-inch and above displays to cut costs and increase efficiency. For this reason, the 70-inch TV market is expected to grow by more than 15% in 2022 and reach from 18 million to 21 million in 2023. There are also positive developments in OLED. This technology is expected to improve the image quality and increase its market share by reducing the price in the coming years.

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Source: Omdia

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After last month’s launch of the Bravia XR A80K series in India, Sony has now debuted the Bravia XR Master A95K OLED TV in the country. The premium TV comes with Sony’s Cognitive Processor XR, Acoustic Surface Audio+, and some more features. So, let’s check them out.

Sony Bravia XR Master A95K OLED TV specs & features

The A95K OLED TV comes in a single 65-inch size variant with a 4K resolution (3840×2160p), 100Hz refresh rate, and HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Vision support.

Thanks to the XR Triluminos Pro, which is driven by the XR Cognitive Processor, the A95K OLED TV can access over a billion different colors and faithfully reproduce each one, with the smallest variations being noticeable in real life. Additionally, it features XR OLED motion technology and 4K upscaling.

This TV offers a special gaming mode that supports HDMI 2.1, as well as 4K 120 frames per second, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Auto HDR Tone, and Auto Game Mode. Acoustic Surface Audio+ is a feature of the BRAVIA XR A95K OLED TV that allows sound to be directly emitted from the screen.

Sony’s BRAVIA XR A95K supports the BRAVIA Cam. Users can connect it and take advantage of features like voice chat, proximity alert, and gesture control. Additionally included are voice search, Google Assistant, a Google TV interface, and a smart remote.

Pricing and availability

In India, the 65-inch Bravia XR Master Series A95K OLED TV (XR-65A95K) costs Rs 3,69,990 ($4,652). It can be purchased throughout India in retail stores, Sony Centers, and online shopping websites.

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Earlier today at the Xiaomi Next launch event in India, the company surprised everyone by announcing its first OLED TV for the country. The television is officially called Xiaomi OLED Vision TV. It comes in a single 55-inch variant with almost all the high-end features expected from a premium television.

Xiaomi OLED Vision TV Specifications

The Xiaomi OLED Vision TV features a metal frame design with minimal bezels all around. It measures only 4.6mm at its thinnest point.

The television flaunts a 55-inch 10-bit OLED panel with a resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels (4K) and a 60HZ refresh rate with MEMC. The screen has support for multiple HDR standards like Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG.

The display has IMAX Enhanced certification along with TÜV Rheinland certification for low blue light emission. It has a 1500000:1 contrast ratio and supports 98.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.

The TV houses an 8-unit speaker system capable of outputting 30W sound. The custom-designed setup includes 4 active and 4 passive drivers. The speakers support Dolby Atmos and DTS: X.

The television is powered by a quad-core ARM Cortex-A73 CPU paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. It boots Android TV 11 with PatchWall content aggregation service. There’s support for Chromecast Bult-in, Google Assistant via remote control and far-field microphones, and all the leading streaming platforms.

Finally, the connectivity and port options include WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, 3 x HDMI 3.1 (ALLM, eARC), 2 x USB, Ethernet, AV, optical, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Xiaomi OLED Vision TV Price and Availability in India

The Xiaomi OLED Vision TV is priced at ₹89,999 ($1,176) in India. Buyers can avail a ₹6,000 discount on HDFC Bank credit card and EasyEMI transactions.

The first sale for the television is scheduled at 12 PM on May 19.

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Along with launching the Mi MIX 4 and the Mi Pad 5 in its home market in China, Xiaomi has also launched its Mi TV 6 OLED. This second-generation OLED TV from the company comes with several improvements and a reduced starting price.

Xiaomi has reduced the body thickness of this new TV to just 4.6mm and is also offering narrow bezels. The device is said to be optimized for heat dissipation and the company has brought down the price to under 5,000 yuan (~$771) in China.

It features a 4K OLED screen that offers a massive 97 percent screen-to-body ratio. It has 10-bit professional color depth, 900 nits peak brightness, ΔE2 color accuracy, 98.5 percent P3 color gamut, 1ms grayscale response time, MEMC support as well as hardware-level anti-blue light filter for eye protection.

Further, the display also supports HDR content with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. As for the audio output, there’s a dual-channel 12.5W four-unit speaker with each channel having its separate own low-frequency and high-frequency speakers. It has also passed IMAX Enhanced Audio and Video certification.

Under the hood, the Mi TV 6 OLED comes powered by the MediaTek 9638 quad-core processor that packs Cortex A55 cores clocked at 1.6GHz and a Mali-G52 MC1 GPU coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.

The device is offered in two different screen sizes — 55-inch and 65-inch. The 55-inch variant is priced at 5,699 yuan (~$879) and will first go on sale on 16th August for an introductory price of 4,999 yuan (~$771). On the other hand, the 65-inch variant costs 7,699 yuan (~$1,188) but will be available for a discounted price of 6,999 yuan (~$1,080), which ends on 18th August.

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Xiaomi recently announced that it would hold a launch event on August 10 where the Mi Mix 4 will be the star product. Apart from the flagship Mi Mix 4, the brand will also launch the Mi Pad 5, a high-end smart speaker, and a new generation OLED smart TV.

Xiaomi launched its first OLED smart TV last year when the Mi TV Masters series was unveiled. The upcoming OLED TV will be the brand’s second OLED TV and a recent teaser poster proclaiming that it will “define OLED TVs again.”

While the fine details of the OLED TV are not yet in the open, the second-gen Xiaomi OLED TV has been put up for reservations in China at Jingdong (JD.com). The product page shows that the smart TV will be available in two different sizes of 55 inches and 65 inches. This is about all that was revealed in the listing.

However, it is worthy of note that the Mi TV Master Series that was launched last year is available in just a 65-inch display size. The first-gen Mi OLED TV  also has a 4K resolution of 3840×2160 pixels and supports 120Hz refresh rate, MEMC motion compensation, VRR variable refresh rate, and automatic switching of ALLM game mode. It utilizes a four-sided bezel-less full-screen design with a screen-to-body ratio of up to 98.8%. Other features onboard the Mi TV Master series 65-inch OLED include glass stand, RGB at the bottom, metal remote, DC Dimming, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Automatic Low Latency Mode (ALLM), Always-on Display (AOD), and professional gaming mode.

We expect nothing less from the second-generation Mi OLED TV and even more premium features.

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Xiaomi has scheduled a launch event in its home country China on 10th August where it will launch its latest Mi MIX series smartphone — Xiaomi Mi MIX 4, marketing the debut of the brand’s under-display camera technology.

But Mi MIX 4 isn’t the only product from Xiaomi to be launched at the event on 10th August. It has planned to announce a few more products, including a high-end smart speaker, and the second generation of OLED TVs.

The Chinese company has said that the next generation of OLED TVs will come with an improvement in picture quality. Details about this Smart TV remain unknown but we expect to get to know them ahead of the official launch next week, through leaks or teasers from the company itself.

In June last year, Xiaomi had launched its first OLED smart TV with the Mi TV Master branding for a price of 12,999 yuan (~$2,011) but is now available at a discounted price of 9,999 yuan (~$1,546) in China.

The Mi TV Master features a 10-bit 65-inch 4K OLED display panel with 120Hz refresh rate, MEMC, 98.5% DCI-P3 color gamut,1000000:1 contrast ratio, peak brightness of 1000 nits, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1ms response time, and 98.8% screen to body ratio.

It is powered by a MediaTek MTK9650 SoC with Mali-G52 MC1 GPU, paired with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. The device runs MIUI for TV along with Patchwall content aggregation service. There’s also a 65W in-built speaker system which includes two 12.5W left/right channels, two 10W surround channels, and a 20W 50Hz ultra-low frequency subwoofer.

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TCL has recently announced that it will officially start making OLED TVs. These TVs will be launched sometime in 2023 and would mark the company’s arrival in the premium segment of TVs. But, this might be good news as it could also have the technology finally becoming affordable.

For those unaware, OLED is a rather expensive when compared to traditional LCD televisions. This is the case despite production for the screen type ramping up in recent years, with more and more manufacturers adopting the technology. Generally, when production picks up and adoption rates rise, the prices gradually drop but that did not affect the prices of OLEDs by a large margin, but now, TCL’s method of making the OLED panels might be significantly cheaper, as per a TechRadar report.

Furthermore, these savings would lead to overall lower RRPs when these TVs eventually launch. This alternative method of OLED production is by using inkjet printed panels (IJP), this effectively ‘prints’ OLED panels between panes of glass, instead of traditional ‘white OLED’ (WOLED) panels found in today’s OLED televisions, which require a more intensive production process that leads to a higher cost.

It was previously estimated that the move to inkjet printing could see the production cost of OLED to fall by about 15 to 25 percent. This, in turn, implies that the launch price of OLED TV prices to drop from around 1,200 US Dollars to about 1,000 US Dollars. Additionally, the shift could also lead to more competition in the market, with more rivals for the current market leader LG Display.

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A new report has revealed that the MiniLED TVs will soon be leading the high end TV market by the year 2025. This would have it beat the current leader, OLED TVs, within the next couple of years.

According to TheElec, a UBI Research report found that China’s TCL will lead the development of MiniLED TVs, although, the market will be led by industry giants like Samsung and LG. The report also adds that after 2024, MiniLED TVs would have essentially overtaken the OLED TVs in terms of market share. For those unaware, MiniLED TVs is an LCD (liquid crystal display) panel that uses micrometer sized LEDs as the backlighting alongside the addition of a quantum dot film.

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This leads to an increase in the color gamut range, along with dynamic range advantages as well, in comparison to traditional LCD TVs that are currently available in the market. These TVs can also have up to 3000 local dimming zones, which increases the overall contrast ratio of the panel while also reducing the halo effect. As per the UBI Research report, MiniLED display needs to have as many local dimming zones as the number of pixels to match OLED panel’s performance. However, the size reduction of the LEDs will only allow for 1000 to 3000 dimming zones.

The report also believes that within this year, around 2.5 million MiniLED TVs will be shipped. Notably, the technology behind this technology is expensive with each MiniLED backlight costing anywhere between 250 to 1,100 US Dollars for a 65 inch panel. Meaning, an average MiniLED TV can cost anywhere between 1,500 to 6,000 US Dollars, depending on the size and the number of dimming zones offered by a company as well.

UP NEXT: Samsung Galaxy A12 launched in the UK; Galaxy A32 5G and Galaxy A02s coming later

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One of the world’s leading display maker LG Display has teamed up with Eyesafe, a company which prides itself as a leader in low blue light solutions for consumer electronics to launch a new TV display. The display which is said to be the world’s first Eyesafe Certified television display will be on display at  CES 2021. The display will be featured on a 65-inch OLED television that would break cover at CES.

The display panel is said to have been designed to conform to Eyesafe standard for low emissions of blue light and optimal color performance. Indeed, the display received a third-party certification from Germany’s TUV Rheinland, confirming that it is safe for the eyes. LG Display projects that the new Eyesafe panel will be used on TVs shipping this year 2021.

LG further stated that the new panel is coming at a time when there are a good number of data from around the globe which shows that the time consumers spend in front of a screen – televisions, smartphones, laptops, and others,  is on a rapid rise globally. The COVID 19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown was instrumental in the increase.

In the United States, a Nielsen report indicates the average user’s screen-time exceeds 13 hours a day. The Eyesafe Display Standard is the world’s leading set of health-based requirements for the consumer electronics industry. The standard was developed with assistance from over 250 top ophthalmologists, optometrists, and engineers after conducting and analyzing clinical health and safety research on the impact of exposure to high-energy blue light.

LG hasn’t disclosed how much the display would cost. It is also unclear if the technology deployed on the panel will have any effect on the display performance but we doubt it will. LG is known for its quality and so, the technology will likely be one that won’t lead to a compromise on the picture quality.

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Televisions have become one of the main source of entertainment during the pandemic. This resulted in the increase of TV shipments after a very long time. OLED TVs in particular also witnessed growth in shipments despite the forecast was lowered earlier this year, according to a report by Omdia.

OMDIA (formerly IHS Markit) is a research firm similar to Counterpoint Research and IDC to name a few. Back in April, the firm predicted that OLED TV shipments will be 3.5 million units in 2020. An earlier report by the same company forecasted 4.5 million and at the end of last year, it predicted 5.5 million units.

But now, it says the OLED TV shipments will only reach 3.3 million units, which is still 10% more than in 2019. Also, the company predicts that shipments will reach 1.2 million units in the last quarter of 2020 and 1.04 million units in Q1 2021. According to the firm, the Q4 2020 shipments will be 30% compared to Q4 2019.

That’s not all, as per OMDIA, OLED TV shipments may reach 9 million units in 2024. Above all, the overall shipments have finally crossed 10 million units in September (10.32 million units) since LG launched the first commercial OLED TV in 2013.

Currently, a total of 19 brands offer OLED televisions. This number is expected to grow in the coming years. Last but not least, LG Display is the dominant OLED panel supplier in the world.

UP NEXT: Future of Transparent OLEDs is in Automobiles: CEO of OTI Lumionics

(Via)

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UPDATE:

The second and final part of this interview which talks about transparent OLEDs and foldable has been published. You can check it out here.

Smartphone and TV displays have become incredibly sharp, bright, and contrasty over the past few years and a lot of this credit goes to the rapid improvement in OLED technology. This display technology has advanced to a level where we have flexible, foldable, and even rollable OLEDs in the market. 

But what’s next?

To talk about the future of OLEDs, we needed someone from the inside, an expert who’s actively involved in the development of OLED panels. Last week, I had the opportunity to interview the CEO of OTI Lumionics, Michael Helander. 

Michael has a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from the University of Toronto. He along with his colleague Zhibin Wang cofounded OTI Lumionics back in 2011 after they made an important discovery that reduced the power consumption of OLEDs while increasing its brightness. 

Since then, OTI Lumionics has been fully involved in the research and development of OLEDs. But their most exciting development is the new ConducTorr Electrode that brings out new applications for OLED panels. 

In my interview last week, Micheal shared his incredible insights about under-display cameras and OLEDs. I learned so much about OLEDs in the interview that even after removing the non-important parts, this article was turning out to be exceptionally long. So, I’ve decided to split this interview story into two parts.

Today’s article will focus on under-display cameras, how they work, its future, and the challenges faced by manufacturers in mass production. 

The second part of this interview piece will be published later this week and will focus on transparent OLED TVs and its application, along with a few insights on foldable OLED panels. 

Please note that due to the nature of the interview, this article won’t be in a simple question and answer format. Instead, it will focus on specific areas of an under-screen camera like its development and applications. But rest assured, I have tried my level best to retain Michael’s tone and explanations. 

I hope this interview turns out to be incredibly insightful and gives you a thorough understanding of how under-screen cameras work and its future applications.  

How does OTI Lumionics contribute to the OLED industry?

Most of us have probably never heard of the name OTI Lumionics. This is because it doesn’t make consumer-grade OLEDs like LG Display or BOE. Instead, the company works behind the scenes and helps display makers to manufacture their OLED panels for smartphones, TVs, and more.

When asked about OTI’s contribution’s in the OLED scene, Michael explained that OTI Lumionics supplied advanced materials and chemicals to companies to manufacture high-quality OLED panels on a large scale. The company works in synergy with other suppliers like Universal Display Corporation to enable display makers to manufacture panels with higher efficiency, higher brightness, and longer battery life. 

The company has a dedicated Material’s Discovery Team which applies state of the art high-performance computing (HPC) simulations along with machine learning AI algorithms to discover and design production-ready advanced materials.

Their ConducTorrElectrode for OLED Cathode Patterning, which enables better under-display cameras, is a product of this department. 

What is OTI Lumionic’s Conductorr Cathode Patterning Material (CPM)?

In simple terms, ConducTorr CPM enables manufacturers to pattern holes in between the OLED pixels for better transmission of light for the cameras underneath. 

To get a better understanding of how under-display cameras work on smartphones and other devices, we need to first understand how camera sensors work and why putting it under a regular OLED panel makes it almost impossible to reproduce images. 

Our smartphone camera sensors need light to capture images. This means, every camera sensor, including cameras that are hidden under the display, need access to light to process and churn out good quality selfies. But our regular OLED panels are not transparent, which means, it won’t allow light to reach the camera sensor that lies below it. 

So, in order for the under-display camera to work, you need the display or at least the section above the camera sensor to be relatively transparent and allow light and other signals (like for 3D face recognition) to pass through. This means, the OLED panels used in under-display camera phones have to be customized for this purpose – which is not an easy job, especially when you have to come up with solutions that are scalable for manufacturing millions of such panels. 

Michael explains, “So if you look at the cross-section of an OLED display, it’s made up of a bunch of different layers, kind of stacked one on top of the other. And at the very top of the display is actually one of the electrodes that’s used to get electricity into the display that’s been converted into light for the direct admission from each OLED pixel. And so, that layer of metal covers the entire surface of the display and it’s very thin. It’s like nanometer-scale thickness.”

He adds, “But because it’s metal, it still blocks a bunch of light, which lowers the brightness. If you’re trying to put a camera under there, it lowers the transparency and could create a bunch of problems. The challenge has been in manufacturing on a very large scale the way that these displays are made. There’s no way to effectively pattern that metal layer to create holes or make it thinner in some areas and thicker in others.”

This is the reason why we didn’t see under-display cameras until 2020. But now, companies have finally managed to improve the transparency of OLED panels for this purpose. And thanks to new solutions from companies like OTI Lumionics, increasing the transparency of a part of the display or the entire OLED panel is not so difficult anymore. 

OTI Lumionic’s ConducTorr CPM solution increases the transparency of the display during the manufacturing process by patterning holes in between the pixels.

Michael explains, “So then where we fit in, is our ConducTorr cathode patterning materials  (CPM.) You can think of it like an anti-stick coating for metal. So what display manufacturers do is they’ll deposit our material in areas [that] they don’t want any metal to form and then they do the rest of their normal manufacturing process. And they’ll end up with either holes in that metal layer, or some areas can be made thicker [or] thinner. It allows them to do a very high degree of optimization that otherwise is impossible to do in the existing manufacturing process.” 

The idea here is to use the space between the pixels, pattern holes in them, and thereby increase the transmission of light and signals. This is similar to the explanation given by Xiaomi on how its own under-display camera was developed (but without the holes). 

However, Michael adds that the quality and durability of OLEDs panels are considerably affected by the method used to make holes in these pixels. ZTE, Xiaomi, and OTI Lumionics essentially rely on using the space between the pixels to increase light transmission, but the way they achieve it can significantly impact the overall quality of the OLED display panel on top. 

Michael explained that none of the technologies in use right now, may it be ZTE’s under-screen camera solution or even Xiaomi’s solution, can match up to real-world expectations. On the other hand, he was confident that OTI’s ConducTorr CPM technology would enable better and more efficient under-display cameras. 

To further understand the difference in the approach adopted by different manufacturers, let’s take a closer look at the existing solutions from ZTE and Xiaomi. 

ZTE’s Under Display Camera Solution 

Instead of patterning (or making holes in) the top metal layer of the OLED display on the Axon 20 5G (which was announced earlier this month), ZTE decided to replace the top portion with a material that’s more transparent. So the camera that’s located on the top part of the display gets more light due to the higher transparency.

However, in the process, ZTE Axon 20 5G’s display on top of the under-display camera has a lower resolution (so the pixels are more spaced out, which means more space for light to pass). But to ensure that the top portion that features a lower resolution doesn’t stand out significantly, ZTE has to drive the pixels in that area way brighter than the rest of the display. This can potentially affect the reliability of the display area on top of the camera. After all, we all know how OLEDs are susceptible to burn-in. 

Another issue with ZTE’s solution is that the color quality of the display won’t be uniform. Since the part above the camera has a different, thinner, and more transparent material than the rest of the display, you’ll notice the slight shift in colors. 

So to get around this drawback, Micheal said that ZTE had to limit the UI to only show notifications and non-important content in the area where the camera lies so that it’s less noticeable to the user. But for different user interfaces and operating systems, this software solution is never going to be sustainable in the long run. 

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While we haven’t yet tested the ZTE Axon 20 5G, this difference in quality was clearly highlighted by one of the reviewers (Pheonix Lab) from China.

READ MORE: Xiaomi Mi TV LUX OLED Transparent Edition is the cheapest transparent TV at 49,999 yuan ($7,195)

Xiaomi’s Under Display Camera Solution

Xiaomi has taken a slightly different approach to this problem. According to the publicly available information, Xiaomi decided to make the pixels in the area above the camera smaller (instead of reducing the resolution) than the rest of the panel. This creates more space between the pixels, allowing more light to pass through. It looks like a slightly better solution than ZTE but it has very similar drawbacks. 

Michael explained, “And so [reducing pixel size] creates more space between the pixels for light to go through but [Xiaomi] didn’t actually cut holes. So it’s still kind of limited in terms of quality and the problem with making a pixel smaller is…you have to drive them much brighter and so there could be potential burn-in issues.” He adds that there might also be a visible color shift in that area. 

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In one hands-on video of the Xiaomi prototype (via PCHome), we couldn’t find any visible difference in the quality of the display in the area (top left) above the camera and the rest of the panel. So Xiaomi’s solution seems to be better than ZTE. However, the phone was a prototype model and the hands-on video didn’t really focus on the UI elements on top of the camera or its selfie quality.

Michael points out that both Xiaomi and ZTE will probably have to rely heavily on post-processing to make the selfies look better. Xiaomi could also leverage its technology acquisition from Meitu 2018. However, not all markets prefer heavily processed, beautified selfies, which is why Michael thinks that it’s going to be difficult to use this solution in the long run. 

How is OTI Lumionic’s ConducTorr CPM technology different?

According to Michael, in order to fully explore the potential of under-display cameras and even transparent OLEDs, companies will have to make holes in their OLED displays to achieve a high level of transparency. 

But the idea of making holes in between the pixels sounds quite complicated and risky. So I had to ask Michael about the durability of OTI’s solution. OLEDs have their share of drawbacks like dead/stuck pixels, burn-in, and even color shifts. So there’s always the question of how making holes in the panel would affect its durability in the long term. 

But Michael seemed pretty confident in his technology. He explained, “With our technique, we’re using the same evaporation process that [companies] use to actually make the red green blue (RGB) pixels in the OLED display, but it’s all low temperature. [There’s] no damage to the displays and we can go to any resolution – all the way down to a very tiny pixel size which would be equivalent to like thousand pixels per inch, which is about double the resolution of a normal smartphone display. And then, in that case, all of our data and our customer data show no degradation in the display quality and no long-term reliability issues.” 

His explanation sounds pretty convincing, but of course, without a real-world OLED product manufactured using the ConducTorr CPM solution, we will have to wait and see the difference in the quality and reliability of these panels. 

Editor’s Pick: BOE targets shipment of 40 million flexible OLED this year

Under-Display Cameras are coming to Mid-range phones First 

Perfecting the under-screen camera technology will take some time and hence, companies will be hesitant to use it in an expensive model. 

Michael said that in the first couple of generations of under-display cameras, manufacturers will have to sacrifice something to get it to work. This also brings us to another major highlight of under-display cameras of 2021. Unlike popular opinion, Michael says that the first generation in-display cameras are likely going to be implemented inside mid-range smartphones. So if you were expecting to see it on a flagship in the first half of 2021, you are set for disappointment.  

Michael explained, “We‘ve seen it in the past where Samsung and others have played out [experimental technologies] in some of their mid-tier products first to see how the market accepts it before rolling out across the board.”

“Likely for the first two generations, we’ll have to sacrifice something. Either display [will be] slightly worse, or the camera will be slightly worse,” he adds. “What the early product lets us figure out is, which is more important to the consumer — hiding the camera and making the display perfect or keeping the camera quality as good as possible and if the display is not quite perfect, that’s not a big deal, because it’s still better than a notch.”

So it’s going to be a trial and error for the first few generations until manufacturers gather enough consumer feedback to prioritize what’s more important – camera quality or display quality.

The world’s first under-display camera turned out to be a $320 mid-range Axon 20 5G. So ZTE has set the trend of what’s to come in 2021. We have also heard rumors about Xiaomi’s new in-display camera phone being a mid-range device. So top manufacturers are unlikely to implement an under-display camera solution in their expensive flagships, where there’s no room for mistakes. 

But this also tells us that under-display cameras won’t be significantly expensive to mass-produce.

Under Display Cameras aren’t necessarily more expensive than a notch or punch hole solution

According to Michael, it’s still too early to comment on the exact pricing of OLED panels that support under-screen cameras but he is positive that the prices can come close to a traditional punch-hole or notch camera solution. 

“No one really knows what the final yield is going to be, and then the yield** directly drives what the panel prices are. One of the promising things is, of course, ZTE is putting [its UD camera panel] in a very low-end phone. It was like $300!”

(**Production yield for a panel manufacturer is the number of good display panels as a percentage of the total number of display panels produced.)

Michael adds, “Our expectation is that once you know the production is scaled, the cost for the panel should not be really that much different than the hole punch or notch displays of today. Because even though they have to add something to make the display semi-transparent they don’t have to cut a hole or cut a notch which has some potential yield loss. So the cost will kind of offset each other.” 

His explanation gives us an idea of how under-display cameras can become mainstream in the next few years – possibly as common as a notch or a punch-hole solution. This makes things very exciting, especially because of what comes next after UD cameras become mainstream.  

UD camera solution enables Larger Sensors, Multiple cameras, & Better Positioning

The obsession with a full-screen display experience may have driven us to the point of shifting cameras underneath and there are several advantages in this design. 

Currently, we are limited by the size of the notch or the punch hole on the display for the camera sensor. Imagine what happens when your camera can hide behind the screen, anywhere. 

When I asked Michael about the possibility of adding a larger sensor under the camera for better selfies, he was thrilled to say, “It’s a really great question and I can even take it one step further. We’ve actually seen a number of customers interested in making, potentially, the entire display transparent.”

So are we looking at completely transparent phones anytime soon?

Just as I was about to ask this question, he added that the screen will still look like a regular OLED panel but the benefit of making the entire display transparent is allowing manufacturers to be flexible with the placement of the under-display camera and sensors. A larger transparent area would enable manufacturers to add in a much larger sensor for selfies underneath. 

But that’s just one possibility. 

They can also add two or three cameras upfront with multiple IR sensors or even something like a Soli sensor without disturbing the full screen, distraction-free visual experience on phones. 

But it’s not just about the number of sensors inside, it’s also about their placement. Michael adds, “[Right] now, I’m limited to only [one or two cameras] at the top bezel. And maybe in terms of the internal design of the phone, that’s actually not the best place. If I could move it somewhere else, I’d have more space for the battery, or I could make the phone thinner or make the phone lighter”.

Another advantage of flexible camera placement on the front is the angle of view. He says that with under-display cameras, camera placement is no longer limited on the top bezel, whether it’s on a phone or even a laptop. This gives them the freedom to place it anywhere on the display like the center of the OLED panel which probably will allow for a more immersive video calling and camera experience. 

This is especially true in the case of larger devices such as laptops and TVs. Imagine if you could hide the camera at the center of their screens — it would allow for better quality video calls, especially if it feels like the person on the call is directly looking at you. In the case of existing solutions, if the person on a call is looking at the screen of the device, you’d often find that the camera focuses on his or her forehead, which doesn’t make for an immersive experience. This is particularly true in this age where video calls and video conferencing are becoming a vital part of our personal as well as professional lives. 

Talking about video conferencing, Michael says companies like Microsoft are even considering the potential of under-screen cameras inside large TVs that are part of a video conferencing system. He adds, “What if the TV is transparent and then I have a bunch of cameras behind it. And again, it’s much better usability in terms of video call quality and social interaction.”

My conversation with Michael made me realize that under-screen cameras are definitely the next step in smartphone evolution. The true purpose of spending millions of dollars and years in R&D of under-display cameras is not just to bring a full-screen experience to the user. But it is to enable manufacturers to be flexible with the front camera solution, thereby opening up a lot of potential new applications, that wouldn’t have been possible before. 

The first generation of under-screen cameras won’t be perfect. However, with innovative technologies like OTI Lumionics’ ConducTorr CPM, hopefully, within the next couple of years, we’ll meet phones that can match today’s flagships, in terms of both display and camera quality.

OTI recently received a strategic investment from LG Ventures (the investment arm of LG Group) to help accelerate the commercial adoption of its materials and scale up operations. The latest version of OTI’s ConducTorr CPM is ready for mass production and will ship to smartphone display customers in Q4 2020. And the first set of under-display camera phones manufactured using this material is expected to hit the markets in 2021. 

In the next article, coming up next week, you’ll get to read more about transparent OLEDs, their applications, and foldables. So stay tuned to Gizmochina!

UP NEXT: China becomes the largest buyer of smartphone OLED panels: UBI Research 

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LG Electronics is recalling close to 60,000 units of OLED TVs in South Korea. The company is making such a large recall due to an apparent overheating issue that requires a replacement in their power boards to fix.

According to official notes from the company, 18 OLED TV models are affected by this issue, which were sold between February 2016 and September 2019. The components that are affected are within the power boards and are used to minimize current noises. The company stated that a few of the components used have shown performance drop over a period of time, which caused the current increase that could potentially lead to overheating.

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Here is the list of the affected models:

• 2016 – OLED65E6, OLED65G6, OLED65G6
• 2017 – OLED65B7, OLED65C7, OLED65E7, OLED65W7, OLED77G7, OLED77W7
• 2018 – OLED65G8, OLED65W8, OLED77C8, OLED77W8
• 2019 – OLED65W9, OLED77B9, OLED77C9, OLED77W9

An LG official said that, “The overheating issue occurred only in very few models out of the total that used the component, but we will provide free component swaps for all of them for customer safety.” So, if you’re OLED TV is any one of these models in South Korea, do make sure to get it sent to avoid any possible harm.

UP NEXT: Samsung plans to manufacture 500,000 bean shaped wireless charging Galaxy earbuds per month: Report

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Seems OLED panels are now replacing LCDs in most gadgets as demand for OLED panels is said to be on the rise. According to a recent report by the Photonics Industry Technology Development Association (PIDA), worldwide purchases of OLED panels have increase. The association which is a nonprofit organization gathering technology and market analysis worldwide for Taiwanese optoelectronic industries, also projected that the market share in high-end televisions is expected to reach 68% in 2020.

The post Demand For OLED Panels on The Rise, OLED TV Market Share Could Hit 68% by 2020 appeared first on Gizmochina.