Samsung Display

Samsung Display announced that it has developed a new technology that can recover around 80% of the quantum dots ink used in its QD-OLED production process. The recovered inks is refined through advanced synthesis technology that revives its purity and optical properties. The company will apply this technology, to its process and it is expected to save around 10 billion Won (around $7.3 million USD) each year in QD materials cost.

It turns out that even though the QD layers are inkjet printed, there is still significant waste of materials, as around 20% of the total QD ink used in the process remains in the nozzles and cannot be used. This new technology will enable SDC to make its QD-OLED panels more competitive with other large-area panel technologies.

During Displayweek 2024, Samsung demonstrated its latest display prototypes, focusing mostly on flexible OLEDs, and QD-OLEDs.

The company also showed a 18.2" 3200x1800 (202 PPI) 250 nits QD-EL display, that was produced using an inkjet-printing process, based on cadmium-free QDs.

Samsung Display recently decided to move around 500 engineers from its large-area QD-OLED business unit to its small-and-medium sized AMOLED business unit. This move could signal a change in SDC's confidence in its QD-OLED technology.

A new article at OLED-Info discusses the technology and market challenges of QD-OLEDs, the recent activities in the display industry and market - and states that Samsung may be not invest further in its QD-OLED technology.

DSCC says that the demand for QD materials in the display industry is growing, and the market will grow to $100 million in 2024. It will continue to grow and reach $122 million in 2027. 

The main application is in LCD displays (color conversion), but materials used in QD-OLED's (by Samsung Display) is growing and accounts for 31% of the market (in the chart above DSCC notes QD-OLEDs as QD-CC). Production of QD-OLED panels is limited (SDC's total capacity is for around 2 million panels per year) but the material usage is large compared to QD-LCDs.

During CES 2024, several device makers announced new TVs and monitors based on Samsung Display's QD-OLED panels. It seems as if market acceptance for SDC's high-end QD panels is on the rise:

• Samsung Odyssey 2024 gaming monitors (27" 1440p 360Hz / 32" 4K 240Hz / 49" 5120x1440 240Hz QD-OLED
• Samsung S95D, S90D, S85D (QD-OLED and WOLED TVs)
• Gigabyte AORUS 2024 QD-OLED monitors (27", 31.5", 34" QD-OLEDs)
• HP Omen Transcend 32 gaming monitor (32" 240Hz 4K QD-OLED)
• Dell Alienware AW2725DF / AW3225QF monitors (27", 32" QD-OLEDs)

Value Electronics hosted their annual TV shootout, checking several high-end TVs to see which model provides the best images.

There were six TVs tested in the 4K TV category, two QD-OLEDs, one OLED, and three mini-LED LCDs. The best TV was Sony's A95L QD-OLED TV. The runner-ups were Samsung's S95C (another QD-OLED TV) and LG's G3 OLED (with an LGD WOLED Panel).

Both Asus and Philips announced new gaming monitors based on Samsung's QD-OLED panel. First up is the Asus PG32UCDM, that uses a 32" 4K (3840x2160, 16:9) 240Hz VRR 1000 nits (HDR peak) QD-OLED panel. The PG32UCDM makes use of a graphene film for heat dissipation.

The Philips Evnia 49M2C8900 is a high-end gaming monitor, that is based on an ultrawide 49" 240Hz VRR 5120x1440 QD-OLED panel. Other features include Adaptive-Sync, NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync support, HDMI 2.1 VRR and a 30 W  audio system. The Philips monitor will ship in September 2023, for around $2,100.