Analyst firm Omdia expects sales of QD-LCD TVs, or "QLED", to fall in 2022 for the first time as Samsung starts the transition to OLED TVs, according to a report by Business Korea.

OLED shines as "QLED" fades
Demand for LCD TVs is down since late 2021 and Omdia expects the trend to also affect sales of high-end LCD TVs, specifically LCDs with a quantum dot film such as "Neo QLED", "QLED", "ULED" and "QNED".

- "According to market research firm Omdia, QD-LCD TV sales are expected to fall 3.1 percent to US$17.674 billion (about 21 trillion won) in 2022, marking the first time that annual QD-LCD TV sales decrease. QD-LCD panels go into Samsung Electronics’premium Neo QLED TVs," reported Business Korea.


 Samsung launched its first QD-enhanced LCD TVs in 2017, marketed as "QLED". Photo: FlatpanelsHD

Meanwhile, sales of OLED TVs are expected to rise steadily and account for 12.7% of the total TV market in 2022, according to Omdia.

OLED is furthermore expected to grow its share of the high-priced TV market from 35.7% in 2021 to 42.1% in 2022, while QD-LCD's share is forecast to shrink from 39% to 37.8% in the same period. OLED technology has yet to penetrate the segment for 70-inch and larger TVs.

 Also read: First look: QD-OLED displays

A key factor is Samsung Display's launch of QD-OLED, a new type of OLED panel. QD-OLED TVs will be available from Samsung and Sony. LG Display is also expected to increase its output of OLED panels that go into TVs from Hisense, LG, Panasonic, Philips, Sony, and possibly even Samsung.

- "Samsung Electronics is expected to use 1.5 million OLED panels from LG Display and 500,000 QD display panels from Samsung Display," an industry insider told Business Korea. "A transition to OLED TVs has become inevitable in the TV industry."

Samsung is reportedly planning to launch its first OLED TV between May and June this year.

- Source: Business Korea, Omdia