You can expect more Samsung "QLED" TVs to be equipped with IPS LCD next year as Samsung is looking to procure up to 4 million LG Display panels, according to The Elec. Possibly OLED panels too.
South Korean truce
In 2017, Bloomberg broke the news that Samsung had been forced to seek help from arch rival LG due to LCD panel shortages. As a result, several of Samsung's TV models, including "Neo QLED" models in 2021 (check the TV Database), are now equipped with low-contrast IPS LCD panels rather than the VA LCD panels found in Samsung TVs historically.
A report from Korea's The Elec now claims that Samsung is hoping to reduce its dependency on Chinese panel makers such as TCL CSoT and BOE, and take increased deliveries of LCD panels from AUO, Sharp, and LG Display next year.
- "Samsung Electronics will diversify its LCD TV panel purchase line next year more than before. This is to reduce dependence on Chinese panel makers that have dominated the global LCD market," The Elec reported. "There is also a forecast that LG Display will supply Samsung Electronics with 4 million large LCD units next year, which is more than five times the hundreds of thousands of units known for this year. In terms of LCD panel quality, it is known that Samsung Electronics prefers LG Display over Chinese companies."
However, there is some disagreement over how many of LG Display's IPS LCD panels Samsung Electronics is looking to procure. Analyst firm Omdia expects the share to be just 2% of Samsung's projected 44-45 million TV sales in 2022, or about 1 million panels.
Samsung Display, which in the past supplied most of the LCD panels in Samsung Electronics's TV models, is likely to withdraw from LCD TV panel production next year after it decided to delay its exit due to coronavirus.
Samsung is already using low-contrast IPS LCD panels in models like QN90A (EU), QN85A and Q80A
OLED panels too?
Earlier this year, reports surfaced that Samsung Electronics is in discussions with LG Display to buy OLED panels. The new report from The Elec once again refers to such negotiations.
Also read: Report: Samsung Display to start mass-production of 34, 55 & 65" QD-OLED on Nov 30
- "Samsung Electronics' premium TV lineup for next year has been tentatively decided with 3 million mini-LED Neo QLED TVs and 2 million OLED TVs. Here, OLED TV is the sum of the quantity of quantum dot (QD)-OLED being developed by Samsung Display and white (W)-OLED being mass-produced by LG Display. QD-OLED TV is 500,000 units and W-OLED TV is 1.5 million units. According to the provisional plan, Samsung Electronics will receive 2 million W-OLED panels from LG Display and ship 1.5 million W-OLED TVs."
- Source: The Elec
