South Korea's Samsung Display has unveiled its latest display technologies, including two new EL-QD prototypes and a "groundbreaking" RGB micro-OLED.
The display technology of the future is on display this week at the SID show in the USA. LG Display is showcasing the first 'dream OLED' while TCL CSOT is focusing on inkjet-printed RGB OLED.
Samsung Display is presenting the latest in EL-QD, micro-OLED, stretchable micro-LED and OLED with built-in biometric sensors.
Improved EL-QD prototypes
EL-QD – also known as nanoLED or QDEL – is an electroluminescent display technology. It essentially uses quantum dots as light-emitting diodes, with the quantum dots emitting light directly in response to electrical signals.
- "Samsung Display’s latest EL-QD prototypes include a 400-nit high-brightness version and a 264 PPI high-resolution version. The high-brightness model improves on last year’s prototype (250 nits) by more than 50%, achieving the highest luminance among all EL-QD prototypes disclosed to date. The lifespan of blue materials, which has been a key industry challenge to commercializing EL-QD, was dramatically increased to allow for such breakthroughs in EL-QD technology. It has long been believed that cadmium-free QDs face durability limitations, but Samsung Display has once again achieved a meaningful technological leap," the company announced.
Samsung Display's latest 400-nit EL-QD display prototype
The 400-nit panel is 18.2 inches with 3200x1800 pixels, 86% Rec.2020 and all inkjet-printed. It delivers 50% higher brightness than last year’s prototype. The new 264ppi panel is 6.55 inches with 960x1440 pixels, 300 nits brightness, 79% Rec.2020, and again all inkjet-printed. It improves on last year's 202ppi panel.
EL-QD could eventually rival OLED in, for example, monitors and TVs, but one of the main challenges has been lifespan. The use of cadmium, previously used to extend lifetime, is banned in many countries. Both new prototypes are cadmium-free, said Samsung Display.
'8K' micro-OLED for headsets
Samsung Display is also showcasing what it calls a "groundbreaking" RGB micro-OLED – or OLEDoS – panel with a peak brightness of 20,000 nits and 4200 pixels per inch (PPI), up from 5,000 nits just one year ago at SID 2024.
For comparison, the micro-OLED panels in Apple Vision Pro deliver around 3400 PPI and 5000 nits brightness. Only a fraction of that brightness reaches the eye due to the way the display is driven and the lenses.
Also read: First look at Apple Vision Pro: A video revolution
Samsung Display's 5000ppi micro-OLED is headed for future VR headsets
Samsung Display also brought a 5000ppi RGB micro-OLED panel with 15,000 nits peak brightness, 99% DCI-P3 coverage, and a 120Hz refresh rate. This amounts to higher resolution than an 8K TV, the company said. Interestingly, it roughly matches the size (1.4 inches) of the micro-OLED used in the current Apple Vision Pro.
These new prototypes suggest that we are on the verge of significantly improved visual fidelity in VR headsets, with gains in both luminance and color. Samsung Electronics is expected to launch a micro-OLED headset later this year, while Apple is rumored to be developing multiple new models.
In addition, Samsung Display is showcasing a stretchable micro-LED and an OLED panel embedded with multiple organic photodiode (OPD) sensors capable of measuring biometric data, such as heart rate and blood pressure, when you place your finger on the screen.
A stretchable micro-LED display can be used in cars, clothes etc.
