Samsung Display has supplied prototypes of its QD-OLED TV panels to Sony and Panasonic, in addition to Samsung Electronics, according to Business Korea and Omdia.

QD-OLED TVs in 2021?
Samsung Display, the conglomerate's display panel manufacturing arm, has invested billions in QD-type displays, including QD-OLED, which is a new type of OLED panel. Mass production of QD-OLED could start as early as the third quarter of 2021, according to market research firm Omdia (formerly IHS Markit).

Sony and Panasonic are amongst the potential customers for QD-OLED TV panels, according to the report.

- "Samsung Display has started to promote QD-OLED panels to global TV producers. It has recently supplied prototypes of QD-OLED TVs to Samsung Electronics' TV division, Sony, and Panasonic, according to market research firm Omdia," reported Business Korea.


 LG C9 OLED (left), Samsung QD prototype (middle), Samsung Q950TS (right). Source: The Elec
Samsung Display vs. Samsung Electronics
Interestingly, Samsung Electronics, the maker of TVs for the consumer market, remains undecided in regard to QD-OLED TVs, according to Korean media reports this week and earlier this year, as it is also is pursuing miniLED/microLED displays – a different display technology.

- "If Samsung Electronics decides to adopt QD-OLED panels, it will be able to release QD-OLED TVs in 2022 at the earliest, I think," said an unnamed industry analyst.

It was previously reported that Samsung Display will start mass-production QD displays irrespectively of Samsung Electronics' decision. It would appear that Sony and Panasonic are potential takers. Both companies are currently sourcing all of their OLED TV panels from LG Display.

 Also read: Samsung Display to terminate all LCD production by end of 2020

Omdia predicted that Samsung will initially have a monthly capacity to produce 30,000 sheets of 8.5G mother glasses that can be cut into smaller panels for TVs or monitors. It said that Asus, MSI, AOC, and Dell "are highly likely to become major customers" for 27- and 32-inch QD-OLED monitor panels in the future. As for TVs, it predicted that Samsung Display will produce 55-, 65-, 78-, and 82-inch panels.

- Source: Business Korea (2)