Expect to see OLED replace LCD panels in more tablets, laptops and monitors, including Apple's, over the coming years. Samsung Display has just announced a major investment plan.

While OLED technology has found its way into most premium TVs and smartphones, the majority of tablets, laptops and PC monitors available today still rely on aging and low-contrast IPS LCD or VA LCD panels.

Samsung Display's 4.1 trillion won ($3.1 billion USD) investment plan announced this week in collaboration with the South Korean government will help speed up the transition to OLED. South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol said that it represents a "new leap" for the display industry.

- "Samsung Display, the display panel making unit of Samsung Electronics Co., held a ceremony at its campus in Asan, 87 kilometers south of Seoul, to announce its decision to invest 4.1 trillion won (US$3.1 billion) in upgrading production lines for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panels for tablets, laptops and other IT devices by 2026," wrote Yonhap News Agency.

 Also read: JOLED files for bankruptcy affecting TCL partnership, LG OLED Pro monitors

Samsung Display stopped producing LCD panels last year.

It was previously reported that Samsung Display is planning to produce both OLED and QD-OLED panels at the new factory that is said to be a 8.7-Gen factory.


 President Yoon Suk Yeol announcing the news this week at Samsung Display's campus in Asan, South Korea. Photo: Yonhap

OLED panels for Apple
The new factory is expected to be ready by 2026 and will significantly increase Samsung Display's capacity for producing mid-sized OLED panels for tablets, laptops and monitors.

Reliable analyst/consultant Ross Young claims that the factory will produce the first 14 and 16-inch two-stack OLED panels for future Macbook Pros from Apple starting in 2026, whereas OLED panels for Macbook Air will be produced on "an older 6-Gen factory".

 Also read: Report: Apple planning to switch to OLED displays in iPad, Macbook & iMac

In 2022 and 2023, a significant number of brands have announced or launched their first OLED or QD-OLED monitors, but these are intended mainly for gaming.

- Source: Yonhap, Ross Young