Japan Display Inc. (JDI) and China-based HKC will form a strategic alliance to start mass-production of a new type of OLED display, so-called eLEAP OLED, in 2025. Monitor panels are part of the plan.
eLEAP (environment positive, Lithography with maskless deposition, Extreme long life, low power, and high luminance, Any shape Patterning) was unveiled by JDI in 2022 as a new OLED technology with 2x the efficiency, 2x the peak brightness, and 3x the lifetime of existing OLED panels.
Bold claims, but consumers may soon be able to test themselves as JDI, the merger of Sony, Toshiba and Hitachi's display panel businesses, and China-based display maker HKC have announced plans to form a strategic alliance under which HKC will invest to "build world class eLEAP fabs, targeting mas production in 2025". The new factories will be located in China.
- "JDI believes that eLEAP and HMO (High Mobility Oxide) represent once-in-a-generation revolutionary advances in display technology. Providing eLEAP and HMO to other display manufacturers is thus an opportunity to create an entirely new global display ecosystem that delivers unprecedented cost performance for customers all over the world," the company said in its announcement this week.
Based on 600 nits, 3h/day, 300ppi OLED, according to JDI
eLEAP OLED in monitors, tablets, more
JDI and HKC are planning to produce eLEAP OLED panels for monitors, notebooks, tablets, VR, wearables and automotive. JDI confirmed that it provided the first samples to industry customers in August 2022.
As part of the announcement, they set out ambitions goals in the segment for mid- to high-end displays:
- Wearables: Global No.1 in shipments and market share by 2027
- Automotive: Global No.1 in shipments and market share by 2028
- VR: Global No.1 in shipments and market share by 2028
- Monitors: Global No.1 in shipments and market share by 2028
- Notebooks & Tablets: Global No.3 in shipments and market share by 2028
However, plans could still fall through as the strategic partnership contract has yet to be signed. The parties intend to do so in June 2023. Hopefully it amounts to more than just good intentions.
Also read: JOLED files for bankruptcy affecting TCL partnership, LG OLED Pro monitors
If successful, eLEAP OLED could emerge as a strong alternative to LG Display's WOLED and Samsung Display's AMOLED and QD-OLED.