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Tuesday 9 September 2025

BOE reportedly to supply iPhone 17 Pro OLED panels at US$40 each

According to UBI Research, BOE will supply OLED panels for Apple's iPhone 17 Pro. This marks BOE's first time providing LTPO OLEDs to Apple and highlights the growing influence of Chinese panel manufacturers in the smartphone OLED market, posing a greater challenge to South Korean suppliers.

Monday 8 September 2025

Samsung solidifies lead as Apple's top display supplier

Samsung Display (SDC), LG Display (LGD), and China's BOE are expected to maintain their positions in Apple's iPhone panel supply chain through 2025 and 2026, according to industry forecasts. Samsung, in particular, is poised to expand its portfolio as Apple prepares to mass-produce its first foldable iPhone.

Friday 5 September 2025

South Korea doubles down on display research as China tightens grip on global market

South Korea plans to more than double its display research budget to counter China's growing dominance, as industry data indicate China could control up to 75% of global panel production capacity by 2028.

Friday 5 September 2025

Analysis: BOE supplies over 40M OLED panels for iPhone, testing supply chain management

For Apple CEO Tim Cook, returning to the White House in early August 2025 and announcing a US$600 billion investment plan over the next four years was a strategic move that pleased President Donald Trump. Trump responded by stating that any production or factory commitments made in the US would qualify for tariff exemptions, temporarily easing Apple's larger crisis.

Thursday 4 September 2025

Walmart drives record growth in electronic shelf label shipments

Electronic shelf labels (ESL) using e-paper technology have experienced rapid growth in the retail industry, propelled by Walmart's large-scale adoption since mid-2024. ESL shipments surged from just over 100 million units per quarter to nearly 200 million units in the second quarter of 2025, setting unprecedented shipment records globally.

Thursday 4 September 2025

Garmin unveils world's first microLED smartwatch

Garmin will launch a microLED version of its flagship Fēnix 8 Pro smartwatch on September 8, marking a significant milestone as the world's first watch to integrate microLED technology. Priced just shy of US$2,000, the new watch costs about US$700 more than a similarly sized 51mm (approximately 1.4-inch) model with an AMOLED screen. Yet this 50% premium promises to bring an unprecedented 4,500 nits in terms of brightness, making it the "brightest ever" smartwatch with ultra-wide viewing angles and exceptional resolution.

Thursday 4 September 2025

Global chipmakers embrace 'China for China' model as Chinese partners take on prominent roles

Foreign chipmakers are partnering with Chinese firms as geopolitical tensions and supply chain risks reshape the global semiconductor industry. The push, known as a "China for China" strategy, aims to secure stable supply chains in China.

Wednesday 3 September 2025

Innolux and NYCU unveil world's first mass-produced LC gradient index glasses

Taiwan's Innolux and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) have developed the world's first mass-producible liquid crystal gradient-index (LC gradient index) glasses, overcoming longstanding physical and chemical limitations of liquid crystals. The breakthrough, announced by the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) on September 1, 2025, was published in Physical Review Applied in August 2025 and highlighted as a special report by the American Physical Society.

Tuesday 2 September 2025

LCD monitor panel shipments expected to decline in 3Q25 despite seasonal peak

Industry insiders anticipate a softer third quarter for LCD monitor panels in 2025, with shipments expected to fall about 5% compared to the second quarter, despite this period usually being a peak season. Manufacturers remain hesitant to reduce prices, even as many products continue to operate at loss-making levels. Notebook panel demand has seen some improvement during the third quarter, supported by back-to-school sales and Black Friday preparations, though pricing remains largely stable amid rising costs.

Tuesday 2 September 2025

China's urgent TV orders boost panel manufacturers' utilization rates

As China continues to implement dynamic production cuts, the output reduction has stabilized LCD TV panel prices in August. Meanwhile, major Chinese TV brands such as TCL and Hisense have recently released urgent orders, leading industry experts to expect that LCD TV panel prices in September will likely remain stable.

Monday 1 September 2025

Taiwan's aging panel fabs face extinction as industry shifts

Innolux recently decided to close its fifth-generation fab, while AUO is also implementing a replacement plan. Industry insiders predict that all fifth-generation and below panel fabs in Taiwan will be completely shut down within the next two to three years. Even some sixth- or seventh-generation fabs may face closure after two to three years.

Monday 1 September 2025

South Korea's display industry rebounds to US$10 billion in 1Q25, mixed outlook for 2H25

The Korea Display Industry Association (KDIA) reported that the combined revenue of South Korean panel companies reached US$10 billion in the first quarter of 2025, marking a return to the billion-dollar milestone after three years. This growth was primarily driven by increased demand for high-end OLED panels and customers placing early orders due to concerns over US tariffs.

Monday 1 September 2025

Samsung, LG losing TV war to China, bet on microLED revival

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics' television businesses have fallen from their former status as "flagship divisions" to becoming performance "obstacles," frequently losing ground in competition against Chinese companies. Industry insiders in South Korea are hopeful that the microLED TV market will flourish, helping Samsung and LG reverse their disadvantages in the TV sector.

Monday 1 September 2025

Sharp sells Kameyama North Plant to Topia

Sharp Corporation announced on August 29 that it will sell part of its LCD panel factory in Kameyama City, Mie Prefecture, to automotive parts developer Topia for JPY1.2 billion (approx. US$8.172 million). The transaction involves the Kameyama Kita Plant, which ceased production in fiscal year 2020, according to Nikkei and NHK.

Monday 1 September 2025

US weighs BOE OLED ban, putting Apple's display supply chain in flux

The US is reportedly moving to impose a long-term sales ban on OLED panels made by China's BOE Technology, raising the prospect of a significant reshuffle in Apple's display supply chain. The measure is expected to ripple upstream through suppliers of display driver ICs (DDI), foundries, and outsourced semiconductor assembly and testing (OSAT) firms in Taiwan.

Friday 29 August 2025

Samsung reportedly explores BOE's WOLED panels for its gaming monitors

BOE Technology is reportedly in talks with Samsung Electronics and other manufacturers to supply white OLED (WOLED) panels for monitors, as Chinese panel makers seek to capture surging demand in the high-end gaming market. Analysts view the effort as BOE's bid to secure a foothold in premium displays.

Thursday 28 August 2025

Youngwoo DSP secures display equipment contract with Samsung Display Vietnam

South Korean display inspection equipment company Youngwoo DSP has signed a supply contract with Samsung Display Vietnam (SDV) valued at KRW17.9 billion (approx. US$13.2 million). This contract accounts for roughly 30.3% of Youngwoo DSP's forecasted revenue for the year 2024, according to reports from Korean media outlets Hankyung and EBN.

Thursday 28 August 2025

Japan expected to advance legacy semiconductor, LCD production transfer to India

Japan and India are accelerating plans to relocate production of legacy semiconductor and LCD technologies to India, aiming to reduce dependence on China and strengthen economic security.

Wednesday 27 August 2025

Samsung Display restructures OLED business to strengthen Apple ties and fend off Chinese rivals

Samsung Display (SDC) is executing a sweeping organizational overhaul across both its IT and small-to-medium panel businesses, aiming to solidify its leadership in OLED displays while countering growing competition from China.

Tuesday 26 August 2025

AI takes center stage at IMID 2025 as Samsung Display, LG Display showcase innovations

The 25th International Meeting on Information Display (IMID 2025) recently took place in South Korea, in which the two leading Korean panel manufacturers both centered on artificial intelligence (AI) as the future for the display industry. Samsung Display (SDC) presented a substantial number of AI-related research papers, while LG Display (LGD) delivered a keynote speech outlining technological prospects in the AI era.

Tuesday 26 August 2025

Samsung Display expected to remain key supplier for rumored foldable iPhone

Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone is taking shape as Samsung Display, DS Neolux, and BH reportedly secure roles in its supply chain. Backed by Samsung Display's exclusive panel development and mass production experience, the project is advancing through prototyping, with a market launch expected as early as the second half of 2026.

Monday 25 August 2025

Galaxy S25 sales hit 3m; Samsung pushes display innovation

Samsung Electronics has sold over 3 million units of its Galaxy S25 series as of August 1, surpassing the Galaxy S24 series' sales pace by more than two months. This strong sales performance has been a key factor in bolstering the company's second-quarter earnings.

Friday 22 August 2025

ITC ruling against BOE opens door for South Korea, Taiwan's Novatek under pressure

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a preliminary ruling against China's BOE, banning its OLED panels from the US market for nearly 15 years. The decision opens opportunities for South Korean panel makers but raises risks for Taiwanese DDI suppliers closely tied to BOE, including Novatek.

Thursday 21 August 2025

Taiwan polarizer makers stuck in bleak Q2, face with dim Q3 outlook

Taiwanese polarizer manufacturers are struggling due to overall capacity oversupply, a downturn in the panel market during the second quarter of 2025, exchange rate fluctuations, and rising upstream material costs. Both BenQ Materials and CMMT reported poor operational performance, with both companies experiencing losses in their core businesses. As the traditional peak season approaches in the third quarter, neither company is optimistic about significant improvement.

Wednesday 20 August 2025

AUO's acquisition of Adlink Technology sparks insider trading allegations

Panel manufacturer Au Optronics (AUO) completed its acquisition of industrial PC provider Adlink Technology in the second quarter of 2025. Shortly after, a stock trading scandal involving individuals close to Adlink's chairman came to light, prompting a law enforcement investigation.

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