CES 2026 made it clear that Chinese brands are entering the global consumer electronics industry through concrete operating results. Its leaders are no longer stopping at exposure but are beginning to pursue deeper brand building and market management. From TCL Electronics' plans to form a joint venture with Sony, to Lenovo operating CES almost on par with top-tier international brands, what these moves reflect is not simply an effort to amplify marketing presence. It is a test of whether companies have the product strength, supply chains, and long-term investment capacity required to support global expansion.

Radiant, a key supplier of Apple's backlight modules, is positioning itself to benefit from both legacy and emerging display technologies. While Apple continues to push toward OLED products as a long-term strategy, LCD devices remain in demand through 2026, giving Radiant room to expand into new business lines.

The LED industry has entered its traditional off-season, with tariffs and macroeconomic uncertainty in 2025 prompting end customers to adopt more conservative procurement strategies and dragging down the annual performance of Taiwanese LED makers. To escape intense price competition, companies have shifted toward niche applications such as robotics, drones, invisible-light sensing, automotive, and optical communications, with these strategies expected to support a recovery in operations and profitability in 2026.

At CES 2026, Samsung Electronics revealed the R95H, the world's first 130-inch Micro RGB TV, highlighting its integration of AI in R&D, product development, and user experience. The 130-inch Micro RGB TV uses micron-scale red, green, and blue LEDs as independent light sources and features the Micro RGB AI Engine Pro for color control. It incorporates a narrow bezel design to reduce visual distractions and integrates Vision AI Companion (VAC) technology, enabling cross-device operations such as sending information to The Freestyle's new devices or kitchen appliances.

As Micro LED moves into non-display application opportunities, PlayNitride Technologies announced a partnership with Brillink Technologies, a leader in two-dimensional array optical coupling technologies, to jointly develop a next-generation optical interconnect platform capable of meeting the needs of AI and high-performance computing (HPC). The collaboration integrates three core segments: high-efficiency Micro LED emitter arrays, ultra-high-sensitivity GeSi avalanche photodiode (APD) arrays, and two-dimensional array vertical couplers (2D-AVC). Compared with traditional active electrical cables (AEC), the platform is expected to achieve longer transmission distances, lower power consumption, and higher bandwidth density.

At CES 2026, leading global panel makers focused on microLED and OLED technologies while showcasing AI-driven smart cockpits. The event revealed a shift in automotive display roles from mere entertainment accessories to becoming the core of vehicle-to-home connectivity.

Benefiting from increased shipments of new and existing electric vehicle (EV) models, LED automotive lighting module maker Laster Tech reported consolidated revenue of NT$2.201 billion (approx. US$69.5 million) for the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a quarter-over-quarter growth of 8.83%. The company plans to adopt a selective order strategy in the Chinese market while enhancing its competitiveness within the North American supply chain.

LED driver IC designer Macroblock stated that Micro LED applications based on PCB substrates have been rolled out one after another, while Micro LED applications using glass substrates are expected to enter the mass production stage starting in 2026. The company expects double-digit annual growth, with more than 10 new vehicle models set to adopt its automotive IC products in 2026. Macroblock is optimistic that the share of automotive products will increase from 14% to nearly 20% in 2026.

CES has increasingly become a key platform for the automotive industry, often dubbed an alternative auto show in recent years due to the rising presence of car-related technologies. From concept vehicles and autonomous driving to electrification, automakers' displays frequently outshine traditional consumer electronics.

Touch panel makers General Interface Solution (GIS) and TPK Holding are stepping up their transformation strategies.

Tex Year Industries has just about completed its layout in specialty adhesives, materials, and chemicals for the AI and optoelectronics industries. It expects to see a significant increase in shipments and double-digit growth in 2026. This year, Tex Year will focus on five areas: AI cloud data centers, EVs, drones, smartphones, and Mini LED displays.

TCL's marketing of its entry-level RGB Mini LED television has come under closer industry scrutiny after market research firm Omdia said the product does not fully adopt the RGB backlight architecture implied by its branding. The findings have prompted discussion among analysts and regional media about how emerging display technologies are defined and communicated to consumers, particularly as competition intensifies in the premium TV segment.

In 2025, the global display industry will undergo a major shift as South Korea exits LCD production and strengthens its OLED patent lead. China gains dominance over LCD capacity and market share, while Taiwanese companies advance with microLED, e-paper, and new business models. This marks a move from "capacity scale wars" to "technology value battles."

Facing intensifying competition in the traditional LED lighting market, Incheon-based Korea Lighting is repositioning itself as a supplier of bio-optical semiconductor solutions, targeting high-value applications across healthcare, hygiene, beauty, and agriculture.

The global market for OLED display panels is entering its seasonal peak in the second half of 2025, and South Korea's leading panel makers—Samsung Display and LG Display—are emerging as the biggest beneficiaries of renewed demand for high-end smartphones. Analysts say shipments and revenue are set to accelerate, with the fourth quarter of 2025 likely to mark a record-breaking period for the industry.

LED packaging and lighting module manufacturer Ledtech has reinforced its operational foundation in recent years, reporting a pre-tax profit of NT$19.67 million (US$627,730.56) in November 2025 and is expected to maintain consecutive profitability. Chairman Shou-Hsiung Liu stated the company will continue focusing on niche markets, consolidating its market share in low-temperature lighting across the Americas while actively expanding into Europe.

Amid increasing competition in the electric vehicle market, ams OSRAM is focusing on smart lighting and optical sensing. The company is expected to overtake long-time leader Nichia to become the world's top LED packaging supplier, edging ahead by a narrow single-digit percentage margin.

As display technology continues to advance, Micro LED has emerged as the next star after LCD and OLED—drawing intense interest and investment from panel makers worldwide.

Even though economic uncertainties have clouded the automotive market in 2025, LED makers Advanced Optoelectronic Technology (AOT) and Epileds Technologies are aggressively pursuing growth in automotive LED applications. AOT expects overall operations to improve in 2026, fueled by rising shares of high-margin mini LEDs for vehicles and AR/VR optical modules. Meanwhile, Epileds projects a 20% year-over-year increase in automotive LED revenue for 2025, banking on growing market demand and customer loyalty as key growth drivers.

Samsung Display (SDC) is preparing to reposition Vietnam's Bac Ninh Province as a core base for its next-generation OLED business under a plan that shifts the facility from a general production site to a center for high-value display technologies. The blueprint was outlined during a November 24 meeting between Bac Ninh People's Committee chairman Pham Hoang Son and SDC Vietnam executive director Kang Ui-sik, according to local outlet Cafe Land and Korean media G-enews.

Geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts have heightened attention on the defense industry. Taiwan-based PowerView Display (PVD), leveraging its expertise in military-grade display technology and international patent portfolio, has developed a night vision imaging system (NVIS) LCD module poised to enter the US military supply chain.

FitTech has had weak performance since 2023. It posted a net loss attributable to the parent of NT$290 million (approx. US$9.2 million) for the first three quarters of 2025, although a sharp improvement from 2024. The company has started in LED testing and is optimistic about its DFB and FEL foundry testing business in optical communications for 2026. Strong customer demand has clarified order visibility, and 2026 is expected to see multiple-fold growth. With new product layouts entering the harvesting stage, FitTech aims to turn profitable as early as the second quarter.

TCL CSOT began mass production of 21.6-inch inkjet-printed OLED medical monitor panels in November 2025 and is expanding the technology to notebooks and tablets, while Samsung and LG are cautiously evaluating its market potential.

Samsung Display (SDC) recently declared its commitment to ensuring the profitability of its 8.6-generation IT-use OLED line A6, aiming to reach a level that competitors cannot match. According to South Korean media, including The Elec and Money Today, SDC president Cheong Lee emphasized five key business engines during D-Talks: foldable panels, IT, automotive, monitors, and XR OLEDoS. He pledged to expand competitiveness based on technological barriers.