The display industry is undergoing a strategic transformation, with OLED technology at the center of innovation and competitive differentiation.
According to TrendForce, while OLED remains dominant in small-size applications like smartphones, the momentum is shifting toward mid-size segments —monitors, tablets, notebooks, and automotive displays — driven by growing demand for premium visual performance, power efficiency, and form factor flexibility.
Key Industry Trends
OLED Market Diversification
OLED’s advantages — self-emissive structure, superior contrast, and lightweight design — have long been leveraged in smartphones. However, its adoption in larger displays has been constrained by high costs and limited high-volume production capacity.
The mid-size display market is now the key battleground, where manufacturers are racing to balance performance, scalability, and affordability.
Surge in OLED Monitor Shipments
OLED monitor shipments are projected to grow 80.6 percent year-over-year in 2025, with penetration reaching 2 percent — and potentially 5 percent by 2028. This signals strong momentum for OLED’s expansion beyond mobile applications.
Emergence of FMM-Free OLED Technologies
Traditional OLED production relies on fine metal mask (FMM) evaporation, which is costly and complex. In contrast, FMM-free methods such as inkjet printing and photolithography are emerging as game-changers due to cost and design flexibility.
These alternatives improve material efficiency and could lower production costs by around 25 percent, though challenges remain in yield, pixel density, and long-term reliability.
Strategic Moves by Display Vendors
TCL CSOT: Dual-Track Strategy with Printing and Evaporation
Printed OLED Leadership: TCL CSOT began mass production of printed OLED medical displays in late 2024 and showcased a full portfolio of printed OLEDs (6.5–65 inches) at SID Display Week 2025.
Cost Innovation: Its inkjet printing process reduces dependency on FMM, improving scalability and offering a cost-effective solution for the mid-size segment.
Balanced Production Approach: The company operates its Gen-6 FMM-based T4 line for high-end smartphones while advancing its 5.5 Gen printed OLED line for medical, notebook, and gaming monitor applications.
Visionox: ViP (Visionox Intelligent Pixelization) Technology
Visionox is adopting a photolithography-based process called ViP to define pixel layouts without FMM. This enables higher aperture ratios and design flexibility.
The company broke ground on a Gen-8.6 plant in Hefei at the end of 2024, which will incorporate both ViP and FMM-based production to address mid-to-large display applications.
Korean Panel Makers: Focus on QD-OLED and WOLED
Korean leaders like Samsung Display and LG Display continue to push QD-OLED and white OLED (WOLED) evaporation-based technologies, primarily for high-end TVs and premium monitors.
Their strategy leans toward maintaining leadership in large-size, high-performance displays while monitoring emerging cost-effective alternatives.
Outlook: Toward a Flexible, Cost-Effective OLED Ecosystem
TrendForce concludes that the rise of FMM-free OLED production marks a structural shift in the display market. With printed OLED and photolithography-based ViP gaining commercial traction, the future of OLED manufacturing looks increasingly diverse and flexible.
Strategic Implications for the Industry:
Innovation-led Cost Reduction: Vendors are investing in technologies that reduce material waste, simplify manufacturing, and improve scalability.
Segment-Specific Solutions: Rather than one-size-fits-all, display makers are tailoring processes (evaporation vs. printing) to target niche markets — be it medical, gaming, or automotive.
Dynamic Production Roadmaps: Companies like TCL CSOT are maintaining agility by balancing innovation with mass production readiness, ensuring adaptability to changing market demands.
TelecomLead.com News Desk
