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From May 14th to 16th, the international display industry’s leading event, SID Display Week 2024, was held in San Jose, USA. Major panel manufacturers such as BOE, TCL CSOT, Tianma, Visionox, Innolux, AUO, Samsung Display, and LG Display showcased a variety of new technological products. TrendForce will review and summarize the development focuses of various panel manufacturers from a technical perspective.

• 3D Display Makes a Comeback, Focusing on Glasses-Free Immersive Experience

3D visual perception is currently the most intuitive way humans perceive the world. Compared to AR/VR, which requires additional wearable devices, glasses-free 3D technology allows users to enjoy a lifelike visual experience without the need for glasses or headsets.

With significant improvements in display quality and user experience, this technology can now be applied to museum exhibits, outdoor advertising, medical education, and more. It has the potential to compete with emerging head-mounted devices in the future.

At the exhibition, in addition to 2D/3D switching, there were light-field displays that enhanced monocular resolution to retinal levels. Coupled with facial tracking and active human-machine interaction systems, these displays expanded the viewing range and 3D viewing angles, delivering an immersive and impressive desktop 3D display experience.

BOE: 110”16K 3D Display & 32”Light Field Display

LGD: Micro OLED+ Light Field Display

• Performance – Enhancing Efficiency to Meet AI Era Demands for Improved Image Quality and Reduced Power Consumption

Addressing the power consumption issues brought about by enhanced image quality can be achieved through various technological advancements such as pixel design, tandem architecture, AI intelligence, micro-lens arrays, oxide backplanes, and dynamic refresh rates. These innovations aim to improve image quality while simultaneously reducing power consumption.

For instance, oxide backplanes have significantly lower leakage currents compared to LTPS backplanes. Combined with new circuit designs, they can maintain voltage for extended periods, keeping flicker within a certain frequency during low-frequency refreshes. Dynamic refresh rates allow the screen’s refresh rate to adapt based on the content displayed, aligning refresh rates with display signals in real-time to provide longer battery life.

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, AI technologies are being leveraged to enhance image quality while reducing screen power consumption (AI low-power image enhancement technology). The deep integration of AI with screens enables real-time image processing at high resolutions and refresh rates, reducing the power consumption of panel modules and achieving an optimal balance between reduced power consumption and improved image quality.

BOE: AIoT + OLED AI Power Reduction Technology

• Folding – Diversified Folding Designs Expanding Application Scenarios

At the exhibition, panel manufacturers showcased the durability of foldable screens through tests involving robots randomly striking the displays, demonstrating that foldable screens can now meet the demands of most usage scenarios.

In addition to the conventional inward and outward folding screens already available on the market, the exhibition also featured G/Z-shaped tri-fold phones and new foldable plus extendable display panels, allowing users to switch between different screen sizes based on application needs.

The introduction of various flexible display forms includes innovations such as the removal of polarizers, simplified hinges, and stress-designed screens, preparing for a variety of user experiences and interaction modes with the new foldable display panels. These complex module designs are expected to drive technological innovation within the supply chain.

SDC: Foldable OLED Reliability Test

SDC: Flex Note Extendable (Folding+ Sliding) Display Size: 13.8” -> 17.3”

SDC: Flex S Multi Foldable Display (Z-Shaped)

• Transparent Displays – Enhanced Transparency Technology for Better Integration with Environments

Once a futuristic display technology with a sci-fi aura, transparent displays are now being gradually applied in commercial, automotive, and everyday scenarios by various brands. Transparent displays transform glass from a mere transparent material into a display product with vast imaginative potential and rich content.

The key to enhancing screen transparency lies not only in the transparency of the substrate but also in effectively increasing the pixel aperture ratio to maintain image quality. Historically, Micro LED screens have achieved transparency rates of over 60%, while OLED screens have been around 40%. With recent technological improvements, the OLED screens showcased at this exhibition have now reached a 60% transparency level, matching that of Micro LED screens.

The future of transparent displays will be shaped by continued advancements in transparency, image quality, brightness, price, and product positioning. Higher transparency levels will enable seamless integration with environments, facilitating broader application and adoption of this innovative display technology.

Visionox: 10” Transparent OLED (Transparency: 60%)

AUO: 60” Transparent Micro-LED Display (Transparency: 60%)

• New Applications and Technological Breakthroughs

At the exhibition, notable breakthroughs in new applications and technologies included innovative automotive display designs, QDEL displays produced through printing processes, and high-brightness RGB OLEDos. Samsung Display and TCL CSOT both showcased QDEL-related technologies, employing printing methods to add quantum dots that directly convert light into colored images.

In traditional QLED technology, the light source is blue backlight that passes through quantum dots for color conversion. In contrast, the QDEL displays exhibited by Samsung Display and TCL CSOT apply current directly to the quantum dots to generate light. As a result, QDEL pixels can emit light and switch off independently, offering the same deep blacks and rich contrast as OLEDs.

Looking ahead, as the lifespan of the quantum dot light-emitting layer improves, QDEL is poised to become a competitive choice for consumer displays due to its lower cost and superior image quality.

Samsung: 18.2” QD-LED

BOE: P0.3 Micro LED Transformer Display Cluster <-> Center Information Display (CID)  Co-Driver Display (CDD)

TIMANA: 12.3”InvisiVue Display With Textured, Mini-LED

Visionox: Rollable OLED Surface Display

• Green Low-Carbon Technology Industry Development Trends

It is noteworthy that LG Display has focused on developing new technologies under the theme of a better future. BOE, in particular, has set up a green low-carbon zone at the center of their booth, highlighting green manufacturing, green product technology, and green supply chains.

They continue to lead the display industry with technological innovation and green development, promoting the healthy and sustainable growth of the global display industry.

BOE: Green for Future

Following its success in the LCD panel market, China’s BOE Technology Group has now been actively narrowing the technology gap with Korean giants in the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel domain. Citing industry experts, Business Korea reported that BOE has reduced the technological gap with Korea regarding the high-growth mid-sized OLED sector to one to one and a half years.

The Chinese display industry is rapidly expanding its presence in the OLED market, driven by robust governmental support as well as competitive pricing, while high domestic consumption also fuels sales growth.

BOE, top Chinese display maker, has gradually become a crucial part of the global supply chain for tech giants. In late 2023, Apple finally approved BOE as an iPhone 15 AMOLED supplier. Though the delivery time was delayed due to quality issues, making it falling behind Samsung and LG, BOE is said to supply 2 million panels to Apple, about 3% of its total OLED supply in 2023.

However, BOE has introduced a series of latest OLED panels at SID2024 in mid-May to showcase its progress. According to Business Korea, it disclosed a 31.6-inch slidable OLED panel, which can extend sideways when needed, concealing the screen while not in use. It is also noteworthy that BOE showcased 15-inch and 17-inch foldable panels, targeting the automotive OLED market.

According to an earlier report from Japanese media outlet Nikkei News, BOE plans to boost its OLED panel production capacity by more than 50% compared to the current level within the next three years, demonstrating its ambition in the field.

Reportedly, BOE’s new OLED panel plant “B16” in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, began construction in late March. The goal is to complete the plant building by 2024, install manufacturing equipment by September 2025, and start mass production in 2026, producing 8.6-generation OLED panels. BOE’s competitor, Samsung Electronics, is also said to be looking for mass production of 8.6-generation OLED panels in 2026 by upgrading its existing plants.

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• [News] BOE Looking to Become OLED Panel Leader, Rumored to Have a 50% Capacity Expansion

(Photo credit: BOE)

Samsung’s planned launch of its budget model version for the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 foldable phone may be cancelled, according to information obtained by South Korea’s media outlet TheElec.

According to sources cited by TheElec, component suppliers to Samsung, which were gearing up for mass production of parts for these foldable devices, indicated that they have not received orders for the budget model Fold 6.

Initially, the South Korean tech giant had planned to unveil three foldable phones this summer: the Galaxy Z Fold 6, the Galaxy Z Flip 6, and an affordable version of the Fold 6.

The Fold 6 features a digitizer layer on the screen to support the S-Pen stylus, but the budget model was intended to be thinner and omit this feature.

It is reported that Samsung, after conducting a durability test of 200,000 folds for the budget model, with water and dust resistance functions added, has founded out that the product turned out not to be thinner than its Chinese rival Huawei’s equivalent, thus lacking significant differentiating points from these rival products.

Huawei’s Mate X3 and X5, launched last year, were both around 11.08mm thick, according to information obtained on Huawei’s website. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 was 13.4mm thick, while Xiaomi’s Mix Fold 3 was 10.9mm thick.

According to analysis from TrendForce, global shipments of foldable phones reached 15.9 million units in 2023, marking a 25% YoY increase and accounting for approximately 1.4% of the overall smartphone market. In 2024, shipments are expected to rise to about 17.7 million units, growing by 11% and slightly increasing the market share to 1.5%. However, this growth rate remains below market expectations, with the segment’s share predicted to exceed 2% only by 2025.

Trendforce points out that the slowdown in the growth of foldable phones could be attributed to two main factors: Firstly, consumer retention is low due to frequent maintenance issues faced by first-time foldable phone users, leading to a lack of confidence in the product. As a result, users may opt for high-end flagship smartphones when considering replacements. Secondly, the current price points of foldable phones have yet to reach the sweet spot for consumers, making it challenging to meet sales targets based solely on pricing.

(Photo credit: Samsung)

Amid the AI boom driving a surge in demand for advanced packaging, South Korean semiconductor giant Samsung Electronics is aggressively entering the advanced packaging arena. On the 20th, it announced its ambitions to achieve record-high revenue in advanced packaging this year, aiming to surpass the USD 100 million mark.

According to reports from Reuters and The Korea Times, Samsung’s annual shareholders’ meeting took place on March 20th.

During the meeting, Han Jong-hee, the vice chairman of the company, stated as follows: “Although the macroeconomic environment is expected to be uncertain this year, we see an opportunity for increased growth through next-generation technology innovation.”

“Samsung plans to apply AI to all devices, including smartphones, foldable devices, accessories and extended reality (XR), to provide customers with a new experience where generative AI and on-device AI unfold,” Han added.

Samsung established the Advanced Package Business Team under the Device Solutions business group in December last year. Samsung Co-CEO Kye-Hyun Kyung stated that he expects the results of Samsung’s investment to come out in earnest from the second half of this year.

Kyung further noted that for a future generation of HBM chips called HBM4, likely to be released in 2025 with more customised designs, Samsung will take advantage of having memory chips, chip contract manufacturing and chip design businesses under one roof to satisfy customer needs.

According to a previous report from TrendForce, Samsung led the pack with the highest revenue growth among the top manufacturers in Q4 as it jumped 50% QoQ to hit $7.95 billion, largely due to a surge in 1alpha nm DDR5 shipments, boosting server DRAM shipments by over 60%. In the fourth quarter of last year, Samsung secured a market share of 45.5% in DRAM chips.

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• [News] Samsung Accelerates 3D Packaging with Hybrid Bonding Production Line in Korean Advanced Packaging Hub
• DRAM Industry Sees Nearly 30% Revenue Growth in 4Q23 Due to Rising Prices and Volume, Says TrendForce

(Photo credit: Samsung)

EPC SUNOTEC, a leading company of PV and energy storage station in Europe, and Huawei Technologies Bulgaria signed a memorandum of understanding on energy storage in Shenzhen to jointly promote the application of battery energy storage technology in Europe.

Huawei has accumulation of digital technology, power electronics and energy storage technologies, and SUNOTEC have comprehensive advantages in the development and construction, quality control, and project management of PV and energy storage stations. The two enterprises will carry out comprehensive cooperation in the development and application of battery energy storage technology innovation, construction and operation of large-scale energy storage power stations in Europe.

Kaloyan Velichkov, the founder and CEO of SUNOTEC, said: “We are delighted to sign this MOU with Huawei, which signifies our joint efforts to further advance our green energy initiatives. The two companies will pave the way for a zero-carbon future, promote technological innovation and promote environmental stewardship, in line with SUNOTEC’s Vision 2030. ”

Huang Hongqi, the director of Huawei’s Digital Power Global Sales Dept, said, “SUNOTEC is an important partner for us. The signing of this MOU will deepen our cooperation in the field of renewable energy, especially the large-scale application of battery energy storage systems in Europe.

Last year, we signed a cooperation agreement for a 500MW PV project with a good result. This is a milestone in the commitment of both parties to accelerate the transformation and upgrading of the energy industry and promote sustainable development for a green and beautiful future. ”

Huawei currently provides intelligent PV and energy storage projects solutions and comprehensive technical support for SUNOTEC’s PV and energy storage projects in Europe. The two parties will leverage their respective advantages to jointly contribute to Bulgaria’s green and low-carbon transformation and sustainable development.

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• [News] Huawei Shifts Focus, Prioritizing Production of AI Chips over Mate 60 Series
• [News] Huawei Issues Rush Orders for Crucial Components, Focusing on CIS for Foldable Phones

(Photo credit: Huawei)