10,000 pieces, LG Electronics plans to purchase Samsung Display QD-OLED panels for the first time

On April 9, according to Korean media The elec, LG Electronics plans to purchase QD-OLED panels from Samsung Display and launch a new game monitor in the second half of this year. The company is currently considering launching multiple sizes, including 27-inch and 32-inch. It is reported that LG Electronics purchased approximately 10,000 QD-OLED panels this year.

Although QD-OLED and WOLED both belong to the OLED family, there are differences in color implementation and price. QD-OLED combines blue OLED with quantum dots to express colors. WOLED uses a structure of white OLED and color filters. Some analysts believe that QD-OLED has advantages in color expression. WOLED is relatively advantageous in terms of mass production and price of large-size panels.

The report pointed out that LG Electronics chose Samsung Display due to technical considerations. LG Electronics requires a pixel density of 160 PPI for its 27-inch monitor. According to reports, LG Display, a unit of LG Electronics, is unable to achieve this specification. Experts explained that LG Display’s WOLED uses a bottom-emitting method, which limits its ability to achieve high pixel density.

Another reason is that LG Display is under pressure to supply WOLED panels for TVs to Samsung Electronics. Samsung Electronics only uses Samsung Display's QD-OLED panels in some flagship TV models, while it continues to increase the proportion of WOLED panels in its other product lines. It has been observed that the number of WOLED TV panels supplied by LG Display to Samsung Electronics is growing steadily, which means that LG Display has little spare capacity to meet the needs of LG Electronics.

An industry insider explained: "Samsung Electronics is reluctant to adopt QD-OLED TV panels because they are more expensive than WOLED panels." He also added: "As a result, a cross-platform model is forming, in which LG Display's WOLED panels are installed on Samsung TVs, while Samsung Display's QD-OLED panels are installed on LG Electronics monitors." Since Samsung transferred LCD to Chinese companies and shifted its focus of competition to OLED, the relationship between Samsung and LG has become closer. This is because survival has taken precedence over competition in the field of panels and complete machines.

Samsung Display’s QD-OLED display business is growing rapidly. The company announced on the same day that the cumulative shipments of QD-OLED displays exceeded 5 million units in March last year. Since mass production began at the end of 2021, the average annual growth rate has exceeded 320%. Currently, major customers include Samsung Electronics' Odyssey series, Dell and HP. Now, LG Electronics has also joined the ranks.

According to TrendForce consulting data, global OLED display shipments will reach 2.735 million units in 2025, with an annual growth rate of 92%. In 2026, as brands strengthen innovation and marketing strategies continue to ferment, it is expected to create an annual growth of 51% in annual shipments.

The OLED display market share by brand is: ASUS 21.6%, Samsung Electronics 19.3%, MSI 13.1%, LG Electronics 12.6%, Dell (Alien) 9.9%.

Industry analysis shows that the growth rate of OLED in IT applications far exceeds that of TV. This is because demand for high-end monitors, such as gaming monitors, has surged among people aged 30 to 40 as the number of single-person households increases and remote working becomes more popular.