Gathering of talents, DTS micro and small and medium-sized display event concluded successfully

On February 26 and 27, 2025, TrendForce’s LEDinside and WitsView will hold a two-day 2025 TrendForce New Display Industry Seminar at the JW Marriott Hotel Shenzhen.

The theme of the first day of the seminar was "Special Session on Micro and Small and Medium-sized Displays". At the meeting, industry experts from display panels, LEDs, Micro OLEDs, notebooks, automotive displays, monitors and other display fields, as well as TrendForce analysts, gave wonderful speeches, analyzing the future of the micro and small- and medium-sized display fields from all aspects, and presented rich and in-depth display technology and industry trends to the audience. The atmosphere was lively.

At the beginning of the meeting, Fan Xiaoli, general manager of TrendForce, delivered a speech. She welcomed and thanked all the guests and expressed her best wishes for the future development of the self-luminous display industry.

Subsequently, TrendForce analysts and industry experts from the self-luminous display industry chain delivered wonderful speeches. The following is the main content shared by the speakers:

202 Competitive landscape of panel industry in 5 years

Fan Boyu, Deputy General Manager of Research, TrendForce Technology

Looking at the development of the overall TFT-LCD industry, mainland panel manufacturers already have a high degree of dominance in terms of production capacity and shipment scale. In the past few years, they have gradually reversed losses through on-demand production control and adjustment strategies, and their operations have gradually returned to the right track. After entering 2025, there are still five key points for the overall industry that require continued attention.

First of all, the production control strategy of panel manufacturers is still important in the short term. In the future, they will continue to achieve a natural balance of supply and demand by guiding the average demand size to expand. Furthermore, the industry has been consolidated to a stage, and there are still a few potential consolidation targets. If consolidation can continue, panel manufacturers are expected to continue to increase industry concentration and continue to expand their bargaining power.

Looking upstream at the supply chain of domestic components, we find that China has now taken the lead in several major components such as polarizers and backlight modules. Driver ICs have also gradually increased the proportion of self-made components through the cooperation of IC manufacturers, domestic wafer foundries and packaging and testing plants. In the future, they will continue to deepen their development in different components.

Observing the demand side, panel manufacturers have gradually begun to expand overseas module factories in response to the needs of some customers. The establishment of the company will move towards a diversified supply chain layout. Finally, investments related to AMOLED technology, Mini/Micro LED and other display-related technologies, as well as non-display businesses such as semiconductors, are expected to continue, and we will actively make a more comprehensive layout.

Automotive-grade LED and PCBA modules for vehicle-mounted display and interactive applications

Wan Chuiming Jinko Electronics Automotive-grade LED Business Unit Operations Director

Judging from the development trend of vehicle-mounted displays, vehicle-mounted display technology has entered a new era of large-screen, intelligent, and multi-screen. Currently, in-car displays are mainly based on LED display backlight solutions. At the same time, the market's demand for functions such as high resolution, high brightness, wide color gamut, and regional dimming continues to increase. With the continuous evolution of vehicle display technology, interactive screens or interactive lights on the front and rear of the vehicle body exterior have gradually become one of the core elements of automobile styling design, promoting the development of human-vehicle interaction in a personalized and situational direction. This trend not only improves the visual effects of automobile interior and exterior decorations, but also brings more intelligent and interactive possibilities to the driving experience.

As a provider of smart vision products and system solutions integrating [LED+] technology, Jinko Electronics is actively deploying smart car vision and deeply integrating in the fields of smart car lights, car displays, AR-HUD and other fields. Among them, Mini LED products cover the two main application areas of car display interiors and exteriors.

In terms of automotive interior backlight applications, Jinko Electronics provides a variety of solutions, covering Mini COB, side-type, and direct-type POB devices With technologies such as components and modules, the products have outstanding advantages such as multi-zone single control, high color gamut, stable and efficient production capacity. Taking the 15.6” Mini COB product solution as an example, it uses 1590 Mini LEDs for independent lighting control, with a peak brightness of more than 2000nits, an OD of less than 5mm, supports regional dimming, and has ultra-high color gamut technology. These features significantly improve the contrast and color performance of the display, bringing an excellent visual experience to interior applications.

In the field of automotive exterior direct display interactive applications, Jinko Electronics' multiple innovative interactive technologies have demonstrated excellent performance and application potential. A variety of automotive-grade Mini LED devices meet multiple pitch applications from P1.0 to P4.0. Through the combination of POB or COB and integrated module technology, an interactive module product solution has been formed from P0.6 and above, with excellent brightness output and high reliability.

Jinko Electronics' P1.5 POB. The RGB interactive module is designed using car-grade Mini 1010 devices. It is the first all-in-one ultra-long interactive module in the industry. It has no seams and is designed in an integrated and conformable manner. design, presenting an extremely delicate full-color display and continuous and smooth animation effects. Relying on the precise electronic communication control architecture, it supports functions such as high temperature protection and automatic correction of brightness and color, ensuring high stability and long life of the product in harsh environments.

Looking to the future, Jinko Electronics will continue to promote the development of Mini LED vehicle display technology and continue to innovate to meet the growing demand for vehicle intelligence. Through complete smart LED devices, modules, and system solutions, we provide the automotive industry with more efficient, safer, and smarter visual solutions, and help further upgrade the smart cockpit experience and body exterior design.

Flexible display, smart display future - working together to shape a new era of display

Cai Zheng, BOE Market Insights Director

In the field of smartphones, the market penetration rate of flexible OLEDs continues to increase. In particular, the application of LTPO technology has significantly improved the display effects of high-end smartphones, with excellent dynamic refresh rates and power consumption. It is expected that LTPO technology will dominate high-end smartphones by 2029, driving the further expansion of the OLED panel market.

The rapid development of folding devices is also a key factor driving the growth of the flexible OLED market. In addition, flexible OLED technology has also made breakthroughs in medium-sized applications such as automotive displays, tablets, and notebook computers. The demand for medium-sized OLED panels will grow rapidly in the future.

Facing the growing flexible OLED market, BOE has actively deployed and has formed China's first flexible industry cluster, ranking second in the world and first in the country in terms of market share of flexible OLED products.

In terms of technological innovation, BOE has a number of pioneering flexible OLED technologies. It was the first to launch LTPO technology in China and the world's first high-efficiency double-layer series device for mobile terminals. Currently, BOE has also released a new generation of LTPO Technology, with the characteristics of faster frequency conversion and lower power consumption, leads the development of high-end OLED screens.

On the production side, BOE has the world's first 8.6th generation AMOLED production line. As the flexible OLED display industry expands from small to medium screens, BOE will reshape the global medium-sized OLED industry landscape in the future through strategies of high-generation production lines, technological innovation, ecological collaboration, and full-scenario coverage.

Mini LED backlight new technology solutions and development opportunities

Liu Fabo, Nationstar Optoelectronics, Director of R&D Department, Component Division

In the development process of Mini LED backlight technology, Nationstar Optoelectronics played a key role. Based on the two major technical roadmaps of Mini POB and Mini COB, as well as the direction of blue light and high color gamut white light, Nationstar Optoelectronics has launched a series of competitive products aimed at meeting the market's demand for higher image quality and more precise light control.

Liu Fabo pointed out that Nationstar Optoelectronics’ Mini LED technology research and development direction is developing towards large luminous angle, high voltage, large size, and RGB technology to meet the needs of downstream applications.

Specifically, in terms of backlight design, Nationstar Optoelectronics' Mini LED products have a large light-emitting angle, which can meet the needs of making medium and large-sized TV/MNT display modules light and thin, reducing the number of lamps, and further optimizing costs; in order to reduce power consumption, increase brightness, optimize PCB circuit design, and reduce the number of lamps, Nationstar has mass-produced and developed various POB/COB high-voltage LED solutions.

Faced with the RGB Mini LED solution that can provide better color purity, vividness and overall brightness for TVs, Nationstar Optoelectronics also developed different plans. In addition, to provide terminal manufacturers with more design freedom, Nationstar Optoelectronics has achieved mass production of Mini PO/COB light strips with a length of more than 1m. Nationstar can also provide integrated solutions for customer drive and control.

Vehicles are an increasing point in the application of Mini LED technology. Nationstar has achieved mass production in vehicle backlights, vehicle direct displays, and vehicle atmosphere lights. It has accumulated rich development and mass production experience, and many products have achieved mass production. In the future, Nationstar Optoelectronics will deepen its efforts in Mini LED technology, expand production and capacity, and will continue to promote the development and progress of Mini LED technology.

AI PC leads the new trend in the notebook market

Huang Shufang, TrendForce Analyst

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, AI PC is reshaping the way human-computer interaction occurs and accelerating the implementation of innovative applications. In the past, AI technology mainly relied on cloud computing. But now, with the improvement of hardware performance and algorithm optimization, truly disruptive applications are gradually taking shape. AI PC is accelerating its development and ushering in broad growth space.

According to TrendForce’s forecast, the market penetration rate of AI laptops will reach 21.7% in 2025 and close to 80% by 2029, and AI will become the industry standard. Technologies such as speech recognition, natural language processing, and real-time data analysis make user operations more intelligent and corporate decision-making more efficient and accurate, pushing all walks of life into the era of AI empowerment.

With the growth of market demand and the improvement of the AI ecosystem, various innovative applications are accelerating, injecting new vitality into the PC industry. AI PC is not only a smart device, but also the core driving force for future digital office and smart life, assisting industrial upgrading and bringing unprecedented convenience to users.

Micro LED transparent display progress and applications Use

Liu Yongfeng Tianma Micro LED Research Institute Product Planning Director

Micro LED stands out in many display application scenarios with its advantages of high brightness, high transparency, flexibility, borderless, seamless splicing and long life.

Liu Yongfeng said that Tianma focuses on the development of TFT-based Micro LED technology, which has obvious advantages in the field of transparent display. It has the advantages of large pixel transmission area, higher transparency, higher brightness, and seamless splicing. It is very suitable for use in vehicle display application scenarios.

Specifically, TFT-based Micro LED transparent displays can be used in many aspects such as side windows, HUDs, instrument central controls, etc., meeting the characteristics of high-end vehicle display performance requirements and low cost sensitivity. However, the industrialization of this technology faces many challenges, such as achieving high transparency design optimization under high PPI, reducing reflectivity while maintaining high transparency, developing terminal application scenarios, improving market acceptance, and the entire industry chain working together to reduce Micro LED costs and improve image quality and display performance.

Faced with these challenges, Tianma Microelectronics has actively laid out its plans. In terms of production line construction, Tianma opened a new factory in Xiamen at the end of last year. Successfully realized the full process integration of the Micro LED production line and created an advanced process flow covering many core technologies such as HME, LOR, LPB and so on.

In terms of technology layout, Tianma focuses on five core processes, four backplane technologies and four display solutions, and is committed to improving product competitiveness. The product layout focuses on the fields of automotive and splicing, and has achieved remarkable results in Micro LED related technologies, such as all-laser mass transfer and frameless splicing technology.

In 2025, Tianma will accelerate the industrialization process, complete the development and verification of Micro LED technology, and achieve small batch mass production and shipment. In the future, Tianma Microelectronics hopes to work together with all sectors of the industry to jointly overcome the industrialization problems of Micro LED technology, promote the widespread application of this technology in more fields, and inject new impetus into the development of the display industry.

Moving from panels to smart cockpits, discussing the development of the automotive display market

Jiarong Hu TrendForce Research Manager

Although global vehicle demand has gradually entered a plateau, growth momentum in mature markets has slowed down. Trade-in subsidies in mainland China and economic growth and urbanization in emerging countries have become the main factors driving volume growth this year. As the number of panels installed in vehicles increases, it has become a trend, attracting more panel manufacturers to join the ranks of automotive panel suppliers. Last year, shipments of automotive panels increased by nearly 10% due to the increase in production capacity of TCL CSOT, Huike and Tianma, as well as automotive orders after AUO's acquisition of BHTC.

This year's top three automotive panel manufacturers, BOE, Tianma and AUO, exhibited at CES and respectively demonstrated automotive smart cockpits equipped with stretchable OLED, Mini LED and Micro LED technologies. While creating a more user-friendly interior space, the increase in panel usage has driven the overall demand for automotive panels to continue to rise. The main growth momentum for automotive panels this year comes from the increase in the installation rate of rear seat passenger panels, front passenger panels, rearview mirrors and other parts, driving demand to grow by 6.2%.

Mini LED display technology trends and prospects

Lukun BOE MLED business backlight devices minister of development

The Mini LED display market has strong development momentum. In 2024, Mini LED display shipments in the domestic market will increase significantly compared with 2023. Among them, BOE's MLED business has performed well in this market, with shipments reaching 140K in 2024.

Lu Kun pointed out that monitors have six needs, namely better picture quality, better function integration, better image, lower power consumption, higher cost performance, and better for human health.

Mini LED backlight technology can meet the above needs. Among them, in terms of gray scale and color expression, Mini LED can achieve low gray scale recognition and excellent full gray scale color gamut performance. It has obvious advantages over traditional solutions at low gray scale. Mini LED can also greatly optimize response time, reduce image smear and improve dynamic image clarity by improving the backlight algorithm. At the same time, Mini LED can improve the ambient light contrast, keep the picture clear in strong light environments, and reduce power consumption by about 30%, making it more energy-saving and environmentally friendly.

To further improve M Regarding LED product performance, BOE has clarified the key technical direction of MLED. We will continue to make efforts in halo optimization, light uniformity technology improvement, and driver integrated solutions to reduce costs and improve image quality and performance. In addition, BOE has built a complete MLED business system to open up the upstream and downstream industrial chains, so that BOE's MLED business products cover VR, NB, TV, MNT, automotive and other fields, using full technology matching and full-size layout strategies to meet diverse market needs.

Exploration of Micro LED Display Vehicle Applications

Xie Xiangwei, Vice General Manager of Xinying Display

As a new generation of display technology, Micro LED has attracted widespread attention in the industry with its advantages such as high brightness, high contrast, low power consumption, and fast response. Especially in the field of automotive display, Micro LED has shown broad application potential. Micro LED technology has gradually matured and begun to move towards engineering and large-scale mass production.

In the era of smart cars, display screens have become the core of in-car interaction. Micro LED can be used in various application scenarios such as instrument panels, central control displays, and in-car entertainment displays to meet cockpit display needs. Compared with LCD, OLED and other displays, Micro LED has unique advantages in brightness, transmittance, etc. Applications such as high brightness and transparency are also key technical directions for the industry. In the face of low cost, Micro LED should give full play to the characteristics that LCD, OLED and other display technologies do not have, and seek breakthroughs in applications and markets.