• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Electrical Engineering News and Products

Electronics Engineering Resources, Articles, Forums, Tear Down Videos and Technical Electronics How-To's

  • Products / Components
    • Analog ICs
    • Battery Power
    • Connectors
    • Microcontrollers
    • Power Electronics
    • Sensors
    • Test and Measurement
    • Wire / Cable
  • Applications
    • 5G
    • Automotive/Transportation
    • EV Engineering
    • Industrial
    • IoT
    • Medical
    • Telecommunications
    • Wearables
    • Wireless
  • Learn
    • eBooks / Handbooks
    • EE Training Days
    • Tutorials
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars & Digital Events
  • Resources
    • White Papers
    • Educational Assets
    • Design Guide Library
    • Digital Issues
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • LEAP Awards
    • Podcasts
    • DesignFast
  • Videos
    • EE Videos and Interviews
    • Teardown Videos
  • EE Forums
    • EDABoard.com
    • Electro-Tech-Online.com
  • Bill’s Blogs
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Smartphones, Flat Panel TVs Drive Rapid Growth In OLED Displays

October 11, 2017 By Spencer Chin

Although the flat panel display market has often been characterized by fluctuations in supply and demand, one display sector continues to show a strong uptick—Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs)

That’s the findings of a recent report by market research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) titled “Quarterly OLED Supply/Demand and Capital Spending Report,” which tracks sales of OLED displays and capital spending in OLED display products. The firm projects OLED revenue rising 57 percent in 2017 to $23.2 billion, further rising another 50 percent to $34.9 billion in 2018 (Figure 1).

The flat panel TV market, one key battleground for display technologies, is witnessing a boom in the design-in of OLED technology. According to DSCC, OLED TV panel revenues are expected to grow at a 37 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to $5.9 billion in 2022, with unit sales rising at a 49 percent CAGR to 9.5 million panels by that time.

The other key end market for OLED technology is in smartphones, where DSCC projects shipments of OLED displays to rise at a 24 percent CAGR to 1.37 million panels. In fact, the firms expects OLED panels to overtake liquid crystal displays (LCDs) in smartphones by 2020. Smartphone leaders Apple and Samsung are leading the transition to fabricate all displays using OLED technology.

DSCC expects total OLED panel shipments to rise at a 25 percent CAGR from 394 million in 2016 to 1.48 billion by 2022.

OLED technology is different from LED technology as it uses a series of thin, light emitting films in place of individual LED bulbs. The design enables the OLED array to produce brighter light with lower power consumption than LCD and LED technologies. OLED displays can be made with higher refresh rates than LCD and LED-based displays, and moreover offer a wide viewing angle without the color and clarity losses seen in traditional LEDs.  

The fact that OLEDs are fabricated on sheets is also opening up huge market for the technology—printing OLEDs on flexible substrates. This will lead to curved and foldable OLED displays, and could further slash OLED production costs as more companies ramp up roll-to-roll manufacturing capability.

The bright outlook for OLEDs is in turn raising capital spending for OLED production. According to DSCC, OLED fab equipment spending is expected to rise 166 percent in 2017 to $7.7 billion, and another 17 percent in 2018 to $9.0 billion.

Figure 1: Smartphones dominate applications for OLED displays, but flat-panel TVs are gaining. (Image Credit: DSCC)

You Might Also Like

Filed Under: Displays

Primary Sidebar

EE Engineering Training Days

engineering

Featured Contributions

Integrating MEMS technology into next-gen vehicle safety features

Five challenges for developing next-generation ADAS and autonomous vehicles

Robust design for Variable Frequency Drives and starters

Meeting demand for hidden wearables via Schottky rectifiers

GaN reliability milestones break through the silicon ceiling

More Featured Contributions

EE Tech Toolbox

“ee
Tech Toolbox: 5G Technology
This Tech Toolbox covers the basics of 5G technology plus a story about how engineers designed and built a prototype DSL router mostly from old cellphone parts. Download this first 5G/wired/wireless communications Tech Toolbox to learn more!

EE Learning Center

EE Learning Center
“ee
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.
“bills
contribute

R&D World Podcasts

R&D 100 Episode 10
See More >

Sponsored Content

Designing for Serviceability: The Role of Interconnects in HVAC Maintenance

From Control Boards to Comfort: How Signal Integrity Drives HVAC Innovation

Built to Withstand: Sealing and Thermal Protection in HVAC Sub-Systems

Revolutionizing Manufacturing with Smart Factories

Smarter HVAC Starts at the Sub-System Level

Empowering aerospace E/E design and innovation through Siemens Xcelerator and Capital in the Cloud

More Sponsored Content >>

RSS Current EDABoard.com discussions

  • The Analog Gods Hate Me
  • Apc 650 upa
  • CST Studio RAM error
  • MCP23017 what is the typical output voltage at logic Hi?
  • Battery Deep Discharge – IC Workarounds?

RSS Current Electro-Tech-Online.com Discussions

  • Simple LED Analog Clock Idea
  • The Analog Gods Hate Me
  • Wideband matching an electrically short bowtie antenna; 50 ohm, 434 MHz
  • PIC KIT 3 not able to program dsPIC
  • Parts required for a personal project
Search Millions of Parts from Thousands of Suppliers.

Search Now!
design fast globle

Footer

EE World Online

EE WORLD ONLINE NETWORK

  • 5G Technology World
  • Analog IC Tips
  • Battery Power Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Engineer's Garage
  • EV Engineering
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips

EE WORLD ONLINE

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Teardown Videos
  • Advertise with us
  • Contact us
  • About Us

Copyright © 2025 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Privacy Policy