MicroLED technology is a next-generation emissive display technology that promises highly efficient and bright displays that offer superior image quality with infinite contrast and a wide color gamut.
MicroLED can be applied to displays of many kinds - from small displays for smartwatches and AR devices to large-area TV displays. MicroLED displays are often compared to OLED displays - the main display technology that it is rivaling.
Samsung MicroLED displays
Samsung Display and Samsung Electronics are mostly interested in microLED technology for TV applications, even though the company is also developing other microLED display technologies, including ones for smaller displays which may one day power wearables, smartphones, tablets and laptops and monitors.
For the TV market, Samsung is developing tiled microLED TVs. The company started with large displays that adopted miniLEDs, and is reducing TV sizes and LED chip sizes. Samsung's LED chip supplier is San'an Optoelectronics, but is reportedly working with more companies for smaller LED chips.
Samsung's microLED TV product range, made from tiled display modules, is called The Wall. Samsung is offering several Wall types and generations, and is constantly increasing its offers range. The Wall TVs, both consumer and commercial types, are still highly expensive are still in the realm of the ultra-premium segment.
The latest Samsung MicroLED news:
Samsung faces technical problems with its microLED TVs
Samsung is offering high-end microLED ultra-premium TVs, and has recently made plans to start producing smaller-size LTPS-based panels in an attempt to widen the market (even though prices are still extremely high and volume is very low).
According to a new report from Korea, however, not only that Samsung cannot really find customers for its TVs (which isn't a surprise given the price), the TVs are also suffering from high defect rates - even in units shown in retail or showcase events. The report suggests that the high level of defects in the TVs have caused Samsung Electronics to decide to currently not expand its microLED TV lineup, and has postponed the release of 80-inch and 90-inch products indefinitely.
Report suggests both Samsung and LG started developing microLED microdisplays
According to a report from Korea, both Samsung Display and LG Display started to develop microLED microdisplay technologies.
Both companies have recently started to develop OLED microdisplays. According to the report, Samsung targets AR devices with its microLED microdisplay technology, while it targets VR devices with its OLED microdisplays. Samsung's microLED displays will achieve a resolution of 6,000 to 7,000 PPI (higher than its OLED devices).
PlayNitride hopes to go public in Q3 2022, will be break even by the end of 2023
PlayNitride is planning for an IPO, and if all goes according to plan, the company will issue new shares and will start trading at the newly launched Taiwan Stock Exchange Innovation Board in Q3 2022.
PlayNitride's CEO recently participated in an investor conference, during which he said that the company aims to be break-even (on a monthly basis) by the end of 2023, and to turn a profit in 2024.
Samsung to start producing 89-inch LTPS microLED TVs in Q3 2022
Towards the end of 2020, Samsung announced it's first "consumer" MicroLED TVs (on LTPS backplanes, rather than PCB used by Samsung for its professional models), including smaller 77-inch to 89-inch models. The smaller models were scrapped later in 2021, and then Samsung further delayed its plans for "consumer" microLED TV production.
According to reports from Korea, Samsung decided to move the production of its MicroLED TVs from its Vietnam fab to its fab in Korea, and aims to start producing LTPS microLED TVs in Q3 2022. Samsung is likely to start with a 89-inch model which will hopefully ship before the end of 2022, and will carry a price tag of around 100 million Won (or around $77,000).
Samsung starts selling its 110-inch microLED TV in China, and already sold out the first batch
Samsung launched its 110-inch microLED TV back in 2021, with a price tag of around $150,000. Earlier this week Samsung started to offer it in China for 1.05 million Yuan, online at JD.com, and today it is reported that the company sold out its first batch of TVs.
It is not clear how many units did Samsung actually ship - and the web site still accepts reservations.
Samsung further delays its smaller LTPS 89-inch and 101-inch microLED TV launch
Towards the end of 2020, Samsung announced it's first "consumer" 110-inch 4K MicroLED TV, and then in early 2021 it said it will release smaller microLED TVs, including 77" and 89" models. The smallest 77-inch model was scrapped later in 2021, and now we learn that Samsung is delaying its plans for the 89-inch and 101-inch models.
Samsung originally planned to start 101-inch and 89-inch TV production in May 2022, but this is now pushed back to Q3 2022 for the 89-inch model. The company did not decide yet when to launch the 101-inch model. Samsung does plan to start producing 99-inch microLED TVs in Q2 2022.
Samsung installs a unique 4-sided 200 million pixel microLED display in Thailand's The Forestias
Samsung Electronics installed a large The Wall microLED display at Thailand's The Forestias by MQDC, the country's biggest property development project. The display, installed at The Forest Pavilion will provide a one-of-a-kind immersive cinematic experience for the sustainable project.
The display, made from 384 modules, provide a 360-degree image with a total size of 38.7 x 3.62 meters and a resolution of 46,080x4320. That's around 200 million pixels and a total display area of 140.43 square meters.
Samsung to lower the price of its microLED TVs, but these are still highly expensive
According to The Elec, Samsung will reduce the price of its latest microLED TVs by 40% compared to its older models, compared to the price of its 110-inch TV launched in 2021.
The 2021 110-inch TV was priced at around $140,000. The new 89" model will cost $80,000 while a 114-inch model, which will launch later in 2022, will cost $100,000. The price of Samsung's 2022 101-inch microLED TV hasn't been decided yet.
Samsung unveils 91-inch and 101-inch microLED TVs
Samsung Electronics introduced two new MicroLED TVs sized 101-inch and 91-inch. Samsung's 2022 MicroLED TV range will include the 91-, 101- and 110-inch microLED TVs (the 110-inch already started shipping in 2021).
Samsung planned to introduce even smaller microLED TVs, but high prices delayed these plans. The 2022 microLED range features 20-bit contrast processing, 100% DCI-P3 and Adobe-RGB color gamut, up to four HDMI inputs and Dolby sound.
The Elec: Samsung to increase microLED TV production in January 2022
According to The Elec, Samsung Electronics plans to ramp up its microLED TV production next month, and aims to produce around 200 MicroLED TVs (110-inch in size)- up from about a dozen such TVs it currently produces monthly.
The report suggests that Samsung aims to "gauge market reception" for its MicroLED TVs, before it commits to launching smaller-sized microLEDs. During Q1 2022 it will showcase these TVs at several trade shows.