Samsung’s screen is the market leader in OLED panels for smartphones and has extended its dominance to the emerging folding screen market, according to analysts at Display supply chain consultants. After using some folding devices, we are convinced that folding is the future, which is why advances in folding screen technology are exciting to see unfold. Samsung’s foldable smartphones are so far ahead of the competition that other foldables look like generation 1 products in comparison, and now they’re getting ready to dive into a new form factor: the sliding screen.
In his fourth quarter 2020 earnings conference call, KwonYoung Choi, from Samsung Display’s business planning department, said the company is planning to “qualify [its] presence in the display market through innovative formats, such as folding and sliding displays ”. As Samsung Display is a panel supplier, it does not necessarily mean that Samsung Electronics is planning to make a sliding screen smartphone (although they have filed some patents suggesting this). Korean media recently reported that Samsung Display is starting to supply folding screens to Chinese smartphone makers. It is possible that Samsung’s screen is making a sliding screen just to be able to compete with Chinese panel suppliers like BOE and CSOT for business. BOE is apparently the panel supplier for OPPO’s mobile phone concept, OPPO X 2021, while TCL’s CSOT is the supplier of TCL’s mobile phone concept. There is also LG with its own rollable display on a phone that is supposed to hit the market this year. Clearly, many smartphone vendors are exploring the possibility of making a product with a scrollable / sliding screen, so it makes sense that Samsung’s screen wants to create its own offering.
Alternatively, it is possible that the sliding screen that Samsung is making is intended for a larger device, such as a TV. LG Display currently dominates the OLED TV market, and the company recently launched the first scrollable TV – the LG Rollable OLED TV R. Without a doubt, Samsung will not rest on its laurels, giving LG Display an easy victory here. After all, during the results conference call, KwonYoung Choi spoke about the company’s main strategies and perspectives for 2021, addressing the company’s display business on mobile devices, TV and even automotive.
Here is the full quote from the conference call:
“Finally, I will share our perspectives for the display market and the main display business strategies for 2021. For the mobile display business, we expect that the demand for OLED screens for high-tech models will increase and that OLED penetration will increase in mid-range segments, driven by the expansion of the 5G smartphone market along with the recovery in smartphone demand. We will further solidify our leadership in the OLED market, making the most of our market conditions.
In addition, we will further differentiate our proprietary technologies for features such as adaptive refresh rates and lower energy consumption to be based on the uncertainties caused by the impact of the fluctuation of the pandemic’s sub-prolonged demand and also by the aggressive entry of competitors into the market.
At the same time, in response to a growing demand for services and contactless communication, we will do our best to diversify applications in areas such as notebooks, tablets and automobiles, using the advantages of OLED, including ultra-thin and narrow frame.
In addition, we will promote the expansion of the market for folding screens. In the meantime, we will also qualify our presence in the display market through innovative formats, such as folding and sliding displays. ”- KwonYoung Choi from Samsung Display’s Business Planning department
Picture shown: OPPO X 2021, a smartphone concept with a scrollable display