Last month we reported that BOE finally got accepted into Apple's latest-generation iPhone supply chain, and the company will supply 2 million AMOLED displays for iPhone 15 devices in 2023 (that's about 3% of Apple's total iPhone orders). This news came after many years when BOE failed to meet Apple's quality tests.

A new report from China now suggest that BOE's AMOLED displays have been found to still suffer from issues - specifically light leakage around the selfie-camera and sensor 'island'. Eventually Apple decided to cancel its orders from BOE this year, at least until the China-based display maker can fix the issue. 

DSCC estimates that foldable smartphone shipments reached 7 million units in Q3 2023, up 16% from last year and 215% from last quarter, as Samsung successfully launched the ` and Z Fold 5 phones, and other smartphone brands from China also ramped up their foldable smartphone sales.

Samsung's market share in the smartphone market was 72%, followed by Huawei (9%) and Honor (8%). DSCC expects foldable smartphone sales to fall 35% in the next quarter (but rise 47% compared to last year) on lower Samsung shipments and delays in new product announcements. In 2023, DSCC sees foldable smartphone shipments to reach 15.8 million units in total.

TCL CSoT says that it will start producing OLED displays using an inkjet printing process in the second half of 2024. This is excellent news and good to know CSoT is still on track for initial production in 2024. The company says it will first target the IT and medical sector. 

TCL demonstrated a new 14" 2.8K printed OLED panel, which could be one of the products the company aims to produce in its new line. The company says that the cost of producing OLEDs using its inkjet printed panels will be lower compared to the currently-used FMM based method, and its OLEDs will offer superior performance (in lifetime, mostly) as its process enables higher aperture.

Researchers from Korea's Dongguk University developed a new green phosphorescent OLED emitter based on a manganese complex called MnBz. The green MnBz emitter offers high brightness and efficiency and low-cost fabrication without any heavy metals. The green emitter was also used to create a warm-white OLED device.

The new emitter is based on a a zero-dimensional manganese (Mn)-based complexes, produced via solution processing. The green phosphorescent OLED offers a record-breaking quantum efficiency of 11.42% and current efficiency of 56.84 cd A^-1. 

Seoul's Metropolitan Government has initiated a new pilot test at Myeong-dong Station that offers an AI-powered translation service for tourists that enables them to communicate with the subway staff through a transparent OLED display that shows relevant information during the conversation. The service supports 13 languages and aims to enable tourists to quickly and accurately receive information about the subway.

The transparent OLED display is a 55-inch OLED produced by LG Display. The pilot test will run for four months, currently at just one station. If the pilot is successful, it will be expanded to five stations in Seoul. 

We are happy to report that the OLED Toolbox is progressing very nicely, and we are still on track to release it in January 2024. This post includes more info on the toolbox, and our latest status report.

The OLED Toolbox is now ready for pre-orders, with a special early-bird discount - this is a great chance to get the upcoming report in a low price, only available until December 10, 2023. The toolbox will be a must-have information platform for companies in the display industry, and will include five different parts:

• An information guide to OLED technologies, processes, the industry and the market
• Market status and industry roadmaps
• OLED technology, market and industry analysis and insights - written by Ron Mertens based on years of experience in the display industry 
• Structured data (spreadsheets) on OLED production lines, devices with OLED displays, OLED producers, supply chain companies (with contact details) and more
• In-depth articles by multiple industry experts illuminating various processes, materials, devices, analysis, insights and more

• Brochures, presentations, catalogs and other content items contributed by industry players (display makers, supply chain companies, analysts and more)