OLED history: A ‘guided tour’ of OLED highlights from invention to application
Last updated on Thu 02/07/2026 - 14:07
2026
2025
- January - Samsung Display to start producing rollable OLED laptop displays in April 2025, Lenovo is its first customer
- February - JDI announced a strategic investment in OLEDWorks, to jointly build an advanced OLED production line in the US
- March - Samsung to accelerate its QD-EL display development, aims to commercialize it within a few years
- March - Rayvision Technology to build a $415 million 12-inch OLED microdisplay fab in Changsha
- March - Sidtek to build a $550 million 12-inch OLED microdisplay fab in Miangyang
- April - Visionox to build a $690 million flexible AMOLED R&D center in Kunshan
- April - INT Tech demonstrates a 60,000 nits full-color direct-emission OLED microdisplay
- May - Introducing OLED-Info Pro: Your ultimate OLED resource is here!
- May - Blue PEP-phosphorescent OLED emitters boost the lifetime 250 times, may finally unlock blue PHOLEDs
- May - LGD verified the commercialization of the first blue phosphorescence OLED device
- June - LG Display announced plans to invest $925 million to develop advanced OLED technologies
- June - BCDTek raises $83.5 million in its pre-Series A round
- June - OLEDWorks to invest $46 million to double its OLED lighting panel production capacity in Aachen
- July - Japan Display to shut down OLED production at its Mobara fab
- July - HKC details its AMOLED production plans and strategy
- July - The ITC issues a preliminary ruling and may ban the import of BOE AMOLED panels into the US
- July - Researchers design the highest-speed OLED-based communication device
- August - Samsung Display launches a new brand for its foldable OLEDs: MONTFLEX
- September - TCL CSoT announces its Real RGB OLED screen with full RGB subpixel design
- September - TCL CSoT starts building a $4 billion 8.6-Gen inkjet printing IT OLED production line
- September - Garmin launches the world's first microLED smartwatch
- October - Apple launches new versions of its Vision Pro VR headset and iPad Pro tablets
- October - Samsung launches the Galaxy XR VR headset powered by OLED microdisplays
- October - BOE accelerates its 8.6-Gen IT AMOLED line
- November - TCL CSOT to triple its 5.5-Gen inkjet printed OLED capacity in a $211 million investment
- November - Huawei launches first 8000 nits AMOLED smartphone
- November - LTOM to raise $108 million to increase its OLED materials production capacity
- November - HKC wins first AMOLED orders, to enter mass production soon
- November - China's Magic Star to construct a $140 million 8.6-Gen FMM line in Ningbo
- November - Samsung Display and BOE ended their long OLED IP battle, as BOE agrees to pay royalties for Samsung's patents
- November - Samsung Display starts to mass produce OLED microdisplays, to be 2nd supplier for the Galaxy XR
- November - Universal Display to buy 300 OLED patents from Merck for $50 million
- November - Samsung found to infringe on Pictiva Display's OLED patents, to pay $191 million in damages
- December - INT Tech developed a 100,000 nits full-color native RGB OLED microdisplay
- December - LORDIN has verified the commercial feasibility of its blue phosphorescence OLED emitter
- December - BCDTek produces working samples at its 12-inch K2 fab, is developing 50,000 nits OLEDs
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
- January - CES 2014 hosts several new OLED TV prototypes and products, led by LG
- January - Samsung confirms a 5" QHD AMOLED panel, to expand OLEDs to new applications
- February - Samsung's Gear Fit smart fitness band launches with a 1.84" curved flexible OLED
- Febraury - LG Display still hopes to produce 60" transparent flexible UHD OLEDs by 2017
- March - LG keeps lowering their OLED TV prices, now down to $5,999 (55" curved FHD)
- March - Skyworth launches China's first OLED TV using LGD's 55" curved FHD panels
- March - Futaba film curved PMOLEDs now commercial, adopted by Huawei
- March - LG Chem launches the world's largest OLED lighting panel at 320x320 mm
- March - Pioneer and Mitsubishi begin to mass produce cheap wet-coated OLED lighting panels
- March - Konica Minolta announces a flexible CT OLED lighting R2R fab (1 million panels/month)
- March - LG launches 77", 65" and 55" 4K and FHD OLED TVs in Korea
- March - Konica Minolta developed the world's most efficient OLED panel at 131 lm/W
- March - Experts find the GS5's display to be the best mobile display ever
- March - New blue TADF OLED emitters are as efficient as the best blue PHOLEDs
- April - AUO developed a 5.7" WQHD (513PPI) AMOLED panel
- May - LG Chem cuts OLED lighting prices by 60%
- May - Changhong launches its first OLED TV using LGD panels
- June - Samsung launches new AMOLED tablets with the world's best tablet displays
- June - Samsung starts producing 5.1" QHD (2560x1440, 577 PPI) Super AMOLED panels
- June - SEL and sharp show a 13.3" 8K (664 PPI) AMOLED prototype
- June - Konica Minolta developed the world's most efficient OLED panel at 139 lm/W
- June - SEL and Nokia developed foldable OLED prototypes
- July - Everdisplay ships AMOLED samples to customers
- July - OLED-Info is ten years old!
- July - LGD shows 18" flexible and transparent OLED panel prototypes
- July - LG Display signs deals to supply flexible OLEDs to German car makers
- August - AU Optronics finally starts AMOLED production (1.63", 4.3" and 5")
- August - LG launches the world's first 4K OLED TVs in Korea (55", 65" and 77")
- August - Sony, Panasonic and JDI launches a new OLED company (JOLED)
- September - Apple announces the Watch, the company's first product with an AMOLED
- September - Researchers manage to extend the lifetime of blue PHOLEDs tenfold
- September - LG's 55" OLED TV price drops below $3,000
- September - Kateeva raises $38 million from Samsung and others
- September - Samsung announces the Note 4 Edge, with a curved OLED display
- November - Samsung to lower OLED panel prices below LCDs
- November - Home Depot starts selling OLED Luminaires for under $200
- November - EverDisplay starts to mass produce AMOLED panels
2013
- January - LG's 55" OLED TV, the 55EM9700 is finally on sale in Korea (for $10,000)
- January - Sony unveils a 56" 4K2K Oxide-TFT OLED TV prototype
- January - Samsung unveils an updated 55" Full-HD OLED model, the F9500
- January - Samsung shows off a 55" curved OLED TV prototype
- Janaury - Panasonic shows a 56" 4K printed OLED TV prototype
- January - Samsung officially launches their YOUM flexible OLED displays
- January - LG unveils the EA9800 - a 55" curved OLED TV
- January - Samsung shows a 4.99" FHD AMOLED panel prototype (440 PPI)
- January - Samsung produced over 300 million AMOLED panels since 2007
- February - Samsung and LG agree to solve their OLED IP disputes
- February - LG Display to build a $650 million Gen-8 OLED TV fab by H1 2014
- February - LG starts shipping the 55" 55EM9700 OLED TV in Korea
- February - LG Chem to make flexible and 80 lm/W OLED lighting panels in July 2013
- February - Philips inaugurates their new €40 million OLED lighting production line in Aachen
- March - Samsung announces the Galaxy S4 with a 4.99" Full-HD Super AMOLED
- March - NEC developed the world's most efficient OLED device at 156 lm/W
- April - LG's 55" curved OLED TV launched in Korea for $13,500
- April - AUO developed a 65" direct-emission OLED panel and a 5" Full-HD AMOLED (443 PPI)
- April - Sony shows a 30" 4K panel, will release it in a professsional monitor product in 2014
- May - Panasonic developed a 114 lm/W OLED panel - claims world's most efficient panel
- May - LG Display shows a bendable 5" AMOLED panel
- June - Samsung launches 55" curved OLED TVs in Korea for $13,000
- June - LGD to start producing plastic based OLEDs in Q4 2013
- June - LG starts shipping 55" curved OLED TVs in Korea
- June - Sumitomo to start producing flexible, printed, structured PLEDs by early 2015
- July - OLED TVs finally arrive in the US for $15,000 (from both LG and Samsung).
- July - Densitron starts shipping 3.5" HVGA AMOLEDs
- July - Audi, Philips and Merck show 3D OLED lighting prototypes for car rear-lights
- July - Germany launches a €34 million OLED lighting project
- July - Rolic opens a new OLED development center
- July - Novaled and Cynora to co-develop printable OLED materials
- August - Samsung starts shipping curved OLED TVs in the US, Europe and Australia
- August- LG cuts OLED TV prices following Samsung
- August - Samsung acquires Novaled for €260 million
- August - LG Display starts installing equipment in the Gen-8 M2 OLED TV fab
- September - Samsung launched the Note 3, with the brightest OLED display ever
- September - Samsung Display and LG Display dropped all OLED lawsuits against each other
- September - Veeco buys flexible-OLED FAST-ALD maker Synos for $70-185 million
- September - LG unveils the world's largest OLED panel, a curved UHD WRGB 77" TV
- October - LG mass produces flexible OLEDs, launches the G Flex with a 6" curved OLED
- October - AUO finally begins AMOLED mass production at their Singapore AFPD fab
- October - Samsung unveils the Galaxy Round with a flexible 5.7" Super AMOLED
- November - Kateeva unveils their Gen-8 OLED TV inkjet system
- November - Panasonic officially quits the plasma TV business, will focus on UHD and OLEDs
- December - Sony and panasonic cancel their OLED joint-development project
2012
- January - LG and Samsung unveil 55" OLED TVs to be released in 2012
- January - Samsung plans to invest $6.1 billion in OLED capacity expansion in 2012
- January - Dupont build a $30 million OLED TV pilot production line
- January - MicroOLED announces the world's highest density OLED microdisplay
- February - AUO and Idemitsu Kosan to collaborate on OLED display technologies
- February - Corning and Samsung form a new JV to produce Lotus OLED glass
- February - LG Chem starts producing 45 lm/W OLED lighting panels
- February - Konica Minolta developed a printed-electronics inkjet head, samples soon
- Febraury - Samsung spins-off LCD division, will focus on OLED displays
- March - Taiwan forms an AMOLED alliance
- March - Novaled files for IPO, to raise $200 million
- March - Sumitomo enters the PLED lighting market
- April - AUO's Lextar shows their first OLED lighting panels
- April - Philips announces the first 'Functional Lighting' OLED panel, 115 lm
- April - Fraunhofer's transparent Tabola OLED lighting panels now shipping
- April - AUO accelerates OLED production plans
- April - OLED-Info releases the OLED Handbook, 2012 edition
- May - Samsung launhces the Galaxy S3 with a 4.8" 1280x720 Super AMOLED HD display
- May - Samsung and LG officialy launch their 55" OLED TVs
- May - LG Display employees suspected of OLED technology theft from Samsung
- June - Sony and Panasonic to co-develop technology to manufacture OLED TV panels
- June - Corning unveils thin, flexible glass, suitable for flexible OLEDs
- June - AUO still has technical issues, delays AMOLED production to Q3 2012
- June - Samsung announced they produced over 200 million OLED panels since 2007
- June - Sharp shows IGZO based OLED prototypes
- July - Samsung Display starts conducting businesses, merges SMD and S-LCD
- July - Korean project led by LG to make flexible and transparent 60" UHD OLED panels by 2017
- July - UDC buys Fujifilm's OLED patents for $105 million
- July - Samsung developed a 350 ppi OLED display using FMM
- July - LG launches an OLED TV ad campaign
- August - LG plans to start mass producing flexible OLED panels by the end of 2013
- September - Samsung sues LG over OLED technology, LG countersues
- November - Japan Display unveil their first OLED prototype, a 4.5-inch 326PPI WRGB panel, production planned for 2014
- November - Colnatec's new OLED deposition sensor to dramatically change the economics of OLED manufacturing
- December - OSRAM report advances with transparent OLED panels, production planned for 2014
2011
- January - Samsung sold over 10 million Super-AMOLED Galaxy S phones in 2010
- January - Samsung to invest $4.8 billion on OLEDs in 2011
- January - Samsung announces Super AMOLED plus displays
- January - Sony announces the PSP2 - NGP with a 5" touch OLED display
- February - LG started AMOLED production in their new Gen-4.5 line
- February - Sony annoucnes professional 17" and 25" OLED monitors
- February - Verbatim's color-tunable OLED lighting panels now available
- February - Kaneka announces OLED lighting panels, to ship in March
- February - Samsung announces the Galaxy S2 with a 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus display
- February - OSRAM extends the Orbeos family with two new OLED panels
- March - LG's Gen-8 fab to produce white-OLED with color-filters TVs
- March - Applied Materials announces a new 7"-12" AMOLED production system
- March - Chimei Innolux shows two new AMOLED panels (3.2", 3.5"), not in production yet
- March - Universal Display raises over $250 million
- March - Panasonic and Idemitsu Kosan to collaborate on OLED lighting, opens new JV
- April - Samsung's Galaxy S II starts shipping with a 4.3" Super AMOLED Plus, Samsung sells a million units in the first month in Korea alone
- April - Philips unveils the most efficient OLED lighting panels, the Lumiblade Plus (45lm/W)
- May - Philips invests €40 million ($57 million) to expand their OLED lighting panel production capacity
- May - IGNIS shows a 3.5" AMOLED on a-Si substrate, RiTDisplays starts mass production
- May - Mitsubishi and Pioneer developed a white OLED using coating method with 52 lm/W efficiency
- May - Samsung starts producing AMOLEDs in their new 5.5-Gen fab, two months ahead of schedule
- May - OLED-Info launches The OLED Handbook
- June - Mitsubishi installed a 6-meter Diamond Vision OLED globe to create world's largest OLED display
- June - LG Display starts supplying AMOLED panels to Nokia
- June - OSRAM developed a 87 lm/W white OLED panel, close to production
- June - RiTDisplay starts to mass produce AMOLED displays on a-Si backplanes
- July - LG Display to stop investing in small OLEDs, focuses on large OLED panels and wants to introduce a 55" OLED TV in 2012
- July - Samsung Galaxy S II becomes their fastest selling mobile phones, sells 5 million units in 85 days
- August - LG Display announces Ultra AMOLED displays
- August - UDC and Samsung sign a long-term licensing agreement, Samsung to use green PHOLEDs
- August - Sony announces OLED microdisplays and five products that use them
- August - OSRAM's new OLED lighting pilot production line is now on line
- August - Panasonic announces OLED lighting roadmap, starts selling OLED panels
- September - Sony, Toshiba and Hitachi to integrate small/medium display business, invest in OLED R&D
- September - Samsung launches the 7.7" Super AMOLED tablet and the 5.3" HD Super AMOLED phone
- September - Panasonic developed the world's most efficient white OLED at 128 lm/W
- October - Konica Minolta starts shipping efficient OLED lighting samples
- October - AUO to start AMOLED mass production in 2012, already shipping samples, shows a 32" Oxide-TFT OLED TV prototype
- October - Samsung Electronics to launch flexible OLED based products in 2012
- November - DuPont licenses OLED nozzle-printing tech to a leading OLED maker
- November - OSRAM developed the world's most efficient flexible white OLED
- December - Panasonic is building an 8.5-Gen OLED TV pilot production plant
- December - Wintek starts to construct its AMOLED fab, scheduled for 2014
- December - LG Display announces their 55" OLED TV prototype, to be unveiled at CES
2010
2009
- January - several new phones announced with large AMOLEDs from Sony, Toshiba andSamsung.
- January - Novaled secures 11.2M$ in funding
- January - the OQO Model 02+ is the first PC with an OLED (5")
- January - LG says they can begin to produce their 15" AMOLEDs within 6 months if they get customers.
- January - CES 2009 gives us 15" OLEDs from LG, 4" flexible display from UDC, a 3" Sony Walkman, transparent OLEDs by Samsung and more.
- February - lot's of new OLED gadgets announcements from Samsung Omnia HD (3.7" OLED),W7900/i7410 projector phone, M7600 Beat DJ phone and the TL320 digital camera (3"). Nokia announced the N86 (2.6") phone.
- February - Samsung sees OLED TVs in 2009 and Flexible OLEDs by 2010.
- March - LG to direct investment to OLEDs
- March - Modistech to release OLED lighting products by 2011
- March - PNNL scientists develop efficient blue OLEDs
- March - Samsung says no OLED TV soon, but going to put AMOLEDs in half of their new touch-screen mobiles
- March - Toshiba bought our Panasonic's stake in TMDisplay, will focus on OLEDs. Panasonic still have plans for OLED TVs together with Toshiba within 2 years.
- April - LG says OLEDs to be adoped widely. Will have OLED products soon, OLED TVs by end of 2009, will cost twice as LCDs.
- April - Philips have started to ship OLED samples, (which you can order online now!), remaincommitted for 2010 commercial launch.
- April - Sony shows 21" OLED prototype. Might release 2nd generation OLED TV at IFA 2009(september).
- May - Dupont's new Green OLED materials has over a million hours lifetime
- May - Panasonic teams up with Sumitomo for 40" or larger OLED TVs
- May - Seiko Epson announces new inkjet technology to enable large size HD OLED TVs
- May - Samsung's Ultra Touch S8300 is selling great, 500K units in first month
- May - Samsung: OLED production to quadruple this year, considering next-gen production line
- May - Microsoft unveils the Zune HD with a 3.3" touch AMOLED
- June - Samsung shipping new 800x480 AMOLED panels, and announces new phones with these panels (Omnia 2, Louvre B7610, Haptic)
- June - Samsung claim that their 14.1" and 31" OLED TV panels are ready for production
- June - Samsung claims over 2M pre-orders for the JET phone, and 1.8M for the Ultra Touch
- June - Samsung joins OLED lighting race
- June - LG Displays has a customer that will ship 15" OLED TVs in Korea in December 2009
- July - LG Display to increase capacity, in talks with Nokia to supply OLED panels
- August - Sony delay their next-gen OLED TV to 2010
- August - LG shows their new 15" OLED TV panels
- August - Samsung say they shipped over 2M AMOLED panels in July
- September - Samsung promises an OLED laptop by Q3 2010
- September - Microsoft's Zune HD started shipping, and was sold-out within days
- October - Mitsubishi unveils very-large modular OLED displays
- October - LG will build a new 5G plant, to begin mass-production in 2H 2011
- October - Samsung have achieved 90% yield in their AMOLED plant, and are working 24 hours a day to meet demand
- October - AUO shows new 14" OLED panels, which are "Ready for production"
- November - LG Chem joins the OLED Lighting race, plans products for 2H 2010
- November - Konica Minolta to build a large-scale OLED Lighting plant by march 2014, hopes for a $1 billion business
- November - OSRAM starts to sell their first OLED Lighting product, the ORBEUS
- November - The LG 15" OLED TV is now available in Korea for 2580$
- November - Kyocera stops their OLED program
- December - LG buys Kodak's OLED unit
- December - Google to release the Nexus One phone with a 3.7" touch OLED
- December - OLED shipments rise sharply to over $250 million in Q3 2009
- December - CMO and TPO acquired by Innolux
- December - Doosan to develop and commercialize OLED Lighting
2008
- December - GE to stop working on Incandescent light bulbs - focus on LEDs and OLEDs
- December - Samsung says OLED laptops by 2010, but no OLED TV soon
- December - Project TOPLESS shows an OLED lamp
- November - BASF and OSRAM developed highly efficient white OLEDs
- November - MED is facing financial problems, appoints administration, looking to sell the company
- November - Dresden's COMEDD is open, Germany aims to become an OLED production center
- November - PolyPhotonix is building a new OLED light production line
- November - Zhongxian Tech to build China's first AMOLED plant with 65M$ investment. A new Chinese AMOLED research and production center is announced.
- November - RiTDisplays got orders for 35M PMOLEDs
- November - CMEL introduces new 'MEM' tech to make thinner and lighter AMOLED panels, shows 25" TV
- October - UDC shows flexible OLEDs that are less than 50 micrometer thin
- October - LG are 'cautious' about OLEDs, do not see big investments in the near future
- October - GE says they hope to start selling OLED lighting products in 2010. OSRAM says their own products will be available in 2011/12
- October - China's first OLED production line goes online
- October - CMEL's 7.6" AMOLED panels are now available for purchase
- October - Samsung shows 14" and 31" AMOLED prototypes, might be released in early 2010. Also shows a 40" HD AMOLED and shows interesting flexible and transparent OLEDs.
- September - AMOLED shipments fall, but PMOLED now account for 60% of new MP3 players
- September - Philips offers OLED lighting kits, plans to start selling products in 2009
- September - Kodak announces a wireless digital photo frame with a 7.6" AMOLED (made by CMEL)
- August - TMDisplay develops 2.2" OLED with world's longest lifetime and best efficiency
- August - Utah researchers: OLEDs will not be as efficient as previously thought
- August - Several new devices are announced with AMOLEDs: Nokia N85, iRiver SPINN, Cowon S9 curve, iRiver Unit2 (4.3") and others
- July - DisplayBank estimates 7.1M AMOLED units produced in first half of 2008
- July - TMDisplay to invest 140M$ on production lines for 2.5" AMOLED, sets target output of 1.5M a month
- July - Samsung Electronics and Samsung SDI to join forces on OLEDs, make new "Samsung Mobile Displays" unit
- July - LGDisplay to invest 100M$ in new production lines for "smaller then 10 inch" displays
- July - Japanese government and companies team up to develop OLED tech
- June - Hitachi and Canon to make small/medium OLED panels for digital cameras
- June - Major investment in OLED production is announced by Samsung (530$) and LG Display
- June - The OLLA project delivers its final milestone, a followup project (oled100.eu) is announced
- June - UDC shows white OLED with over 100 lm/W
- June - LG Display officially open OLED division and production line
- June - AUO are reportedly back into OLED research (since January 2008)
- June - CMEL gets 21M$ for a new AMOLED production line
- May - Toshiba postpones large OLED TVs, to ship small/medium panels late in 2008
- May - Samsung shows 12.1" OLED for laptops, plans to release OLEDs ranging from 2" to 31" (15 different sizes)
- May - LGDisplay shows 15" XGA OLED TV
- May - Sony goes ahead with 200M$ investment, will release 27" OLED TV within 12 months
- April - OSRAM shows world's first OLED lamp
- April - Sony showcases thin OLED panels
- March - Kodak and LG display sign AMOLED cross-licensing agreement
- March - Samsung SDI’s AMOLEDs Reach Mass Production
- March - GE Demonstrates World's First "Roll-to-Roll" Manufactured OLEDs
- March - OLED Lighting Technology from OSRAM Achieves New Levels of Efficiency and Lifetime
- February - Sony to spend 200M$ on OLED production tech
- January - Sony sold first batch (1,300 units) of XEL-1 in one day, starts to sell it in the US
- January - Lot's of new AMOLED products announced (Samsung camera, iRiver A/V player, several mobile phones in Japan)
- January - CMEL producing 150,000 panels a months, gets orders for 7.6" panels from kodak
- January - Panasonic says no OLED TV till 2012-2014
2007
- December - Toshiba shelves plans to sell OLED TVs in 2009/10
- December - Samsung says will have 31" AMOLED TV prototype in CES, Commercial 40" TVs in 2010, and 14" panels in 2008
- November - Novaled reaches 100,000h lifetime for a highly efficient white OLED
- November - The world's first OLED TV, the Sony XEL-1 (11") starts to sell in Japan for 1,800$
- October - Sony announces the XEL-1, the first ever OLED TV (11")
- October - Samsung SDI and LG expand AMOLED production lines, fulfill orders
- October - CMEL begin shipment of ~2" AMOLED panels, showcases 4.3" and 7.6" panels
- October - Seiko Epson expanded OLED lifetime, to start making OLED panels (8" to 21")
- October - Samsung SDI shows OLED roadmap and claims 21" monitors in 2009, 42" HD TVs by 2010 and OLED lighting 'soon'
- August - Sumitomo plans OLED TVs by 2009
- July - LG Electronics moves into AMOLED mass production
- July - CMEL sampling 2.4" AMOLED panels
- July - Sumitomo acquires CDT for 285M$
- May - Mitsubishi to enter OLED market
- May - Novaled Achieving Groundbreaking Lifetimes For fluorescent PIN OLEDs
- May - Sony shows Flexible OLEDs
- May - Samsung SDI to make OLED TVs in 2009
- April - Sony to sell 11" OLED TVs in 2007
- April - TMDisplay to sell 21" OLED TVs in 2009
- April - Toshiba plans to launch 30" OLED TVs in 2009 (Update: in December 2007 Toshiba shelved those plans)
- March - KDDI starts selling a phone with a 2.4" AMOLED display.
- March - Konica Minolta and GE to jointly develop OLED light products.
- February - Sony begins production of AMOLED panels.
- January - Sony showcases 27" and 11" OLED TVs at CES. Says might start production at 2008.
2006
2005
2004
- December - CDT IPOs, lists on NASDAQ.
- November - OLED displays with 50,000h operating lifespan from URT.
- November - Seiko Epson will commercialize OLED TVs by 2007.
- October - LG.Philips develops 20-inch OLED display.
- September - Sony Starts Mass Production of Organic EL Displays, and released first a new clie PDA with a 3.8in 480 x 320 OLED screen.
- July - OLED-Info is on-line, the web's first OLED community site.
- June - Toppan to volume produce large-size OLED panels.
- May - Seiko Epson unveils first 40" colour OLED display.
- May - Universal Display Corporation Announces Record-Breaking Power Efficiencies for its Phosphorescent White OLED Technology.
- May - Taiwan's AU Begins Mass Production of Organic EL Panels.
- May - Universal Display Corporation Unveils Ground breaking Flexible OLED Prototype on Metallic Substrate.
- April - Teco Optronics to invest NT$300 million to build new PM OLED plant.
- April - RiT Display ships mobile phone OLED sub-displays to Samsung, says paper.
- April - Seiko Epson Reveals 12.5-Inch Organic EL Panel for Large TVs.
- April - RiT Display shipping OLED panels to Motorola.
- March - GE Global Research Breaks Two World Records For OLEDs As A Lighting Device. Demo Lighting Panel is Biggest and Most Efficient Ever Created.
- March - NEC drops its OLED business .
- March - Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp. (CMO) has announced a fully functional prototype of a 20-inch full-color OLED display - the largest Amorpheous Si TFT.
- February - Philips 639 mobile phone applies PolyLED technology in unique 'Magic Mirror' display.
- January - Opto Tech to invest NT$4.5 billion in four new OLED lines in 2004.
2003
- December - Univision reaches monthly capacity of 6,000 OLED substrates.
- December - Casio Ventures into Organic EL Panels Driven by Amorphous Si TFT.
- November - Tohoku Pioneer Corporation to Be First Manufacturer to Use Universal Display Corporation's PHOLED Material in a Commercial OLED Display.
- November - Univision showcases 65,000-color mobile phone OLED sub-display.
- October - Sanyo Unveils Long-Lasting QVGA Organic EL Panel for Cell Phones.
- October - Univision begins OLED production.
- September - AU Optronics has showcased its 1.93" AMOLED for Mobile Phone.
- September - Princeton electrical engineers have invented a technique for making Organic Solar Cells that Could Lead To Widespread Use Of Solar Power.
- June - ERSO and Windell develop 10-inch LTPS TFT technology-based AM OLED display.
- June - Sony to invest nine billion yen to build OLED production line.
- May - AUO and UDC develop 4-inch, a-Si TFT backplane-based, red phosphorescent AMOLED.
- May - Samsung NEC develops 65,000-color PM OLED mobile phone display.
- May - Sony demonstrated a 24.2 inch OLED panel.
- April - DuPont forges 'Olight' brand for emerging OLEDs.
- April - Sony testing 24-inch OLED screen.
- March - Kodak introduces the first AMOLED digital camera - the Kodak EasyShare LS633.
- March - IDTech develops 20-inch full-color OLED display.
- February - RiTdisplay lands mobile phone OLED orders from Samsung and LGE.
- February - Kodak Licenses Samsung NEC Mobile Display to Manufacture Passive-Matrix OLED Displays.
- January - Philips invents EL material to generate both red and green light.
- January - Kodak, Sanyo invest in active-matrix OLED production.
- January - Sanyo Unveils Mobile Phone with Organic EL Panel Designed for KDDI, announces plans to build full-color OLED production line.
2002
- December - DuPont Displays and Universal Display Corporation Form Strategic Alliance to Develop Next Generation Displays Combining Aspects of Small Molecule and Polymer OLEDs.
- November - Pioneer Supplies OLED to LG Electronics for Cell Phones.
- June - Epson, CDT form polymer OLED production venture.
- June - AU Optronics develops world's first OLED prototype combining a-Si TFT LCD technology.
- May - RiTdisplay reportedly receives orders for over one million mobile phone OLEDs.
- May - Kodak Announces Availability of Evaluation Kit For Active-Matrix OLED Display.
- April - Philips Announces Industry's First Volume Shipments of Polymer-Based OLED Modules.
- February - Samsung SDI develops 2.2-inch AM OLED for mobile phones.
2001
- November - RiTdisplay opens new color OLED/PLED factory.
- October - Samsung SDI Develops World's Largest Organic Display Panel (15.1 inch).
- October - Universal Display Reports New Red Phosphorescent OLED Materials, Significant Power Efficiency Advances.
- October - Universal Display Corporation and Samsung SDI Announce Key Joint Development Agreement.
- October - Sony Demonstrates 13-Inch, Full-Color OLED Prototype.
- August - eMagin's OLED Microdisplay Selected by Air Force for F15E Aircraft.
- May - Toshiba Develops World's First 260,000-Color Polymer OLED.
- April - Samsung Exhibits Color Organic EL LCD Panel for Mobile Phones at CeBIT (132 by 162 pixels).
- April - Universal Display Corporation and Sony Corporation Announce Joint Development Agreement Aimed at OLED Television Monitors.
- February - Sony Develops World's Largest Full Color OLED (13 inches diagonally with a resolution of 800x600 pixels.)
The Early Years
- 2000 - LG Electronics develops organic EL displays for mobile gadgets
- 2000 - NEC, Samsung To Develop Organic Wireless Displays
- 2000 - Sanyo Electric to start mass production of color organic EL panels in 2001
- 2000 - UDC and PPG Industries Form Strategic Alliance for Development & Supply of Chemicals for OLED Manufacturers
- 2000 - Motorola Grants OLED Technology Rights To Universal Display And Takes Equity Position
- 2000 - Toshiba Corp. plans to produce (organic EL) panels in 2001
- 2000 - Ritek plans to mass produce OLED
- 1998 - Green Organic LED Shows High Efficiency
- 1998 - Kodak, Sanyo Show Full-Color Active Matrix Organic Display; First Color OEL Display Increases Threat to LCD Display Dominance
- 1997 - Pioneer Electronic Produces EL Display with 260,000 Colors
- 1997 - UDC Demonstrates Flexible Flat Panel Display Technology
- 1996 - CDT gives world's first public demonstration of Light Emitting Polymer devices
- 1996 - Pioneer produces the world's first commercial PMOLED - a monochrome 256x64 display for car audio systems.
- 1987 - Ching W. Tang and Steven Van Slyke develop the world's first working OLED at Eastman Kodak
- 1950 - Luminance in organic materials is discovered in France.
