4K OLED: introduction and market status
What is an OLED?
OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) is an emerging display technology that enables displays that offer superb image quality, thin and flexible design, and efficient operation. OLED TVs, in fact, deliver the best picture quality ever, and can allso be made flexible, rollable and transparent.
What is a 4K OLED TV?
A 4K OLED TV (also called UHD OLED TV) is an OLED TV that features a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels. While especially useful for large TV panels, 4K has gained in popularity and is now being offered on all premium TVs.
All OLED TVs (both WOLEDs and QD-OLEDs), released from 2016 forward support 4K resolution (some also support 8K resolution) Most of these TVs use panels produced by LG (WOLED panels), and some use QD-OLED panels produced by Samsung Display. Both, as we said, support 4K resolution.
Saudia and Azerbaijan Airlines both deploy Panasonic Avionic's Astrova 4K OLED displays
Panasonic Avionics announced that two new airlines have deployed its Astrova 4K OLED entertainment systems. Saudia has installed the new systems aboard its new Airbus A321XLR aircraft.
Azerbaijan Airlines has deployed the Astrova OLEDs on 11 of its Airbus narrowbody aircraft (six A321neo and five A320neo aircraft).
Samsung developed a 31.5-inch 4K 360Hz QD-OLED monitor panels
Samsung Display announced that it has successfully developed the first QD-OLED for monitors to combine 4K resolution with a 360Hz refresh rate.
Samsung says that with the rise of games featuring photorealistic graphics and ultra-high-definition video content, consumer demand has continued to grow for monitors that can deliver both high resolution and fast screen transitions - and SDC is focused on developing a top-tier QD-OLED for monitors.
LG Display starts producing 240Hz RGB Stripe OLED monitor panels
LG Display announced that it is beginning to mass produce the world's first 240Hz RGB Stripe OLED panel, and will soon start shipping it to monitor vendors. The first panels are 27" 4K panels.
RGB Stripe OLED features a structure in which red, green, and blue (RGB) subpixels are arranged in a linear stripe, enabling clearer rendering of small text and numbers compared to conventional displays. LG says that this architecture reduces eye strain and provides a more comfortable viewing experience during prolonged use, such as document work, stock and financial trading, coding, and content editing.
LG Electronics reportedly in talks with Samsung Display for the supply of QD-OLED monitor panels
According to reports in Korea, LG Electronics is considering using Samsung's QD-OLED panels in its future monitor lineup, and is in talks with SDC regarding a supply agreement.
It is said that LG is specifically interested in Samsung's 27-inch 4K 240Hz QD-OLED panel. The reports haven't been verified yet.
TCL CSOT to start producing consumer 27" 4K inkjet-printed OLED panels in July 2026
According to reports in China, TCL CSOT's first consumer-grade inkjet printed OLED display has completed functional verification, and the company is planning to mass produce these panels in July 2026.
This will be low-volume production, but it is an important first step for TCL CSOT. The company already announced it is starting mass production at its 5.5-Gen inkjet printed OLED line towards the end of 2024, but now it is actually getting ready to ship commercial products to its customers.
Samsung Display launches QD OLED Penta Tandem brand for its latest panel technology
Samsung Display announced a new QD-OLED brand, for its latest five-layer fourth-gen QD-OLED panel technology, called "QD-OLED Penta Tandem". The Penta part refers to the five layer stacked OLED architecture. All QD-OLED panels have always used a stacked architecture, but as tandem OLEDs become more popular, Samsung adds the tandem word to its QD-OLED panel branding.
Samsung says that the new five-layer design increases the energy efficiency, brightness and lifetime of its QD-OLED panels. This enables higher-resolution monitors, and Samsung has managed to produce a 27" 4K (160 PPI) panel with this new technology (which it says is the world's first OLED panel to achieve that), and also a 31.5" 4K panel, certified DisplayHDR True Black 500.
Rumors suggest Samsung is set to release its first WOLED gaming monitor in 2026
According to a leaked roadmap, Samsung Electronics is rumored to release a gaming monitor based on an WOLED panel in June 2026. There's even a model number, S27HG702WC. The leak says that this will be a 27" 4K 165Hz panel, that will also support 330 Hz in FHD mode.
The same leak, that you can see above, also shows 3 more monitors that Samsung Electronics will release in 2026, all based on SDC's QD-OLED panels.
Qantas to install 13.3" 4K OLED displays in its new A330-200 Economy seats
Qantas announced that it is refreshing its Economy class seats at its A330-200 planes, and will install new 13.3" 4K OLED in all these seats. Qantas will refresh 10 aircraft in total.
Qantas says that the first upgraded aircraft will enter service before the end of 2025, and the entire project is set to be completed by the end of 2026.
Samsung launches the Galaxy XR VR headset powered by OLED microdisplays
United Airlines new 787 cabin to use OLED displays for all passenger seats
United Airlines unveiled the interior design of its new Boeing 787-9 cabins, with OLED displays used for all passengers, economy and business and class both.
First up is the United Polaris Studio suites, which are located at the first row of its new business class, with 25% larer area than regular Polaris business seats - and 27-inch 4K OLED displays. The new 'regular' business seats will sport 19-inch 4K OLEDs, while the Premium Plus seats has 16-inch 4K OLEDs. The regular economy seats will feature 13-inch 4K OLEDs.
