OLED is a next-generation display technology that is replacing LCD displays in several markets, such as small displays for mobile applications, TVs and microdisplays. OLEDs are made from thin films of organic light emitting materials that emit light when electricity is applied. OLEDs have a much simpler structure compared to LCDs and have several advantages over the incumbent technology.
eMagin XGA096 OLED-XL
OLED microdisplays
OLED microdisplays are considered to be the current state-of-the-art near-eye display technology. OLEDs offer many advantages over competing technologies:
- No backlight - a direct emissive display with high contrast and a wide color gamut
- Fast refresh rate
- Low power consumption (this depends on the image shown)
- Wide operation temperature range
OLEDs do suffer from lower lifetime, limited market capacity, high price. Many believe that microLEDs will offer the ultimate solution for microdisplays, with their inherent high brightness and efficiency, but these displays are not commercial yet.
The OLED Microdisplay market
Several companies in the US, Europe and Asia are producing OLED microdisplays - including eMagin, Sony, OLiGHTEK, Kopin, BOE and SeeYa.
If you're interested in adopting OLED microdisplays in your device, we'll be happy to help, you can browse available display in our OLED marketplace. Be sure to send us a mail and together we can find the best display for your project.
OLED-Info's OLED and MicroLED Microdisplay Market Report
If you want more in-depth information on the OLED (and MicroLED) Microdisplay market, look no further! Our OLED and MicroLED Microdisplay Market Report explains:
- Why OLED microdisplays are better than LCD or DLP ones
- The disadvantages of OLED microdisplays
- What kind of displays are available on the market today
- New technologies on the horizon, including MicroLED microdisplays
The report package also provides a complete list of OLED and microLED microdisplay makers and developers, their current (and future) products, and personal contact details into the leading microdisplay makers. Read more here!
The latest OLED microdisplays news:
On Seeya's OLED microdisplays status and plans
OLED microdisplay developer Seeya Information Technology was established in 2016, and in 2017 it started building a $300 million OLED 300 mm microdisplay production line. Seeya's fab is now in operation, with a yearly capacity of around 20 million displays (monthly capacity of 9,000 300 mm wafers).
Seeya quickly became a prominent display maker, who's currently producing high performance displays to global customers. The company says it's currently the world's largest OLED microdisplay maker by volume. Seeya's current standard displays include:
OLED-Info's OLED Market Reports updated to July 2021
Today we published new versions of our market reports - that cover the transparent, PMOLED, microdisplays and automotive OLED markets. OLED-Info provides comprehensive niche OLED market reports, and our reports cover everything you need to know about the niche market, and can be useful if you want to understand how the OLED industry works and what this technology can provide for your own industry. The reports are now updated to July 2021.
The OLED and MicroLED Microdisplays Market Report:
- The advantages of OLED and MicroLED microdisplays
- Information on all companies involved in this market
- What kind of displays are available on the market today
- Future technologies and roadmaps
The report package also provides a complete list of OLED and microLED microdisplays makers and their current (and future) products, and personal contact details into the leading microdisplays makers. Read more here!
Kopin developed a 35,000-nits green monochrome OLED microdisplay
Kopin Corporation announced it has produced a new 1" SXGA (1280x1024) green OLED microdisplay, that offers 35,000 nits of brightness. Kopin says that this display is the world's brightest OLED developed to date.
The display, which is still in development, uses Kopin's duo-stack OLED structure and a unique patent-pending pixel structure and backplane architecture for super-high dynamic range operation (14 bits).
LG Display develops a 3K 1.16" OLED microdisplay for VR applications
Last year at SID Displayweek 2020 LG Display unveiled a new OLED microdisplay, branded as OLEDoS. LGD's display was a 0.42" 1280x720 (3,500 PPI) panel that uses a color-filter based design.
This year at Displayweek 2021, LGD is showing the same display again, this time it reveals it has a brightness of over 5,000 nits (in 2020 the company said the brightness was "over 4,000 nits"). LG says that OLED microdisplays will find a market in VR and AR applications, as the displays outperform mobile AMOLED displays.
eMagin reports its financial results for Q1 2021
OLED microdisplay maker eMagin reported its financial results for Q1 2021. Revenues were $6.8 million up from $6.7 in Q1 2020. Operating loss was $2 million, up from $1.3 million in Q1 2020. Net loss was $7.4 million (including a $7.2 million warrant value loss).
At the end of March 31 2021, the company had $10.7 million in cash and equivalents. eMagin reports it is continuing to place down payments for equipment as part of the $39.1 million US government funds that were awarded last year to enhance its manufacturing capabilities in the US.
Korea launches a national project to develop AR OLED microdisplay technologies
The Korean government launched a new project that aims to develop technologies for the production of OLED microdisplays for AR applications.
The new project, organized by the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is led by AP Systems. The project aims to produce a direct emission OLED microdisplay with a resolution of 4,000 PPI by 2024.
DSCC sees OLED microdisplays shipments rising from <1 million in 2020 to over 19 million in 2026
DSCC says that the AR and VR markets are set for quick growth, and display sales for AR and VR devices will grow at a CAGR of 52% between 2020 and 2026, to reach $4.2 billion in sales (up from $347 million in 2020). This forecast does not include military applications.
DSCC says that new technologies, specifically designed components and strong push by consumer electronic giants like Sony and Apple will drive this fast growth in VR and AR adoption. As you can see in the chart above actual see-through AR will remain a relatively small market even in 2026. The main problem with AR will remain display brightness, and DSCC see microLED technologies providing a breakthrough in this market.
OLED-Info's OLED Market Reports updated to April 2021
Today we published new versions of our market reports - that cover the flexible, microdisplays and automotive OLED markets. OLED-Info provides comprehensive niche OLED market reports, and our reports cover everything you need to know about the niche market, and can be useful if you want to understand how the OLED industry works and what this technology can provide for your own industry. The reports are now updated to April 2021.
The OLED and MicroLED Microdisplays Market Report:
- The advantages of OLED and MicroLED microdisplays
- Information on all companies involved in this market
- What kind of displays are available on the market today
- Future technologies and roadmaps
The report package also provides a complete list of OLED and microLED microdisplays makers and their current (and future) products, and personal contact details into the leading microdisplays makers. Read more here!
eMagin reports its financial results for Q4 2020
OLED microdisplay maker eMagin posted its financial results for Q4 2020. Revenues for the quarter were $7.7 million (up from $7.3 million in Q3 2019) with contract revenue of $1.5 million reflecting continued work for a Tier-1 consumer company.
Net loss for Q4 2020 was $3.7 million. For the full year 2020, eMagin reports revenues of $29.4 million, up from $26.7 million in 2019. The net loss in 2020 was $11.5 million.
Nikkei Asia: Apple teamed up with TSMC to co-develop OLED microdisplays
According to reports in Japan (by Nikkei Asia), Apple has teamed up with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) to develop OLED microdisplay technologies for Apple's upcoming AR products.
The reports says that TSMC is also doing trial production of microdisplays, but it will take several years before mass production is achieved. Apple's OLED microdisplay research is performed at its Taoyuan labs, where the company is also developing microLED technologies. It is reported that Apple is publicly looking for employees with OLED expertise in Taiwan.