In a major leap forward for high-performance computing, Venom Computers announced the launch of its newest model: the BlackBook Zero 14" Phantom G9. The Phantom G9 is the latest example of Venom's commitment to blending unmatched power with conscientious sustainability and is designed for Venom's exclusive users, who include discerning professionals and informed tech enthusiasts.

"The Zero 14 Phantom isn't just about leading-edge specs, though we're proud of those," said Jaan Turon, Director of Venom. "This new model also embodies our dedication to longevity and service in what we call the Venom Value Cycle: a sustainable ethos that benefits both customers and the environment."

Unlike AUO, it appears that InnoLux has managed to create a Micro LED display with usable resolution, as the 9.6-inch display that the company was demoing at Touch Taiwan delivers 1920 x 1080 pixels, or 229 pixels per inch. The display also looked really good, although it was hard to judge if it had any pixel defects like the AUO 17-3-inch display, as it was continuously running various animations on a dark background, which prevented a good look at the panel.

InnoLux built this display on its LTPS technology and each LED measures a mere 40 micron across. The panel offers a 300 cd/m² brightness and supports 115 percent of the NTSC colour gamut. Although the display looked really good, we're not quite sure where the market is for this display, although it might find its way into some kind of tablets, assuming the price is right. However, it looks like InnoLux is ahead of AUO when it comes to working out how to manufacture Micro LED displays, but unlike its competitor, it seems like InnoLux hasn't figured out how to make them in a more useful size.

It wasn't just AUO that had high-end gaming notebook panels on display at Touch Taiwan, as InnoLux also had a pair of interesting models that the company was showing off. The smaller model of the two was a 14-inch LTPS (Low-Temperature PolySilicon) panel with 2560 x 1600 resolution with a brightness of 500 cd/m². It features a VRR range of 30 to 120 Hz, which seems ideally suited for a gaming notebook, since they tend to have weaker GPUs that are likely to drop below the typical 48 Hz VRR threshold. It also supports 100 percent of the sRGB colour gamut.

The second display is a 16-inch model, but with a lower 1920 x 1200 resolution. The lower resolution is because this panel comes with a 540 Hz refresh rate, as high as AUO's E-TN gaming monitor panel. However, we should note that Chinese BOE announced a 600 Hz gaming notebook display last year, so this is far from the fastest gaming notebook display out there. It's also not the brightest display out there at 300 cd/m², but it supports 100 percent of the DCI-P3 colour gamut, most likely thanks to being an LTPS based panel rather than TN or similar.

The massive rise in market demand for notebook computers in response to distance learning needs and WFH applications from 2020 to 2021 has generated not only a double-digit growth in notebook panel shipment, but also a price hike of more than 40% for notebook panels, according to TrendForce's latest investigations. As various suppliers subsequently scramble to manufacture OLED, LTPS, and oxide panels, TrendForce forecasts these high-end notebook panels to reach a 17.8% market share in 2021 and 21.4% in 2022.

Panels based on OLED technology are primarily supplied by SDC, whose OLED notebook panel shipment for 2020 reached 800,000 pcs. SDC is expected to ship more than four million pcs of OLED notebook panels in 2021, with room for further growth in 2022. In addition to SDC, EDO is also expected to begin mass producing OLED notebook panels in 2H21-1H22. As such, TrendForce expects OLED panels to reach a 1.3% penetration rate in the overall notebook panel market this year. Although BOE and CSOT are currently fully engaged in Hybrid OLED development, Hybrid OLED panels will not enter mass production until 2023 due to technological and cost-related bottlenecks that are yet to be resolved.

It's true, it seems: as time passes, technology becomes cheaper, the entry point becomes lower, more people can acquire more products, demand balloons, and supply tries to keep up. The fundamentals sine right through AU Optronics' choice to increase output on panels that are apparently flying from their inventory: high-end LTPS notebook panels, for one, are selling like hot cakes. The reason is simple: LTPS (low-temperature polycrystalline silicon) can better sustain higher resolution panels with higher vibrancy and accurate color reproduction, but deteriorates faster than IPS LCD panels. So, it serves two purposes (though they'll never tell you about the second): better specs and increased, built-in obsolescence: a traditional feature in the world of capitalism.

Besides LTPS, 4K panels have increased their momentum (planned adoption rates for 2018 are being set at 40%, 10% over 2017's 30% attachment rate), 75-85" panel sales have more than tripled since the beginning of 2018, and 8K panels will start being shipped (in relatively small volumes) in the first quarter of this year. AU Optronics has also increased fabrication of 240 Hz screens for manufacturers that then use their panels on premium products, such as Acer, Asustek Computer, BenQ, ViewSonic, AOC and Philips.