Wednesday, February 9th 2022
Internal Turmoil at Samsung Might Lead to Delay of QD-OLED Products in Retail
Samsung Electronics appears to have ended up in a pricing dispute with Samsung Display over the cost of QD-OLED panels, which could have the knock-on effect that Samsung branded QD-OLED displays might end up in retail later than anticipated. Samsung Electronics was set to launch its first QD-OLED TVs towards the middle of this year, but it seems like that might no longer be the case, unless the dispute can be resolved. The reason behind it, seems to be that LG Display's W-OLED panels are cheaper than Samsung Display's QD-OLED panels and Samsung Electronics doesn't want to pay a higher panel price.
It's unknown how much of a price difference there is, but The Elec is guessing it's around US$100 per panel. Considering Samsung Electronics appears to have bet heavily on QD-OLED, at least based on their CES 2022 announcements and that we're talking about premium TV's here, it doesn't seem like it would make that big of a difference. However, without knowing how competitive Samsung intended to be, it's possible that they wouldn't be able to compete with companies using W-OLED panels from LG Display. Maybe the most interesting part of this story is the fact that it mentions that Samsung Display is working on a 30-inch QD-OLED panel that they will supply Dell with, which is targeted towards computer monitors. So even if we might not see QD-OLED TV's when initially expected, we can at least hope for some high-end computer monitors with the tech later this year. Samsung Display is said to be producing QD-OLED substrates at a size of 2.2 x 2.5 metres at a rate of 30,000 units per month at the moment.
Source:
The Elec
It's unknown how much of a price difference there is, but The Elec is guessing it's around US$100 per panel. Considering Samsung Electronics appears to have bet heavily on QD-OLED, at least based on their CES 2022 announcements and that we're talking about premium TV's here, it doesn't seem like it would make that big of a difference. However, without knowing how competitive Samsung intended to be, it's possible that they wouldn't be able to compete with companies using W-OLED panels from LG Display. Maybe the most interesting part of this story is the fact that it mentions that Samsung Display is working on a 30-inch QD-OLED panel that they will supply Dell with, which is targeted towards computer monitors. So even if we might not see QD-OLED TV's when initially expected, we can at least hope for some high-end computer monitors with the tech later this year. Samsung Display is said to be producing QD-OLED substrates at a size of 2.2 x 2.5 metres at a rate of 30,000 units per month at the moment.
25 Comments on Internal Turmoil at Samsung Might Lead to Delay of QD-OLED Products in Retail
Fwiw, I also called higher power draw, but apparently we won't be able to probe that this year.
I always struggled to understand why LG would first win a drawn out patent war with a clear design win, only for Samsung to then reinvent the wheel but better and still at lower cost. If they could, they'd have done it to begin with.
In the meantime they tried micro leds which so far is going absolutely nowhere other than a buggy 'The Frame' that nobody wants on the wall, and a bunch of misleading QLED nonsense.
At least they're trying, but every time Samsung also hits the front page with some shady business to make it all happen. I'm staying away from this company now, because this 'losing battle' echoes in their product quality. The QLED TV I have is an absolute POS going from display quality to the menu to its smart functionality to simple functions on the remote that are buggy as hell (turn it off, it turns itself on again randomly), and that seems to be a trend with anything coming from Samsung Display. Quality happens only in the marketing ads, the final product is often lacking or just breaks shortly after warranty. And also... the plastic. Its everywhere and its not sturdy either.
The trend echoes in AMOLED, too, with its horribly short lifespan.
I don't think Samsung sells QLED panels to 3rd parties, but looking at LG, there are instances when the same panel makes a better monitor in the hands of other manufacturers (e.g. Dell). Like I said, it's more about the execution that it is about the panel.
Edit: ninja'd
At least they're also kicking production of ~30 inch panels so we might see some regular size high quality monitors soon, since everyone else is dragging their feets pushing the same old crappy tech (some form or another of ips/va with sub par contrast with barely any local dimming, but hey at least they're pushing beyond 300hz, because that's the most important...)
LGSamsung Display couldn't care less who brings the first QD-LED TVs to the market. They care about making QD-LED panels. And selling them for profit.And this works the other way, too: failing to sell their products for profit, LG had no problem shutting down their mobile division. No holes in the sky have been reported because if that.
Mostly unrelated, but this is why Google reorganized their various divisions under the Alphabet umbrella: everyone else was piggybacking on Google's (the search engine) success. And they wanted division to stand on their own.
Edit: Corrected, thanks @TheLostSwede
Also here's hoping this does not effect 3rd party designs using these panels from reaching the market in Q2. Alienware 34" monitor and Sony's A95 TV if im not mistaken.
global.samsungdisplay.com/28976/
QD-OLED also offers the same instant response time advantages of OLED so yeah *drool*, i'm hoping for finally a monitor worth buying.
www.notebookcheck.net/34-inch-Alienware-quantum-dot-OLED-monitor-will-cost-you-1299-when-it-launches-this-Spring.598739.0.html
If the 30'' monitors mentioned here pan out, by usual market rates going for something like 899$ or 999$ looks to me like a game changer!
March 29th in US, April 5th in UK and EU.
1300 for a true OLED is a steal, especially with burn-in covered for at least 3 years.
Edit.
Confirmed by Alienware:
I need a solid review on this asap
Would definitely drop 1K for a durable oled monitor...