News from the IT community on October 17th: Data released by CIC Consulting on the 15th shows that among the OLED panels used by major laptop brands, over 70% come from Samsung Display. As panel supply becomes more concentrated, major computer manufacturers are beginning to incorporate Chinese panel suppliers to ensure stable supply and to gain more leverage in price negotiations.
Lenovo's OLED panels are mainly supplied by Samsung, with some also coming from BOE and Hehui Optoelectronics. HP also relies primarily on Samsung displays as its supplier, and some of its models use panels from Hehui Optoelectronics.
Asus simultaneously purchases panels from Samsung Display, BOE Technology, and Everlight Technology. Approximately 75% of Acer's OLED panels come from Samsung Display. Dell's XPS series uses panels from LG, while other products are mainly supplied by Samsung Display.
As an increasing number of laptops adopt OLED screens, the supply of panels has further concentrated among a few manufacturers. In the first quarter of last year, the shipment volume of OLED panels for laptops was 2.1 million pieces, which increased to 4.3 million pieces in the second quarter of this year, representing a more than doubling growth, and is expected to reach 4.9 million pieces in the third quarter.
In the second half of this year, the market share of OLED panels in the laptop panel market is expected to exceed 10%. It is also anticipated that laptops from Lenovo, HP, and ASUS that use OLED panels this year will account for over 10% each.
According to reports by Korean media The Elec, the increased dependence on a single supplier has put more pressure on computer manufacturers. In the event of a production disruption, it is difficult for manufacturers to quickly find alternative supply channels, and the limited options for procurement also weaken their bargaining power. When scheduling the launch of new products and determining panel specifications, manufacturers need to coordinate more closely with their suppliers. Qunzhi Consulting points out that as a result, major laptop brands have begun to adjust their procurement strategies in order to seek more sources of supply.
In the entry-level market, TCL CSOT is preparing to supply OLED panels produced using inkjet printing technology. Following the supply of display panels starting in the third quarter of this year, TCL CSOT plans to mass-produce laptop panels in the fourth quarter.
In the mid-to-high-end market, BOE and Visionox are also expanding the supply of flexible OLED panels. BOE's B16 production line began mass production in the second quarter of this year, while Visionox started the production of flexible OLED panels for laptops in the third quarter.
The market share of liquid crystal panels has been continuously declining. According to TrendForce Research, by 2030, the share of amorphous silicon liquid crystal panels in the notebook computer panel market is expected to drop from approximately 79% in 2024 to around 48%. During the same period, the share of OLED panels is expected to rise to about 20%, while oxide liquid crystal panels are expected to reach around 29%. As OLED screens become more widespread from high-end notebook computers to entry-level products, the technological landscape of notebook computer panels is also changing.
