In 2016, the millet MIX concept cell phone turned out to be the first test of the full screen industry to attract the praise of the industry. At this point, the smart phone industry opened a new chapter, Display industry For the full screen also let OLED Panel in short supply, ushered in the development of a new era.
In the second half of 2017, the full-screen market broke out completely. Domestic and international mobile phone brands launched their full-screen new machines, while the Apple iPhone X, which represents the high-end mobile phones, also adopted a full screen design. Panel is the best companion of full screen, affected by this OLED panel has also become the mainstream of high-end mobile phones.
In fact, compared to OLED panels LCD Panel is indeed more advantages, more lightweight, lower power consumption, color display Better, etc. Full screen mobile phone using OLED panel can make a higher screen share, you can also solve the problem of full screen design brings power consumption and so on.In 2018, the full screen craze will continue to develop, with a comprehensive screen in technology Mature and low-end mobile phone penetration, OLED panel supply will inevitably fall short of demand.
However, the supply of OLED panels is monopolized by Samsung, and orders are also taken away by Apple. How to deal with domestic mobile phones?
Japan and South Korea fierce battle in the OLED market: Samsung Monopoly Sharp competing
The popularity of full screen mobile phones and the frequent appearance of OLED panel TVs by global manufacturers on CES2018 mean that the OLED panel will be the mainstream in the future.At present, the global market for small and medium size OLED panels is increasingly fiercely competitive. In addition to the rivalry between Japanese and Korean manufacturers , Panel makers in Mainland China have also begun to actively invest into them, OLED panel market has come to the era of the three pillars.
However, the helpless reality is that Samsung monopolizes the world's small and medium-sized OLED panels, other manufacturers are unable to contend.Samsung's largest rival LGD is trying to expand production capacity of small and medium size OLED panels, but short-term capacity and quality problems, there are The news that 2018 will not supply the OLED panel for Apple, is evident.
Although China is expected to challenge Samsung in the OLED panel industry, but this year is still lacking in some heat.According to media reports, BOE has started production of OLED panels, and is still building a new OLED panel production line, another panel company Huaxing Power is stepping up its construction Its OLED panel production line.
However, OLED panel yield is still a big problem, even Samsung is also years of hard work to be able to mass production, LGD is also currently facing difficulties in small and medium size OLED panel.In short, the largest panel maker BOE as an example Although it is technically continually catching up, it still needs some time to mass production if it is to solve the problem.
It is worth mentioning that Sharp is the first to give good news! January 15, Hon Hai Group Vice President and Sharp President Dai Zhengwu in an interview for the first time confirmed rumors, Sharp will measure the first quarter of this year Production OLED panel, to break the dominance of Samsung in the past.At the same time, Sharp will also be launched this year, equipped with OLED panel full screen mobile phone.
Interestingly, Sharp, after being acquired by Foxconn, is also seeking to become one of Apple's suppliers.Once the lineup is successful, the production volume of OLED panels will be one more, but it will also give priority to Apple, making it difficult for domestic-made handsets to occupy a large share.
Apple overrides the OLED panel Domestic mobile phones are facing supply difficulties
In 2018, the demand for OLED panels in the smart phone market will increase, while Apple will occupy the vast majority of OLED panel orders. This will result in the difficulty of OLED panel shortage due to the fact that domestic mobile phones want to enter the high-end market.
Last year, Samsung only supplied OLED panels to the Apple iPhone X. As a result, at least two iPhones from Apple will need OLED panels this year, plus Samsung's own high-end flagship handsets will also be available AMOLED Display, which undoubtedly will exacerbate the shortage of supply of OLED panels.
Mentioned above, the global small and medium size OLED panel, Samsung is in a monopoly.From the market research firm Counterpoint released data show that the third quarter of last year, China's mobile phone brands Huawei, OPPO, vivo third quarter total profit share of 12% Their own mobile phone business has limited profits, which makes them difficult to compete with Apple in the fight for OLED panel supply.
The OLED panel is already the standard of high-end smartphones in the future. Domestic mobile phone brands want to exert force in the global high-end market, and the OLED panels can not be fully supplied, which will lead to a loss in the face of Samsung's Apple.
As a result, the domestic handset manufacturers have had to start looking for other panel materials to replace the OLED panel.
Domestic mobile phone brand initiative to embrace the Micro LED
Recently, according to media reports, domestic handset makers Huawei, Xiaomi and OPPO have already planned to replace the second half of 2018 with Micro LEDs AMOLED , To prevent the supply of smart phone screens over Apple squeeze.
After all, at the moment OLED Panel production capacity has not yet expanded, high-quality production line is still Samsung Apple control, although Sharp confirmed the official production in the first quarter of this year, but is also likely to invest in Apple emboldened while the domestic panel makers such as BOE, the industry forecast at least until 2020 to ease OLED production capacity of the problem.
In this context, domestic mobile phone brands or will be forced to make other choices.
According to Taiwan media digitimes reported that domestic handset manufacturers, including Huawei, OPPO and millet, including smart phone manufacturers are planning to use more advanced Micro LED as the flagship of the second half of 2018 screen technology to replace AMOLED.
Micro LED is called μLED or micro-LED, first invented by Professor Hong Xing of Kansas State University and professor Jingyu Lin of Texas Tech University in 2000. Like OLED, LED is composed of light-emitting diode, which inherits OLED Advantages at the same time, still in response speed, contrast, color saturation effect better.
Micro LED is also considered the ultimate goal of LED screen evolution, the development of its key technologies have always been of concern. Display industry It is also worth noting that Apple itself is one of the leading Micro LED layout companies and Taiwan's most important Micro LED manufacturing base, many Taiwan panel makers have begun to step up the layout of 2018 Micro LED production.
When the domestic mobile phone manufacturers began to embrace the Micro LED initiative, it may promote its mass production first come.
New screen war or will start
Micro LED will be display Industry is the next outlet, when Apple is still competing for OLED production line, the domestic mobile phone brands have already planned to skip this stage, the first to seize the Micro LED outlet.
According to insiders broke the news, several major domestic mobile phone brands have begun to require Taiwan's supply chain manufacturers to adjust the original LED production line Micro LED production line in June 2018. Taiwan's largest LED epitaxial wafers and wafer maker Epistar said in the first half Specifications will be set in the second half for smart phones and TVs Micro LED will begin production.
In this regard, optimistic forecast 2018 15 million smart phones with Micro LED screen, then the global annual demand will reach 60 billion, an unprecedented market prospect, but the reality of the problem is not less than, OLED production capacity still can not meet the demand , Not to mention the more advanced Micro LED. It is understood that the only Micro LED technology to be commercially available only Sony, Sony CES2018 International Consumer Electronics Show, on display a 10.1-inch Micro LED car monitor , Which marks the Micro LED has been able to achieve smaller size package.
However, the application of smart phones, will inevitably require higher process technology and materials, and ultra-high density packaging technology.So the problem came, Micro LED market is not yet mature, the domestic mobile phone brands really can be the first to use Micro LED panel?
If this information is accurate, then this means that the new screen war is about to start, which is also a risk and opportunity for the smartphone industry.
