Samsung (SDC) currently dominates the small-sized OLED panel supply globally. As for the large-sized TV panel segment, SDC decides to focus on QLED, a quantum dot display technology. SDC used to promote curved TVs, but now it decides to change its course.

(Image: Samsung)

According to the Korean press, Samsung's business plan for 2018 will mainly focus on developing QLED display technology and ultra-large scale products.

Samsung knows that competitions for the next generation TV are not only just about appearance—curved or flat—but essentially about advanced technology used in the products. On one hand, curved TV is positioned in the high end market. On the other hand, it is only a transitional product between major technology breakthroughs. Speaking of the next generation breakthrough, Samsung believes that QLED display technology is the ultimate development goal.

For now, QLED technology's biggest advantage is the self-emitting nature and it can process image details better than OLED does.

For the large sized panel product development, South Korean media pointed out that Samsung originally purchased mostly 40" LCD panels from LG at the end of 2017. However, Samsung later expects that 65"-and-above large size TV demand will grow significantly in 2018 and prepares to develop large-sized products. Thus, LG will supply Samsung large-sized (65"~75") LCD TV panels instead.