Samsung’s smartphones currently employ OLED display panels to build their stunning devices but it could be planning to experiment with Micro-LED displays in the near future. We are saying this because a fresh report suggests that Samsung may be looking to acquire Taiwanese LED panel manufacturer PlayNitride for close to $150 million.
As seen in its most recent quarterly earnings report, Samsung’s record growth was driven by its components and display business. Its smartphone has been on the backfoot ever since the Galaxy Note 7 explosion debacle, but it is expected to largely contribute to overall earning numbers — thanks to the release of its flagship Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus devices.
With regards to the same, the Korean giant would still want its display business to continue its growth streak. Thus, it is following the trend and taking the most preferred step towards the expansion of this division by acquiring a Micro-LED display maker. These LED panels are said to be more power efficient and brighter as compared to currently used QLED or OLED panels. They’re also difficult to produce on a massive scale, though they’re less expensive to manufacture.
Samsung is looking to retain its position as the industry leader by toying with and using Micro-LED panels in place of Quantum Dot (QD) technology inside their television sets. The report from OLED-info, however, suggests that the Korean giant may be eyeing the use of micro-LED panels to initially further its standalone VR efforts.
The Micro-LED screens are currently difficult to produce, thus most technology giants are experimenting with this technology at the moment. Apple is also said to have purchased a micro-LED maker called LuxVue earlier in May 2014. There has been no official word on what Cupertino plans to use these panels for, but analysts suggest that they’ll make their way into an upcoming Apple Watch.
Also, the Facebook-owned VR company Oculus has also recently picked up a Micro-LED panel maker called InfiniLED to become a part of this display technology revolution. Sony is already neck-deep into the development of these panels and has already shown off its massive 55-inch micro-LED television display in 2016.
