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Aug 18, 11:10
MicroLED still lacks key LTPO TFT tech

MicroLED remains a promising next-generation display technology, but industry analysts say its commercial breakthrough still hinges on thin-film transistor (TFT) technology and the participation of South Korean panel makers Samsung Display (SDC) and LG Display (LGD). Yet SDC is reportedly taking a cautious stance on microLED TV applications.

With global TV demand slowing and panel prices continuing to fall, display makers are facing intensifying profit pressure. Analysts say the industry's bottleneck extends beyond low-priced Chinese competition and reflects a broader reshaping of the consumer electronics value chain, with OLED's next growth phase likely to depend on lower manufacturing costs and wider adoption in IT devices.

Seoul Semiconductor and its affiliate, Seoul Viosys, have secured a permanent injunction from India's Delhi High Court against Ornate Agencies Private Limited, barring the Indian company from selling products that infringe Seoul Semiconductor's opto-semiconductor patents. The court separately enjoined Ornate's managing director from further involvement in the infringement, according to a joint statement from the two Korean companies issued on August 12, 2026.

Qisda Chairman Peter Chen said infrastructure is the foundation that must first be built as AI compute demand surges. He said Qisda will not be absent from the fast-growing race, as the company steps up work on AI servers, data centers, 1.6T switches, and silicon photonics (SiPh).

Foxconn said its decade-long partnership with Sharp has entered a new growth phase, as the Taiwanese electronics group expands into AI servers, semiconductors, robotics, and next-generation communications. The comments, made at Foxconn's second quarter 2026 investor conference on August 12, came as the two companies marked 10 years since Foxconn completed its investment in Sharp.

Samsung Electronics is set to increase its TV LCD panel purchases in 2026, even as global shipments of TV LCDs are forecast to decline. The buying shift will favor BOE Technology Group and reduce Samsung's reliance on TCL China Star Optoelectronics Technology (TCL CSOT), according to ZDNet Korea, citing market research firm Omdia.

Electronic paper, once a niche technology overlooked by the display industry, is gaining momentum as E Ink continues to expand its applications from early e-book readers into electronic shelf labels (ESL). Riding the global retail digitalization wave, the technology is now driving rapid market growth.

Laster Tech, a maker of LED headlamp modules, narrowed its loss in the second quarter of 2026 as order visibility improved and new vehicle programs moved into mass production. The Taiwan-based supplier said first-half revenue reached NT$3.614 billion, with a net loss of NT$103 million and a loss per share of NT$0.86.
Taiwanese panel makers broadly reported weaker July revenue as some customers pulled in shipments in advance in the first half of the year and memory price increases weighed on consumer electronics demand. AUO, Innolux and Hannstar Display all posted month-over-month and year-over-year declines, while Giantplus Technology bucked the trend.
Apple has asked Samsung Display and LG Display to sharply reduce OLED panel prices for the iPhone 18 as it works to offset rising production costs, according to South Korean media reports. The price pressure is intensifying competition among panel makers, with cost control becoming increasingly important alongside technology in supplier negotiations.

Novatek, a Taiwan-based display driver integrated circuit (DDI) supplier, said at its August 6 investor conference that second-quarter 2026 revenue and gross margin exceeded expectations, supported by stronger customer orders across all three major product lines and a sharp sequential increase in profit.

Samsung Electronics is expected to double its purchases of TV LCD panels from BOE in 2026 while cutting orders from CSOT, as Samsung and LG Electronics rebalance their supplier mixes in an LCD market increasingly dominated by Chinese panel makers.