Samsung Display’s mid- to large-sized OLED shipments and sales remained steady in the third quarter of 2024 despite a slump in iPad Pro OLED sales, according to UBI Research. While shipments for tablet PCs declined, strong performance in other sectors, particularly automotive OLEDs, helped offset the dip.
The report revealed that while Samsung Display began mass-producing OLED panels for Apple’s iPad Pro in the second quarter, the third quarter saw a sharp drop in tablet PC OLED shipments due to lower-than-expected sales of the device. Panel shipments for tablet PCs fell significantly for both Samsung Display and LG Display. Samsung Display, which supplies OLED panels to both Samsung Electronics and Apple, saw a 38% QoQ decline in sales for tablet PCs as Apple’s demand weakened. However, shipments to Samsung Electronics remained stable.
LG Display also experienced a decline, with third-quarter shipments dropping 34% compared to the previous quarter and sales decreasing by 23%. Despite these quarterly setbacks, LG Display achieved a 124% YoY growth in shipments and a 111% increase in sales, driven by improved performance in the OLED TV sector.
Samsung Display’s automotive OLED sector emerged as a standout performer in the third quarter. Shipments surged from 100,000 units in the first quarter to approximately 500,000 units in the third quarter. This rapid growth underscores the increasing adoption of OLED technology in the automotive industry, a sector Samsung Display appears to be strategically prioritizing.
Looking ahead, Samsung Display is expected to boost mid- to large-sized OLED shipments significantly by the end of 2025 as it ramps up mass production at its advanced 8.6G manufacturing line. This investment is anticipated to drive growth across various markets, including notebooks, monitors, and automotive OLEDs, while bolstering the tablet PC segment. Apple’s deeper entry into the OLED market is also expected to spur demand and expand market opportunities.
