Samsung Denies Rumour of LG OLED Purchases

What They Say

We reported on Friday the rumours that Samsung might have agreed to buy OLEDs from LG for its TV business (Samsung to Buy OLED TV Panels from LG?). After we published, the IT Chosun in Korea claimed an exclusive for an interview with the President of Samsung’s VD division Jong-hee Han in which he said that ‘(these) are only rumours’. An official quoted by the paper said that the official position is that these rumours are ‘Unfounded’. On the other hand, an ‘insider’ that knows LG Display said that the sides had certainly met and talked about the possibility although no clear result came from the discussion.

What We Think

I was contacted by a correspondent that suggested that it might be that Samsung wanted to buy the blue emitting parts of QD-OLEDs from LG. I thought this was an interesting idea, but after some consideration it occurred to me that this would be like supplying cells for LCD makers. It takes up capacity, but doesn’t optimise revenues, so I think it is very unlikely. It’s the kind of thing that could be done on a small scale, but not on a significant scale, unless there is a lot of spare production capacity.

We’ll have more on this topic in tomorrow’s Display Daily. (BR)

Jong hee HanJong-hee Han at Samsung’s First Look Event in December 2020. Image:Samsung