If , like me, you’ve been keeping an eye on the AMOLED evaporation materials scene, you should know that Universal Display Corporation (UDC) shows no sign of losing its lead anytime soon. But the real buzz? LG Chem might edge out DuPont for the second spot as soon as 2025, says Counterpoint (aka DSCC with better graphics).
Analysts had bet on LG Chem to leapfrog DuPont in early 2024, but a few unexpected twists slowed them down starting with sluggish WOLED output at LG Display and lower-than-anticipated demand for OLED iPads. And Chinese panel manufacturers increasingly opted for homegrown materials. These hiccups gave DuPont just enough breathing room to maintain its runner-up position a little longer. However, analysts still predict LG Chem could catch up in 2025.
One of the biggest challenges in OLED technology has always been making the perfect blue sub-pixel. Why is blue such a pain? Because blue organic compounds tend to have a shorter lifespan than red or green, and they also guzzle more power. That means the entire display’s durability and efficiency can hinge on how well blue holds up.
In the quest to replace today’s fluorescent blue, several “next-gen” technologies—like TADF (Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence), HF (Hyperfluorescent), and phosphorescent solutions—are vying for the spotlight. Visionox recently surprised everyone by rolling out HF blue sooner than expected, but the production volume remains small. And the most eagerly awaited solution—phosphorescent blue—is still grappling with longevity issues, pushing any major commercial debut to 2026 or later.
All eyes are on the Chinese panel makers who are rapidly building up their own evaporation material capabilities. Meanwhile, LG Chem and DuPont continue sparring for second place behind UDC. As new blue OLED tech matures—and if it can crack the code on longer lifespans without sacrificing brightness or efficiency—we’re likely in for more market shakeups. In other words, if you thought AMOLED competition was fierce now, just wait until everyone perfects that elusive blue. We could see new winners and losers emerge almost overnight.
