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TCL CSOT Is Betting Big on Printed OLED With a Massive 8.6G Factory in the Works
Chinese display giant TCL CSOT is reportedly set to revolutionize the OLED display market with an ambitious plan to construct a massive 8.6-generation (8.6G) printed OLED production line in Guangzhou. This significant investment, estimated at approximately RMB 20 billion (around $2.75 billion USD), signals a major shift in the global display landscape and underscores TCL CSOT’s commitment to challenging established players like LG Display and Samsung Display.
According to a recent report from market intelligence firm UBI Research, TCL CSOT has finalized its investment plan and aims to begin installing production equipment by the end of 2026. The new facility, designated as the T8 site and located near its existing T9 OLED line in Guangzhou, will initially house one 8.6G line with a projected monthly capacity of 45,000 substrates. UBI Research anticipates that the T8 site will eventually accommodate two such lines, doubling its output.
This move is a strong endorsement of inkjet-printed RGB OLED technology, which TCL CSOT has long championed as a more cost-effective and potentially superior alternative to the current market leaders’ WOLED (White OLED) and QD-OLED (Quantum Dot OLED) technologies. The company has been steadily progressing in this field, claiming a breakthrough in October 2024 and commencing small-scale production of printed OLED monitor panels later that year. Just recently, in May 2025, TCL CSOT unveiled a full lineup of printed OLED displays ranging from 6.5 to 65 inches and has since begun sending out panels to partner brands for testing.
The sheer scale of TCL CSOT’s planned investment is noteworthy. For comparison, Chinese rival BOE’s upcoming 8.6G OLED plant is expected to have a capacity of 33,000 substrates, while Samsung Display’s new A6 line will produce 15,000 substrates. This makes TCL CSOT’s proposed T8 plant one of the largest, if not the largest, single OLED manufacturing facilities globally. Furthermore, the adoption of inkjet printing technology is projected to reduce construction costs by an impressive 30% compared to traditional OLED fabrication methods.
The large 8.6G substrates (2290x2620mm) offer significant flexibility in panel production, allowing for efficient cutting into various sizes suitable for a wide array of devices, including large-screen TVs, monitors, IT devices, and even smaller form factors like smartphones. This versatility is crucial as the demand for high-quality OLED displays continues to expand across diverse product categories.
While inkjet OLED technology holds immense promise for lower production costs and potentially better color reproduction (due to its direct RGB emission), it still faces certain technological hurdles. Han Changwook, EVP of UBI Research, noted that challenges remain in areas such as brightness, lifespan, large-area uniformity, and yield rates. However, China’s strategic government support for this differentiated technology, alongside investments from other players like Visionox (with its ViP technology), indicates a concerted effort to overcome these challenges and secure technological leadership in the next generation of display manufacturing.
UBI Research expects TCL CSOT to make an official announcement regarding this ambitious project later this month, with groundbreaking ceremonies anticipated for October. This significant undertaking has the potential to reshape the global OLED market, bringing more competition and potentially accelerating the widespread adoption of advanced OLED displays.
In related updates, TCL has launched the NXTPAPER 11 Plus in the US, priced at $249 and featuring a paper-like display aimed at eye comfort. At the same time, TCL CSOT has confirmed an exclusive display supply deal with Xiaomi for the upcoming MIX Flip 2 smartphone and the YU7 electric vehicle, further solidifying its position in the flexible OLED panel segment.
(Via)
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Xiaomi 18 Pro will retain the rear display with TCL CSOT expected to supply panels
Xiaomi has confirmed that its next-generation (likely Xiaomi 18 Pro) smartphones will continue to feature a rear display design. Lu Weibing, President of Xiaomi Group and head of the smartphone division, made the announcement during a recent livestream. He also revealed that the Xiaomi 17 Pro will introduce new interactive features on the rear display, including real-time translation.
Lu emphasized that the rear screen is not only for visual appeal but will also serve functional purposes. Xiaomi plans to release monthly updates to enhance the rear display experience, with the first set of features arriving by the end of October. The company is actively working on new use cases and has invited feedback from users through Lu’s recent post on Weibo.
The Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max both use displays supplied exclusively by TCL CSOT. The 17 Pro includes a 6.3-inch front screen, while the 17 Pro Max features a 6.9-inch panel. The rear display also matches flagship standards, using TCL’s M10 luminescent material and supporting peak brightness of up to 3500 nits. Xiaomi has equipped the series with Dragon Crystal Glass for added durability.
TCL CSOT remains a key display partner for Xiaomi’s flagship lineup. With the company supplying both the main and rear displays on the 17 series, it is likely that TCL will continue its role with the Xiaomi 18 Pro. As Xiaomi pushes forward with dual-screen functionality, TCL’s display technology will play a central role in enabling new features and maintaining high visual performance.
Xiaomi aims to turn the rear display into more than a secondary screen. The upcoming updates could mark the beginning of a broader shift toward dual-display interaction across its premium smartphone line.
In related news, TCL has completed the full acquisition of LG Display’s China operations. Meanwhile, China’s TV market continues to decline, with Q3 shipments down 10.4% and deeper cuts expected in Q4.
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TCL completes full acquisition of LG Display’s China operations
TCL has officially completed its acquisition of LG Display’s business operations in mainland China. The announcement was made by TCL’s panel-making arm, China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CSOT), confirming that it has acquired 100% ownership of two former LG Display subsidiaries.
The transaction includes LGD CA, which operated the Guangzhou-based 8.5-generation LCD production line, and LGD GZ, which managed module assembly. TCL said the total deal value stands at 11.088 billion yuan ($1.55 billion), with the entire amount already paid to LG Display.
The agreement between TCL and LG Display was first reached in September 2024. LG Display held an 80% stake in the Guangzhou LCD plant at the time, while it fully owned the module factory. By April 2025, LG Display had already announced the completion of the Guangzhou factory sale. TCL’s latest statement serves as the official confirmation under Chinese regulatory procedures.
Following the acquisition, the Guangzhou factory was renamed T11. TCL also confirmed that financial data from both facilities had already been included in its second-quarter earnings report. The deal marks LG Display’s official withdrawal from LCD manufacturing operations in mainland China.
TCL now expands its control over mid-to-large-size LCD panel production, strengthening its position in the global display market. While LG Display and other rivals have shifted focus toward OLED and high-end display technologies, TCL continues to invest in LCD production capacity to serve mainstream demand in televisions, monitors, and commercial displays.
This acquisition allows TCL CSOT to scale production while maintaining competitive pricing. The company aims to grow its market share in a segment that still accounts for a large portion of global panel shipments. With LG Display’s exit, TCL gains additional manufacturing resources and greater leverage in the supply chain.
In related news, China’s TV market continued to shrink in the third quarter, with shipments falling by 10.4% and deeper declines expected in the fourth quarter.
(Source)
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China’s TV Market Shrinks Again: Q3 Shipments Drop 10.4%, Deeper Cuts Expected in Q4
China’s TV market is losing steam, and not just by inches. September shipments fell 8.5% year on year to 2.92 million units, according to new data from RUNTO Technology. The number may look decent next to August’s, which was 17.3% lower, but it’s a temporary lift driven by seasonal stocking. The broader trend? Steady decline.
Q3 closed with 7.27 million units shipped, down 10.4% year on year, marking three straight months of double-digit contraction. The year-to-date total stands at 23.895 million units, 2.5% lower than the same period in 2024. And things aren’t likely to get better. With national subsidies tightening and last year’s Q4 setting a high bar, analysts expect the final quarter of 2025 to plunge even further.
Big brands are holding ground. The top eight domestic players, including Hisense, TCL, Skyworth, Xiaomi, Changhong, Haier, Konka, and Huawei, shipped 2.813 million units in September, capturing a combined share of over 95 percent, despite a 5.8 percent year-over-year decline. Hisense, TCL, and Skyworth alone commanded 62 percent of the market and saw only a negligible 0.5 percent year-on-year drop.
Xiaomi (Redmi TV included) clocked in around 500,000 units for the month, grabbing a 17.1 percent share. Meanwhile, Changhong, Haier, and Konka slid harder, with their combined shipments falling 14 percent to about 440,000 units.
Huawei’s yearly total is hovering around 700,000 units, likely to finish under a million, while foreign brands like Samsung, Sony, and Sharp remain niche players, shipping just tens of thousands of units monthly.
The real question is whether Q4’s looming subsidy freeze will trigger a sharper market contraction or if leading brands will tighten their grip and weather the coming storm. Either way, 2025’s final tally may end up redefining the baseline for China’s TV industry.
In related news, TCL has recently launched its R94 and R84 series gaming monitors, both featuring QD-Mini LED technology and a 165Hz refresh rate. The R94 lineup offers 4K resolution with 2304 local dimming zones for superior contrast and precision lighting control, while the R84 series delivers up to 1500 nits peak brightness for vibrant HDR visuals and smooth gaming performance.
(Via)