Korean media: Samsung Display’s 8.6-generation OLED production line yield rate exceeds 80%

According to a report by Chosun Ilbo on April 8, Samsung Display’s 8.6th generation IT OLED production line yield has exceeded 80%. After delivering paid samples to customers in January this year, Samsung Display officially entered the mass production stage. It is reported that the company regards June and July this year as the time for full mass production of OLEDs for customer products, and is stepping up production. These OLEDs are expected to be used in new MacBook models that Apple plans to release in 2027.

Samsung Display announced in April 2023 that it would invest 4.1 trillion won to build an 8.6-generation OLED production line with a monthly production capacity of 15,000 pieces. A person familiar with Samsung Display said: "Recently, the yield rate of this production line has exceeded 80%, mass production is progressing smoothly, and the company expects to deliver mass production products to customers as planned."

Image source: Samsung Display

Samsung Display plans to exclusively supply the 14-inch and 16-inch panels required for Apple's MacBook Pro through its 8.6-generation production line, with annual shipments expected to be approximately 3 million units. Last month, the president of Samsung Display said when talking about the progress of the 8.6-generation OLED business: "Overall, everything is going well."

The report pointed out that Samsung Display is accelerating mass production to maintain its leading position in the 8.6-generation OLED field. At the same time, China's BOE recently stated that its 8.6-generation OLED business has entered the customer sample verification stage and plans to achieve mass production in the second half of this year as scheduled. In addition, TCL CSOT started ordering 8.6-generation OLED related equipment in February this year and is expected to achieve mass production in the second half of 2027.

It is reported that the 8.6th generation OLED is known as a "disruptor" in the display industry. Its core advantage lies in using a substrate that is approximately 2.25 times larger than the current mainstream 6th generation glass substrate, thereby significantly improving production efficiency and reducing production costs.