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Samsung Display starts world’s first 8.6-generation OLED panel production
Samsung Display is introducing the future of OLED technology with the construction of the world’s first 8.6th generation OLED panel production line. This strategic move is set to enhance their lead in the OLED market, especially as demand from major tech companies like Apple shifts towards OLED from LCD for laptops and tablets.
On March 8, Samsung Display celebrated a big event to welcome new equipment for the A6 line at its Asan campus in South Chungcheong Province, Korea. The event was graced by Samsung Display President Choi Ju-sun and key partners, showing the beginning of a bold journey toward innovation.
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With an investment of 4.1 trillion won announced by Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong, the company is set to start mass production in 2026. The new line will utilize larger mother glass, measuring 2290×2620 mm, to enhance production efficiency and reduce waste, a crucial step as the industry transitions to larger OLED panels for various IT devices.
Samsung’s foresight is clear as they prepare to supply OLED panels for Apple’s upcoming iPad Pro’s 6th generation on their current 6th-generation (1500x1850mm) line. The shift to the 8.6th-generation line promises increased profitability and a competitive edge in the OLED market.
An official in the Korean display industry said:
“By 2029, five years from now, four out of 10 panels for IT products will be replaced by OLED panels, and their annual sales will grow to 12 trillion won. We may have lost the LCD market to Chinese display makers but we must keep the OLED display market to maintain the competitiveness of set products such as smartphones and tablets made by Korean companies.”
Samsung restructures DRAM (memory) business to tackle intensifying Chinese memory chip surge. The company is reportedly revisiting its strategy amid growing competition from Chinese memory chipmakers and contract manufacturers.
Chosun reports that Samsung facing significant competition in the DRAM business. Chinese vendors aggressively enter the areas that are unaffected by the US sanctions. The company had to rethink its strategy to combat the Chinese surge surge.
Samsung’s DS Division head is tackling these challenges. The division is preparing for a potential workforce and organizational restructuring by the year-end. DS Division could scale back production of legacy DRAM and 8-inch foundry segment.
It’s worth noting that Chinese chip makers eyeing gains in areas such as legacy chips used in automobiles, aircraft, home appliances, and consumer electronics. The Q3 performance had taken a hit from weaker-than-expected memory chip demand.
Apart from this, Samsung Foundry is also adjusting course by reassigning workers from the 8-inch foundry line at its production facility in Giheung, Gyeonggi, where utilization rates have also been significantly lowered.
At the recent earnings call, Samsung acknowledged its profitability has taken a hit due to the influx of Chinese DRAM. South Korea’s SK Hynix has also indirectly mentioned the pressures posed by increased Chinese DRAM supply.
At AI Forum 2024, Samsung discussed the future of AI with global experts. The company held this year’s AI Forum on November 4 and 5. The event was graced by the presence of world-renowned AI scholars and Computer Engineering experts.
Speakers:
- Professor Yoshua Bengio from the University of Montreal in Canada
- Yann LeCun, Meta’s Chief AI Scientist and Professor at New York University in the US
- Ian Horrocks, Professor at Oxford University in the UK
[Nov. 4] Sustainable Innovation with AI and Semiconductors
On November 4, Samsung’s AI Forum focused on “Sustainable Innovation with AI and Semiconductors.” Experts, including Prof. Bengio and LeCun, highlighted AI safety, LLM limitations, and advancements in semiconductor tech.
[Nov. 5] Device AI for Our Daily Lives
On the second day of Samsung’s AI Forum, AI scholars and experts discussed “Device AI for Our Daily Lives.” Key topics included knowledge graphs, AI for science, and techniques to improve large language models efficiently.
AI is changing our lives at a remarkable speed. There’s a need to responsibly use artificial intelligence as it becomes more powerful. Samsung reiterated its commitment to build a more efficient and sustainable AI ecosystem.
Samsung Galaxy S25 may disappoint you in terms of RAM configuration. The company is allegedly considering an awful downgrade for the next vanilla flagship. A wild rumor indicates 8GB RAM on the base variant, which will be terrible in 2025.
According to Jukanlosreve, Samsung may introduce the Galaxy S25 with 8GB RAM. The Plus and Ultra models could get 12GB RAM, while the Ultra gets 16GB in 1TB of storage. The decision is seemingly under consideration due to the low DRAM yield.
If Galaxy S25 comes with 8GB RAM, it would match the iPhone 16 but lag behind the Pixel 9. Notably, Apple Intelligence requires 8GB of RAM, settling a long-due RAM upgrade on base iPhone models this year.
Google also boosted RAM configuration, given the increased load of AI processing. While the rumor hints at 8GB RAM in the standard Galaxy S25, things may change as the leaker himself is unsure of the RAM-related input.
Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S24 feature 8GB RAM. Samsung brought up to 12GB RAM on select mid-range models. 12GB RAM as standard is a long-standing demand of Samsung’s smartphone users.
The next-gen flagships will be powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite and Gemini Nano AI models. The chipset can be optimized to perform well on 8GB RAM. However, Gemini Nano may not be able to deliver maximum performance without enough RAM.
Virtual RAM is just a gimmick. It has nothing to do with the phone’s performance or functional smoothness. The feature description itself reveals that apps will make use of virtual RAM to perform better for a reliable multitasking experience.
Samsung may change its plans regarding the RAM on the flagship model. Larger RAM is a requirement nowadays and the company must stay ahead of its key rivals, which are either matching or having an edge in key areas.