Samsung, LG and TCL to compete fiercely over MiniLED TV in 2021
Over 4 million units to be shipped this year
Major TV makers have shown off their new MiniLED TV line-up for 2021 and intense competition is expected in key markets.
MiniLED TV is a liquid crystal display (LCD) TV that uses MiniLEDs instead of LEDs for backlighting.
MiniLED uses LED chips in the 100 to 200 micrometer size range, much smaller than conventional 300 micrometer LED chips.
Smaller chips mean more of them can be packed together as the backlight unit (BLU). This increases contrast ratio and offers more segmented local dimming to deeper blacks in LCD TVs.
World’s top three TV makers, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and TCL showed off their new MiniLED TVs at CES 2021 earlier this month.
Samsung launched its Neo QLED TV, through the company didn’t announce how many MiniLED chips were used and how many local dimming zones the TV has. They will began sales in March, offered in 4K and 8K resolutions.
LG Electronics unveiled its QNED TV last month prior to CES. The 86-inch, 8K version has over 30,000 MiniLEDs. It also has 2,500 local dimming zones. LG is planning to launch them in 86, 90, 95 and 99-inch sizes.
TCL showed off its own version called OD Zero at CES 2021. It is the company’s Gen 3 MiniLED TV __ it launched its first back in 2019, the 8-Series Roku TV. TCL claims the O in OD Zero stands for the near 0mm distance between the LCD and the backlight. The TV will launch in the second half of 2021.
Hisense launched its own brand called ULED TV at CES 2021. The 4K version will come in 65 and 75-inches while the 8K version will come in 75-inches.
According to Display Supply Chain Consultants, over 4 million MiniLED TV are expected to be shipped this year.
Market research firm UBI Research expects Samsung and LG to lead the development of new MiniLED TVs, though TCL was the first to launch them. MiniLED will also overtake OLED in market share after 2024, the firm expects.
Samsung will account for half of all MiniLED TV shipment this year, Stonepartners said.
In 2021, a total of 223 million TV is expected to be shipped, a 2.8% increase from 2020, according to market research firm TrendForce.