This is a first for Samsung Display, which decided to make an impression (and an eye-catcher) during its first participation in the Augmented World Expo (AWE) in Long Beach, California. The company presented an impressive series of displays dedicated to mixed reality (XR) headsets, including OLEDoS panels reaching up to 20,000 nits of brightness and a record density of 5,000 pixels per inch (ppi).
Big game for Samsung
OLEDoS panels, which are based on a silicon substrate instead of the usual glass, allow for increased performance on small surfaces, ideal for augmented or virtual reality headsets. Samsung combines this technology with a micro-lens array to improve viewing angles and brightness. The result: miniature screens as sharp, or sharper, than a 4K TV.
The flagship model, a 1.4-inch RGB OLEDoS panel with 5,000 ppi and 15,000 nits, had already attracted attention at Display Week in May, where it won a People's Choice Award in the AR/VR/MR category. For AWE, Samsung went even further, unveiling a 1.3-inch prototype with 4,200 ppi and 20,000 nits, a first in the sector.
The show was also an opportunity for Samsung to highlight a whole range of OLED-related products, from foldable to expandable screens. Among them, a "Flex Gaming" panel concept for portable devices, a 12.4-inch foldable and rollable version, and a stunning stretchable micro-LED display.
On the gaming side, Samsung presented its 49- and 27-inch QD-OLED monitors, as well as a customized version of the Steam Deck console, equipped with a homemade OLED screen. The goal is to demonstrate that technologies developed for video games are perfectly transposable to XR headsets, where responsiveness and color fidelity are essential for immersion.
Samsung is counting on this convergence to consolidate its lead in the sector. According to its estimates, the XR screen market is expected to grow from $600 million in 2025 to more than $4 billion in 2030, with annual growth of 47%. OLEDoS panels alone are said to account for up to 80% of this market.
Samsung has been preparing a mixed reality headset running Android XR for several months, codenamed "Project Moohan." While the company hasn't confirmed which panel will be integrated into the final device, it's likely that the OLEDoS panels on display this week will be its technological heart (and eyes).
0 Comments