Samsung doubles down on OLED production as foldables gain traction

Samsung Display is one of the world's top display makers. It's also a leader in flexible OLED panel production, which puts the company in a league of its own as a supplier for foldable smartphones.

With foldables now gaining even more traction, thanks in part to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the hype surrounding Apple's first foldable iPhone, the company is now expanding its investment in OLED production.

According to reports out of South Korea, the company is resuming work on its A7 OLED production plant in Asan. This project was previously put on hold back in 2021 over demand concerns. Structural work on the new OLED plant has now been approved by Samsung Display and it expects work to be finished by early 2028.

The company estimates that demand for OLED panels may increase considerably over the coming years. It may see higher demand for flexible OLED panels in particular, driven by the expanding foldable smartphone lineup of Samsung's mobile division, as well as Apple's entry into the segment.

Another reason to resume work on the plant is to get ahead of the rising competition from Chinese OLED suppliers. Those display makers are rapidly enhancing their capability not just in capacity but also in technology. Timely investments in new OLED production facilities will ensure that Samsung Display continues to occupy its dominant position in the market.