Under mounting pressure in the OLED display market, LG Electronics faces a new challenger as TCL prepares to enter the OLED arena — a move that could reshape the global TV and OLED display landscape.

Long perceived as a value-oriented Chinese brand and a major OEM manufacturer, TCL is now targeting the premium display market. The company has started to build a A$6.4 billion OLED manufacturing plant in China, marking a major step up in its ambitions.

The facility will be the world’s first OLED production line using inkjet printing technology, a process that reportedly cuts manufacturing costs by around 20%.


This cost advantage could allow TCL to undercut both LG and Samsung, tightening competition in a market historically dominated by the two Korean giants.

TCL’s move comes as Chinese manufacturers already lead in the LCD segment, and analysts warn that TCL’s expansion could see them capturing share across OLED, LCD, and RGB LCD markets — potentially impacting OLED sales as early as 2026.

Unlike traditional OLED production methods that rely on evaporation techniques, TCL CSOT (the company’s display division) plans to print OLED materials directly onto substrates, a method expected to reduce costs significantly while maintaining high display quality. TCL claims its RGB OLED panels could even outperform LG’s current OLED offerings.

A85N OLED TV by Hisense.

LG, once the undisputed leader in OLED innovation, is now betting on RGB LED panels, which it plans to sell alongside OLED TVs in an effort to revive market momentum by 2026.

The new TCL factory will be capable of processing 22,500 large-format (8.6-generation) substrates each month. These glass substrates — measuring over two metres across — serve as the foundation for OLED layers and can later be cut into smaller panels for use in smartphones, tablets, notebooks, and monitors, as well as TVs.

Jun Zhao, Senior Vice President of TCL Technology and CEO of TCL CSOT, said the project represents a major milestone for the industry:

“Our T8 production line marks a breakthrough for the global display industry, showcasing technological capabilities and market potential in the high-generation AMOLED sector. By bringing together the entire value chain — from foundational materials to final assembly — we are creating a fully integrated industrial cluster designed to compete globally.”

Mass production is scheduled to begin in 2027, with TCL initially focusing on smaller OLED screens before scaling up to larger TV panels.

How this move will impact future TV technology and pricing remains to be seen — but one thing is clear: TCL is no longer content to play in the budget segment.