OLED TVs are renowned for their stunning picture quality, with inky blacks, vivid colors, and sharp detail. However, the rare earth minerals needed to produce these results have made OLED TVs significantly more expensive than LED models. Well, this could change thanks to an exciting new discovery from South Korea.
Researchers at Dongguk University have developed a new manufacturing process for OLED displays that replaces costly rare earth minerals with more abundant and affordable materials.
Also Read: Five Cheap 120Hz TVs For Gaming You Should Consider
Specifically, researchers ground together manganese bromide and benzyltriphenylphosphonium bromide into a solution, which was then used to grow single crystals of manganese benzyl (MnBz).
These MnBz crystals were used to create a highly efficient light-emitting device that could enable OLED displays with image quality rivalling current models but at a fraction of the production cost.
In fact, the LEDs created with the new process set a record for efficiency while requiring very little voltage to operate.
Mass Production Could Further Lower OLED TV Prices
While it remains to be seen precisely how much cheaper this method could make OLED panel production, the potential savings are significant. If scaled successfully to mass production, manufacturers would likely pass on at least some savings to consumers shopping for OLED TV deals.
Over time, widespread adoption of this more efficient, lower-cost production technique could make OLED televisions much more competitively priced against LED-LCD models. Instead of paying a sometimes steep premium for the exceptional image quality of OLED, the technology could become mainstream.
When Will Lower-Cost OLED TVs Reach Store Shelves?
Unfortunately, the researchers did not provide a specific timeline for implementing this discovery in commercial OLED production. The process may require further development and refinement before manufacturers can integrate it without sacrificing quality or yields.
But the promising results thus far indicate it’s only a matter of time, likely a few years at most. Some projections anticipate that the materials alone will reduce costs by 30–50%, so affordable OLED TVs could arrive sooner than expected.
For now, early adopters of OLED technology pay for the privilege. But thanks to clever materials science hacking away at production expenses, outstanding image quality may soon come at an outstanding price within reach of more consumers. Exciting innovations like this could democratize premium display tech.
