Samsung Display Reveals New QD-OLED and Micro-OLED Tech for CES 2026
Samsung Display has announced its plans to display multiple new display technologies at CES 2026, including the 2026 QD-OLED TV panel which has been reputed to achieve a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. Samsung will also present a high-density 5000 ppi RGB micro-OLED destined for headsets.
2026 QD-OLED TV Panel
The new QD-OLED TV panel applies a newly optimized organic material to achieve the stated peak brightness of 4,500 nits. It combines the maximum brightness of each RGB component to improve not only color rendition but also perceived brightness. The technology should also be ready to take advantage of AI-based picture-quality optimization.
Brightness Claims vs. Real-World Performance
For the record, panel brightness specifications are generally different from the measured brightness of actual end-user products. Last year was an interesting one, for example, when Samsung Display's 2025 panel supposedly achieved 4000 nits, while actual measurements of commercial TVs using the panel—namely, the Samsung S95F and the Sony Bravia 8 II—were met with 2069 nits and 1689 nits, respectively, in peak brightness. Since it's a 12% increase from 4000 to 4500 nits in the panel brightness claim, a 2026 QD-OLED TV could reach about 2500 nits in calibrated mode. As per rumors, panel sizes for QD-OLED for 2026 are again expected to be under 77".
High-Density Micro-OLED for Headsets
Samsung Display also plans to showcase an RGB micro-OLED (OLEDoS) designed for VR/AR headsets.
- Size: 1.4 inches
- Pixel Density: 5,000 PPI (Pixels Per Inch), a considerable jump from the roughly 3400 ppi claimed in products such as Apple Vision Pro.
- Technology: The RGB sub-pixel configuration is engineered to provide improved colour performance over some current generation headsets' micro-WOLED panels.
- Other Speculated Features: 15,000 nits of peak brightness, DCI-P3 color gamut coverage at 99%, and 120Hz refresh rate.
Other Display Technologies Present at CES 2026
Other technologies that Samsung Display has planned to show include:
- QD-OLED Monitor Panels: From triangular to RGB 'V-stripe' sub-pixel architectures.
- AI-Powered Concepts: Things like an AI OLED Bot, a little robot with a 13.4-inch display, and speaker systems that integrate OLEDs.
- Automotive Displays: Novel cockpit ideas such as an 18.1-inch L-shaped center display and OLED tail lamps that can show alerts to the road.
- Durability Demonstrations: A dedicated zone will assess the robustness of the company's foldable OLED panels.
- UT (Ultra-Thin) OLEDs: To go into production in 2026, the panels will be 30% thinner and lighter.
