Foldable-screen notebooks are estimated to be priced more than NT$70,000 (US$2,469) due to the high components costs, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.
The sources pointed out that foldable displays are designed based on OLED panels, but Samsung Electronics, which has the largest capacity of OLED panels and the highest yield rate, reportedly has shown little interest in participating in foldable-screen notebook development.
Although China-based BOE may become the key display supplier of notebook-use foldable screens, the sources believe BOE's low yield rate and small OLED panel capacity will result in high prices for the foldable panels, while the specially designed hinges will also add up costs to the machines.
At the moment, entry-level to midrange notebooks are priced around NT$10,000-20,000.
Although a couple of notebook brands have expressed interest in releasing foldable-screen products, most other companies in the supply chain are still focusing on securing their material and component supplies instead of pushing new design innovations, the sources said.
