Although CES 2026 is not traditionally a smartphone-focused event, TCL drew attention with its new NxtPaper 70 Pro smartphone. The device features NxtPaper 4.0 display technology, with its most notable difference from conventional smartphones being a dedicated shortcut key that allows users to switch display modes.

LG Display president Jeong Chul-dong has pledged to make transparent OLED a core growth priority in 2026, aiming to lift panel transparency from 45% to 70% as the company targets XR devices and next-generation automotive displays.

As 2026 begins, the LCD TV panel market typically enters a seasonal slowdown. However, due to the upcoming FIFA World Cup and strategic order increases by South Korean TV brands, demand for LCD TV panels in the fourth quarter of 2025 exceeded expectations and has carried into the first quarter of 2026. This momentum pushed LCD TV panel prices higher starting in January.

Tex Year Industries has just about completed its layout in specialty adhesives, materials, and chemicals for the AI and optoelectronics industries. It expects to see a significant increase in shipments and double-digit growth in 2026. This year, Tex Year will focus on five areas: AI cloud data centers, EVs, drones, smartphones, and Mini LED displays.

At CES 2026, TCL showcased new TVs but removed the "NXT FRAME" trademark following a German court ruling in February 2025 that favored Samsung Electronics' "The Frame" over trademark infringement.

CES 2026 opened on January 6 (Pacific Time), offering not only a snapshot of technology trends but also a clear signal of shifting industry power. Ahead of the show, industry watchers had widely expected Japanese and South Korean brands to scale back. DIGITIMES on-site reporting confirms that Samsung Electronics and SK Group — both major Central Hall exhibitors in 2025 — were absent from the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) this year, with their former prime locations taken over by Chinese companies led by TCL.

The e-paper market is rapidly expanding, with E Ink projecting the global market size to reach approximately US$8.7 billion in 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 30%. To address confusion among competing technologies, E Ink has launched a global positioning initiative that clearly defines true e-paper technology by three key criteria: zero watts static power consumption, reflective display, and eye protection.

Facing the memory shortage, PC companies are aggressively promoting new models at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), hoping to regain momentum. Acer rolled out multiple new series, including Aspire, Predator, and Swift AI. Dell introduced the return of its classic thin-and-light XPS lineup and revealed that its gaming brand Alienware will launch new products.

The LCD monitor end market entered a seasonal downturn at the start of 2026, with panel demand relatively weak. However, rising LCD TV panel prices and some brands increasing inventory for low-cost monitor panels, combined with panel makers' production cuts during the Lunar New Year holiday in February 2026, have pushed up demand for LCD monitor panels earlier than usual.

AU Optronics' new subsidiary, AUO Mobility Solutions Corporation, presented its latest automotive display and connectivity technologies at CES 2026. Under the theme "Together, We Drive The New Era," the company is focusing on display interfaces, automotive computing, and intelligent vehicle connectivity. It showcased collaborations to create human-centered smart cockpits as a "third space."

Samsung hosted The First Look ahead of the opening of CES 2026, led by head of the Device eXperience (DX) division Han Jong-hee, together with SW Yong, head of the Visual Display (VD) Business, and CK Kim, head of the Digital Appliances (DA) Business. The theme of this year's event was to promote Samsung's "Companion to AI Living" vision for 2026.