In a strategic move to diversify its display supply chain, Apple has selected Tianma Microelectronics to provide 7-inch LCD panels for its upcoming screen-equipped HomePod, scheduled for release in 2025. The Chinese manufacturer secured the contract with an aggressive pricing of US$10 per unit, which industry observers note is exceptionally competitive even among Chinese suppliers.

Despite continued weak demand for South Korean displays and components in 2024, an unexpected recovery has emerged near year-end. Analysts interpret this trend as a response to the impending inauguration of Donald Trump, prompting Chinese finished equipment manufacturers to actively build component inventories to mitigate potential escalation in the US-China trade war.

LG Display (LGD) has spent over a decade investing in OLED TV panel technology. However, the market's growth remains sluggish as Samsung Electronics and Chinese manufacturers prioritize LCD TVs. Analysts anticipate a limited recovery in the OLED TV market before 2025.

Taiwan's LCD panel industry, despite making significant technological advances amid intense Chinese competition, continues to face financial challenges. Innolux president James Yang, speaking at the 12th National Science and Technology Conference on December 16, 2024, called for the government to extend industry subsidy programs beyond 2025.

Taiwanese panel maker Innolux has established its Intelligent Automation Solutions (IAS) Business Center, which focuses on three major product lines targeting smart manufacturing and medical care applications. The company expects the unit's revenue to grow by five to tenfold in 2025.

Amid growing US-China tensions, display maker EDT is preparing to diversify its manufacturing footprint beyond Taiwan, joining a wider industry shift that could reshape Asia's tech supply chains. As global manufacturers seek to diversify their supply chains beyond China while maintaining their Taiwan operations, many are adopting what's known as the Taiwan +1 strategy - keeping core operations in Taiwan while expanding to an additional production base in Southeast Asia. EDT sees significant opportunities in this Taiwan +1 strategy, with plans for production line investments in Southeast Asia set for 2025.

Following Huawei's recent advancements, TCL, a leading Chinese home appliance brand, has revealed its dual-folding technology, signaling potential plans for a tri-fold smartphone. This move has sparked industry speculation on whether Samsung Electronics will join the competition in the tri-fold smartphone segment.

Samsung Display (SDC) recently announced its routine personnel changes, naming Vice President Joohyung Lee as the new head of its most profitable division, the small- and medium-sized display sector. Chung Yi, the previous head of this unit, has been promoted to president and will now serve as SDC's president, as highlighted by The Korea Herald.

Foldable smartphone shipment momentum continues to be strong for certain major mobile phone brands despite their low popularity in the end market. However, as development shifts toward lighter and thinner designs, brand manufacturers are investing in material upgrades, which has raised the technical threshold for the supply chain.

LCD TV panel prices have fluctuated heavily in 2024: prices surged early in the year, as Chinese panel makers reduced production during the Lunar New Year holidays, and brand manufacturers scrambled to stock up on inventory amid the Red Sea crisis. However, TV manufacturers began to slow down after July, leading to a drop in panel prices as the demand surge subsided.

The patent dispute between Samsung Display (SDC) and BOE has intensified, with each company initiating lawsuits in the US and China. Meanwhile, the geopolitical climate, especially the tensions between the US and China, further complicates this industry rivalry and may affect panels' supply chain and pricing dynamics.