Taiwan's two major panel makers posted their highest combined revenue in four years in 2025, with December showing both month-over-month and year-over-year growth. As China now dominates the global LCD panel market, both companies have spent recent years pushing transformation initiatives. Market expectations for 2026 suggest that AU Optronics' (AUO) display revenue could drop below 50% of total revenue.

Benefiting from increased shipments of new and existing electric vehicle (EV) models, LED automotive lighting module maker Laster Tech reported consolidated revenue of NT$2.201 billion (approx. US$69.5 million) for the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a quarter-over-quarter growth of 8.83%. The company plans to adopt a selective order strategy in the Chinese market while enhancing its competitiveness within the North American supply chain.

Mini LED backlight TVs clearly dominated the show floor at CES 2026, overtaking OLED TVs as the next leading display technology. As major global brands jostle for position with the new technology, Mini LED TV shipments are expected to exceed 20 million units in 2026.

South Korea's optoelectronics industry once grew rapidly with Gwangju as its center, but growth slowed under competition from China. The National Assembly of South Korea recently held a forum to discuss the current state of the photonics market, including opportunities and challenges for Gwangju, which was once a major photonics hub. As optical technologies become core infrastructure supporting AI, cloud computing, and autonomous driving, South Korea's industry is calling for Gwangju to make a transformative integration.

LED driver IC designer Macroblock stated that Micro LED applications based on PCB substrates have been rolled out one after another, while Micro LED applications using glass substrates are expected to enter the mass production stage starting in 2026. The company expects double-digit annual growth, with more than 10 new vehicle models set to adopt its automotive IC products in 2026. Macroblock is optimistic that the share of automotive products will increase from 14% to nearly 20% in 2026.

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.