Mini LED TV Battle Intensifies... 3 Reasons Why It’s Gaining Attention

① Early Market Capture ② Competition with China ③ LCD Price Increase Variables

Samsung Electronics Neo QLED TV

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The battle for premium LCD TVs, specifically mini LED TVs, is drawing attention as it kicks off in earnest. Samsung Electronics opened the gates by launching the Neo QLED TV in March, followed by LG Electronics set to release the QNED TV later this month. Chinese company TCL, which was the first to introduce mini LED TVs, is also expected to launch new products this month, intensifying the competition for market leadership. Why is the global electronics industry focusing on the mini LED battle led by major Korean and Chinese electronics companies?

First, for TV manufacturers seeking to diversify their portfolios, securing a foothold in new markets is crucial. The key interest lies in who will first dominate the mini LED TV market, the highest-end segment of LCD TVs. Mini LED TVs are based on LCD technology that densely packs LEDs measuring 100 to 200 micrometers (㎛) around the backlight, which serves as the light source. This reduces the size of the backlight LEDs used in LCDs and improves contrast ratios. Industry experts evaluate these products as having better price competitiveness compared to OLED or microLED TVs.

According to market research firm Omdia, the market, which was around 100,000 units last year, is expected to expand to 3 million units this year, making it important to seize market leadership. With Samsung Electronics currently leading the mini LED TV market centered on Neo QLED TVs, how much LG Electronics and TCL’s new products can catch up will be a key point of competition among TV manufacturers in the second half of this year.

Another point of interest is that the mini LED TV market is expected to become a fierce battleground between Korean and Chinese companies. Currently, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics hold over 50% of the global TV market share, but TCL introduced mini LED TVs to the market earlier than Korean companies in 2019. Earlier this year, TCL introduced its proprietary technology ‘OD Zero,’ which significantly reduces the distance between the backlight and the LCD panel, and plans to upgrade its existing mini LED TVs this month. Chinese companies are also expected to adopt strategies to expand market share by significantly lowering prices.

TrendForce commented, "Chinese brands capturing market share with cost-effective products could be a tremendous growth driver in the mini LED TV market." This is a point that Korean companies cannot ignore.

A variable to watch is the rising price trend of LCD panels. Since mini LED TVs are a type of LCD TV, continued increases in the price of LCD panels, a key component, could lead to deteriorating profitability or higher product prices. An industry insider said, "Even if the market is captured first, concerns about profitability could grow, so strategic changes may occur depending on future circumstances."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.