Do You Know Who Makes Your Smartphone Display? Check Out The List

When was the last time you admired a vibrant photo, streamed a video or read an article on your smartphone? The aspects of impeccable colours, sharpness and retina-beating clarity are the result of years of innovation that display manufacturers do. Brands like Samsung and LG have advertised their creations in innovative ways but there’s a vast network of other companies quietly shaping the technology behind your beloved screens.

Whether it's OLED or LCD, flat or curved, foldable or just plain old vanilla, your phone's display comes from manufacturers based out of South Korea, China, Taiwan and Japan, vying to dominate the market. The Chinese manufacturers, however, are scaling up their production and eyeing a world domination (as usual).  

According to a report from Trendforce, Chinese manufacturers are expected to capture 70 per cent of the global smartphone panel segment. This includes prominent companies like BOE, HKC, TCL CSOT, and Tianma, among others.

Let’s dive into the details of these top smartphone panel manufacturers and the market share they command.

Top smartphone display manufacturers

1) BOE

BOE has risen to become the world’s leading smartphone panel manufacturer, even overtaking Samsung in this segment. The company is projected to ship 593 million panel units in 2024, with a forecasted 2.8 per cent increase in 2025, reaching approximately 610 million units.

BOE has collaborated with various Chinese smartphone brands, including iQOO, OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo, Realme and Nubia. These partnerships gained traction after the green line issue became a common problem in Samsung's OLED displays, leading the BBK Group to explore BOE as an alternative.

However, BOE has faced legal challenges. Samsung sued the company for alleged patent violations involving five of its patents, including those used in iPhone 12 displays. The case remains unresolved in court.

Notable flagship devices like the OnePlus 13, Oppo Find X8 Pro, Nubia Z70 Ultra and iQOO 13 feature BOE OLED displays.

2) Samsung

Samsung remains a dominant force in the global OLED display market. The South Korean giant was the pioneer in commercialising AMOLED displays, introducing them in 2003 and launching the first AMOLED-equipped smartphone in 2009.

Samsung Display Corporation (SDC) commands 98 per cent of the AMOLED market, producing over 300 million AMOLED panels annually. By the end of 2024, Samsung’s total shipments are expected to reach 376 million units, although this figure is projected to decline by 3.1 per cent in 2025, dropping to 365 million units.

This decline is largely attributed to Apple’s efforts to diversify its panel suppliers. While Samsung has been the primary supplier for Apple’s iPhone displays, Apple’s search for alternatives like BOE has intensified. However, previous attempts to use BOE panels fell short in terms of quality.

Samsung displays are widely used in devices such as Google Pixel, iPhones, Xiaomi smartphones, Oppo devices and, of course, Samsung's Galaxy phones.

3) HKC

In October 2024, HKC partnered with Dixon to manufacture displays in India, establishing a manufacturing facility in Greater Noida. This joint venture is set to commence production in Q2 2025, with an initial capacity of 2 million units for mobile and laptop displays, expected to double in the second year.

By the end of 2024, HKC is projected to manufacture 219 million display units, with a forecasted 4.8 per cent increase in 2025 reaching 230 million units.

HKC primarily produces displays for TVs and laptops for brands like Acer, Motorola and Hisense. It also manufactures smartphone displays in collaboration with Dixon for brands like Motorola, Xiaomi, and Google Pixel, focusing mainly on LCD panels.

4) CSOT

TCL’s subsidiary, CSOT, is a key display supplier for Chinese smartphone brands, particularly Xiaomi. The partnership between TCL and Xiaomi began in 2022, with TCL CSOT displays now featured in Xiaomi smartphones.

TCL CSOT is expected to ship 191 million display units in 2024, with a slight increase to 192 million units in 2025.

Last year, Xiaomi used TCL CSOT panels in its flagship 14 series while iQOO utilised them in the Z9 Turbo+. CSOT specialises in TFT LCD, curved AMOLED and flexible AMOLED displays.

TCL is also renowned for its rollable OLED technology which enables displays to expand automatically. In addition to smartphone panels, the company manufactures TV displays under the TCL brand.

5) Tianma

Tianma focuses on manufacturing LTPS LCD display panels, which have seen declining demand as more manufacturers transition to AMOLED panels. The company is projected to ship 188 million units in 2024, with steady figures expected in 2025.

LTPS LCD panels are mainly used in low-end and budget smartphones, a segment that faces increasing challenges as consumer preferences shift towards higher-end devices.

Tianma also produces foldable displays which have gained popularity in devices like the Oppo Find X8, Meizu 21 Note, Realme 11 Pro and OnePlus Nord 4.