A new OLED panel technology developed by Chinese manufacturer TCL CSOT, based on techniques originally pioneered by JOLED, is set to address one of the primary limitations of current OLED displays: full-screen brightness. This novel 'inkjet' printing process promises a full-screen brightness capability of 500 nits, a substantial increase from the roughly 300 nits offered by existing OLED panels.
The inkjet printing method involves depositing OLED material directly onto the display substrate, differing from the evaporation and metal-mask techniques used by manufacturers like Samsung and LG. MSI has already introduced a PC monitor utilizing the first generation of TCL CSOT's inkjet OLED panel, which achieved a full-screen brightness of 300 nits. This figure aligns with the capabilities of current QD-OLED and WOLED panels from major manufacturers.
This new generation of inkjet OLED technology represents a significant step forward. Previous generations of OLED monitors for PCs, which debuted with around 250 nits of full-screen brightness, have seen incremental improvements. The projected 500 nits offers the most substantial single increase in full-screen brightness since OLED technology became widely adopted for PC monitors.
While specific details on how this increased brightness is achieved remain scarce, the panel boasts 99% DCI-P3 color coverage and maintains a true RGB-stripe subpixel structure. This structure is beneficial for both clarity and color vibrancy. TCL CSOT also claims that its inkjet OLED panels excel in color volume, maintaining consistent coverage regardless of brightness levels, a potential advantage over current QD-OLED and WOLED technologies which can struggle to maintain full color volume at lower brightness.
Achieving 500 nits of full-screen brightness is seen by many as a benchmark that effectively solves the brightness limitations for typical PC monitor use cases. While higher brightness levels might be beneficial in niche scenarios like outdoor use, 500 nits is expected to provide a vibrant and comfortable viewing experience for most users.
Details regarding the availability and form factors of monitors featuring this new inkjet OLED technology are yet to be announced. Further information is expected as the technology progresses toward commercial release.