Monitor OLED Panel Roadmap Updates – March 2023

March 27, 2023 Simon Baker

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We have some updates from LG.Display and Samsung about their OLED monitor panel development plans for the next couple of years, which gives us an advanced view of what might arrive in the monitor space. Keep in mind this is LG.Display and Samsung as panel manufacturers, as opposed to LG Electronics or Samsung, the monitor/display manufacturers. This does give an indication of where monitors are likely to go in the future by looking ahead at their panel production plans. We have a separate articles covering LG.Display’s LCD panel plans, but this piece is focused on OLED only.

Please keep in mind that the production dates are not set in stone and may change, and there is then also a lag of several months before a panel is produced, then used in a display and launched to market. We will update our panel parts database with all the new information we have as well as best we can.

Related content: a more recent panel roadmap video covering OLED monitor panels for 2024 and 2025 is now available here

Index

Recap of current LG.Display OLED panel options in monitor(ish) sizes

LG 27GR95QE already available with LG’s 27″ 1440p 240Hz WOLED panel

As a quick reminder and recap, LG.Display currently produce the following spec panels in their “WOLED” range, which are already being used in a variety of released or announced displays:

27″ 1440p resolution, 240Hz refresh rate – as featured in displays like the LG 27GR95QE or the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG27AQDM which we’ve reviewed both. Other models coming soon from Acer, Dough and Corsair.
45″ ultrawide with 3440 x 1440 resolution and 240Hz refresh rate (bendable or curved format) – as featured in displays like the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 that we’ve already reviewed, and also a model announced by LG
42″ 4K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate (138Hz with overclock) – available in displays designed as TV’s (e.g. LG 42C2 that we’ve reviewed, and the forthcoming C3 model), and also some designed as monitors (for example the Asus ROG Swift PG42UQ and the KTC G42P5 that we’ve reviewed).
48″ 4K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate (138Hz with overclock) – hard to call this a monitor size really, but some people use these larger screens for desktop use. There’s been a range of TV based options over the last few years (e.g. LG CX, C1, C2) and some released as monitors from Asus, BenQ and others.

Recap of current Samsung QD-OLED panel options in monitor sizes

Dell Alienware AW3423DW already available with Samsung’s 175Hz QD-OLED panel

Then from Samsung’s point of view, their competing QD-OLED panel technology is produced in the following monitor panel sizes so far:

34″ ultrawide 3440 x 1440 resolution, 175Hz refresh rate – as featured in quite a few screens including the Dell Alienware AW3423DW we’ve reviewed before and others like the Alienware AW3423DWF and Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 for instance.
49″ super ultrawide with 5120 x 1440 resolution, 240Hz refresh rate – announced for use in some upcoming monitors yet to be released including the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 and MSI Project 491C.

As you can see, so far the two OLED manufacturers have avoided overlapping their line-up of panel sizes, but there are plans by both to broaden their options in the coming years which will change that in some areas.

Future LG.Display WOLED Monitor Panel Plans

LG.Display will continue to invest in their existing and widely used WOLED technology, with a focus (as ever) on new panel sizes, resolution increase, improved pixel density and increased refresh rates. This will include new 4K options in a range of sizes and refresh rates up to 480Hz! LG.Display are also looking to address concerns around OLED peak brightness, hoping to improve the brightness across middle sized APL, as well as increasing the peak brightness up to around 1300 nits+.

Here are some of the exciting new panel options planned:

21:9 aspect ratio ultrawide format

34″ Ultrawide with 3440 x 1440 resolution and 240Hz – not afraid to overlap with Samsung’s QD-OLED sizes, LG.Display are planning to produce a 34″ ultrawide panel with the same 3440 x 1440 resolution as Samsung’s offering, but with a higher 240Hz refresh rate. This will have either a 1000R or 800R curvature, TBC.
- This panel is listed for Q1 2024 production at the moment
39″ ultrawide with 3440 x 1440 resolution and 240Hz – a new screen size sitting in between their current 45″ ultrawide, and the planned new smaller 34″ ultrawide is this 39″ option. It has the same resolution and 240Hz refresh rate, but offers a slightly bigger format for increased immersion, without the pixel density being as low as it is on the 45″ option. This will be a bendable format panel, so could be used in flat, curved or fully bendable monitors like the current 45″ panel offering.
- This panel is listed for Q1 2024 production at the moment
45″ ultrawide with high resolution 5120 x 2160 (ultrawide UHD) and 165Hz refresh rate – the refresh rate is lower than their current 240Hz 45″ panel, but the resolution is significantly increased and should be far more suitable for all non-gaming uses on a screen this large than the current 3440 x 1440 resolution option. This would also represent a step change in pixel density on any of their WOLED panels, increasing from the current approximate 105 – 110 PPI options (42″ 4K and 26.5″ 1440p) to around 123 PPI.
- This panel is not expected to be released for quite some time although it is listed as being in production stage, as opposed to planning. It’s tentatively listed for Q1 2025 at the moment which seems an awfully long way off. Let’s hope it’s actually sooner.

16:9 aspect ratio format

27″ with 1440p and 480Hz refresh rate – building on the excellent motion clarity of the current 240Hz OLED options, LG.Display plan to push this further with a 480Hz refresh rate panel option. It has the same 27″ (actually 26.5″) screen size and 2560 x 1440 resolution but the refresh rate is doubled. For games and content where you can drive 480fps, this should offer amazing motion clarity, which should be equivalent to a (currently hypothetical) 720Hz LCD panel in clarity. These refresh rates should also be easy for OLED panels to keep up with, thanks to their near-instant response times.
27″ with 4K resolution and 240Hz – there is less information about this potential panel and it’s still to be confirmed, but this option is mentioned also as under consideration. If produced, this would be a much higher pixel denisty option, which is likely to be a challenge and probably why it’s still only in consisderation stage.
42″ with 4K resolution and 240Hz refresh rate – another very likely popular choice is an update to the well-established 42″ sized OLED panel with 3840 x 2160 “4K” resolution. LG.Display plan to double the refresh rate from 120Hz to 240Hz, offering another 4K @ 240Hz option, but this time in a larger screen size. This is bound to be popular for those looking for a hybrid monitor/TV option, for content consumption, console gaming etc. Whether or not this higher refresh rate panel would be used in TV ranges like the LG C series remains to be seen, but it’s nice to see the option available for monitor use certainly.
31.5″ with 4K resolution and 240Hz refresh rate (+480Hz support) – this one is very interesting and deserves it’s own section, covered below.

All 3 of these new 16:9 panels (excluding the 27″ 4K 240Hz which is still in planning) are currently expected around Q3 2024 so there’s a bit of a wait, but definitely some exciting options to look forward to in the OLED monitor space.

31.5″ with 4K and 240Hz refresh rate (and 480Hz support!)

This is likely to be the most popular and eagerly awaited OLED panel option we think. A ~32″ sized panel with a 3840 x 2160 “4K” resolution and an impressive 240Hz refresh rate, including also an innovative approach to supporting 480Hz as well! Since the release of the 27″ 1440p 240Hz panels this year, we’ve had loads of feedback from people saying they want a 32″ 4K 144Hz model instead, so this planned panel will surpass those expectations with an even high refresh rate at 240Hz.

This would also represent a step change in pixel density on any of their WOLED panels, increasing from the current ~105 – 110 PPI limit options (42″ 4K and 26.5″ 1440p) to ~140 PPI which is their highest density panel confirmed from LG.Display at the moment. A 27″ 4K is also being discussed but not firm at this stage, which would be even higher density if produced.

Dynamic Frequency and Resolution (DFR) – choose between resolution or refresh rate!

One of the most interesting developments planned is the new “DFR” (Dynamic Frequency and Resolution) technology. This allows you to choose whether you want to prioritise resolution of refresh rate, giving great flexibility for different gaming scenarios and offering you the best of both worlds. The planned new 31.5″ 4K 240Hz panel will be the first to feature DFR.

For graphics focused games and for those who want to prioritise detail and resolution, you can run in the native 4K @ 240Hz mode, which is already very fast anyway. But there is also the option to switch to a 1080p resolution (1920 x 1080) and run the same panel at 480Hz instead! So for games focused on speed, frame rates and competitive Esports, this could be a really useful option.

DFR allows
4K at 240Hz….OR
1080p at 480Hz

More information about this will be available in the future, but we will be interested to see how this would work with screen scaling – could you run the 1080p @ 480Hz in a smaller window size for instance to simulate a smaller monitor? And also if there are any midway options like 1440p @ 360Hz also possible? Right now, the prospect of 4K @ 240Hz or 1080p @ 480Hz from the same 31.5″ panel is definitely very interesting.

LG.Display plan to increase the brightness of these future panels, with target specs of 1300 nits peak brightness (HDR) and 275 nits (100% APL) suggested.

This new panel is expected around Q3 2024.

Future Samsung QD-OLED Plans

We have less detail at the moment on Samsung’s QD-OLED plans or any dates unfortunately, but we do have some headlines. Here are some of the new panel options planned from Samsung – more info as we get it:

34″ ultrawide with 3440 x 1440 and 240Hz refresh rate – building on their existing 175Hz panel option in this space, Samsung are intending to increase the refresh rate to 240Hz in a new panel. This would compete directly with LG.Display’s scheduled alternative and allow them to remain competitive in the 34″ ultrawide OLED panel space.
31.5″ with 3840 x 2160 “4K” resolution and 240Hz – a direct competitor to the panels LG.Display are planning from their technology
27″ with 3840 x 2160 “4K” resolution and 240Hz – again directly competing with an option LG.Display are currently considering. Could Samsung get this high density option to market first?
27″ with 2560 x 1440 resolution and 360Hz – this would be an alternative to LG.Display’s existing WOLED option of this size and resolution, but with an increased refresh rate of 360Hz above LG.Display’s current 240Hz option.

More details on Samsung’s QD-OLED plans if and when we get it.