MicroLED promises to be the next big thing in TV technology after OLED displays, but the price tags associated with some of the earliest models are a tad unrealistic for most consumers. With Samsung’s recently announced 89-inch MicroLED TV set to launch in South Korea for the princely sum of approximately $100,000, it’s clear that it’s an ultra-luxury product.
However, an optimistic forecast from the number crunchers at Omdia suggests that MicroLED TV prices might soon be within the reach of the upper middle class, at least. It believes MicroLED display prices will plummet by 75% within the next four years, according to a report by Business Korea.
MicroLED, similar to OLED, is a self-emissive display technology featuring an array of micro-sized LEDs precisely arranged to achieve ultra-high-resolution and image quality. It's regarded as an ideal display technology due to its lack of burn-in issues, a common drawback of OLED. However, challenges remain in terms of miniaturization and high cost.
Early adopters have always had to pay more for newer technologies, and that’s especially true when it comes to TVs. The problem is that it takes time for display makers to refine their production processes to consistently build the products to a high standard, with acceptable yields. Only then can they achieve the economy of scale required to start reducing prices.
That explains why OLED display technology took almost a decade to achieve the wider adoption it has now. The earliest OLED TVs were pricey, but now they’re affordable to a large section of consumers. According to Omdia, MicroLED is likely to repeat that pattern, with noticeable price declines expected each year until 2027.
The report notes that the current price for smaller MicroLED panels of between 10.1 and 14.6 inches averages between $5,800 and $10,000. However, by 2027 Omdia believes that price will fall to just $1,200 for the smallest sizes.
That’s good news for anyone looking to buy a MicroLED PC or tablet, as those sizes are an ideal fit for such devices. However, the larger the panel goes, the more the cost increases, and even if Samsung is able to slash the price tag of its 89-inch MicroLED TV by 75%, that would still mean a price tag of $25,000 at the very cheapest.
In other words, MicroLED TVs will remain an ultra-premium product for some time to come, but at least they’re beginning to approach the realm of affordability. Especially if you start saving up now.
