First InkJet Printed OLED Displays Expected in 2025

One of the most interesting things about CES is that once you get beyond the media-hyped products, there are a lot of new things to discover utilizing technology that you might not expect.

In the TV category, while the big hype for 2025 was AI and extra-large TVs, there was something small at the TCL booth that has been simmering for several years and just made a significant leap forward that could have implications for the future of OLED TVs. 

What I am referring to is TCL’s quiet mention, through its CSOT display arm (China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd), that it has brought InkJet Printed (IJP) OLED displays into the mass production stage via the Apex Technology Brand Label. Before we get into more details on this news, let us review what IJP OLED actually is and why it might matter.

What IJP OLED Is

Just as the name implies, instead of making OLED panels by traditional manufacturing methods, the pixels are placed on a panel using an inkjet printing process similar to your friendly home inkjet printer, but on a much larger scale, as illustrated in the following image and video. 

The IJP OLED Backstory

Currently, LG Display dominates the OLED market with WOLED Display Technology. All TV makers that market OLED TVs buy their panels from the LG Display Company. In addition, Samsung Display makes a variation of OLED display technology referred to as QD-OLED. Samsung and Sony both offer this technology in select TVs in their 2024/2025 lineups.

However, for over 10 years another variation, IJP (InkJet Printed) OLED has been in development. Panasonic and Sony both displayed prototypes at past trade shows (see examples below) but never moved forward with the technology. 

However, several years ago, TCL picked up the torch and is now running with it. Just like previous attempts, TCL has exhibited IJP prototypes in recent years at CES (and other related trade shows), but at the recently concluded 2025 CES, they announced and showed their first mass-produced IJP OLED product, a 21.6-inch monitor currently being sold for medical applications. 

Obviously this is a small step, but what is important is that IJP OLED is ready for public use. If the current CSOT/Apex model is successful, IJP OLED panels will be used in other small-screen display devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. TCL/CSOT also displayed a 27-inch pre-production IJP OLED model that is ready to go for PC or Gaming monitor use.

After that, it may just be a matter of scaling up both available screen sizes and manufacturing capacity, leading to TV screen sizes that would appeal to mainstream consumers. 

Comparison

The Bottom Line

As is with every TV product, there is always a question of price. At CES, no pricing was available for the current 21.6-inch monitor or what pricing might be for the possible forthcoming 27-inch model, and there is no indication as of yet how much a TV-sized IJP OLED TV might cost consumers. 

The inkjet printing process is designed to increase the stability of OLED pixels as well as increase production yields resulting in lower prices. If successful, TCL would become the third major player in the OLED technology landscape, joining LG and Samsung.

So far, TCL’s panel-making subsidiary (CSOT) reportedly invested $6.8 billion into an OLED inkjet printing production line which now appears up and running. 

We will continue to follow this story. 

Related Reading

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• LG’s Transparent OLED TV Arrives At $59,999
• Panasonic is Returning to the U.S. With A New Series of OLED and Mini-LED TVs
• 2024 TV Shootout Crowns New Kings of OLED and MiniLED/LCD TVs