As smartphone demand starts to wane due to the memory crisis, companies have been forced to adjust their shipment requirements for a multitude of components, including OLED panels. As a result, this problem has branched out to the entire industry, as display manufacturers are feeling every bit of pressure due to the DRAM shortage. According to the latest statistics, OLED shipments for the first quarter of 2026 fell by 12 percent, but since there’s no reason to halt smartphone production completely, Korean firms continue to benefit.
Chinese OLED manufacturers like BOE have created a market for themselves amid the DRAM shortage, likely due to their position of providing affordable parts
The latest data from UBI Research, shared by The Elec, reveals that smartphone OLED shipments declined by 12 percent in Q1 2026 compared to Q1 2025, and the 190 million units tally represents a 20 percent decrease from the previous quarter, Q4 2025. Fortunately, for companies like Samsung, the scale at which the latter operates means that it can absorb the blow and retain a dominant position in the market.
Based on the latest data, Samsung has a 44 percent market share of smartphone OLED shipments, but LG’s grip in the sector is a measly 9 percent, despite the manufacturer’s reach increasing 1.4 percent compared to Q1 2025. UBI Research predicts the company’s market share will increase as it receives new panel orders for iPhones later this year. BOE, the Chinese firm that’s often viewed as a backup option for customers like Apple, is currently the second-largest OLED supplier with a 16 percent market share.
The company has carved out a decent position by offering OLEDs at a lower price, but based on Apple’s past experiences, BOE still needs to iron out some of its production problems that hamper both quality and quantity. Samsung is rumored to adopt BOE’s technology for the base Galaxy S27 as a means to reduce its rising components expenditure, thanks to the memory shortage, so while panel shipments have suffered during the past two quarters, there’s still an immense opportunity for these manufacturers to thrive.
News Source: The Elec
About the author: Omar Sohail is a reporter and analyst for Wccftech's mobile section, specializing in the technology and business of the mobile industry. His expertise lies in the intricate hardware supply chain, covering developments in semiconductor manufacturing, chip lithography, and camera sensor technology.
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