The rumor that Samsung could buy OLED displays from LG caused a stir in the last two days. Samsung has officially contradicted this and even goes one better: QLED televisions have a better picture quality than OLEDs from LG, so that nothing will change in terms of use.
Korean media had previously reported that Samsung could buy two, three or even four million OLED displays from LG for its own TV line. Samsung had given up its own OLEDs for large TV sets years ago and pursued other approaches such as QLED but also MicroLED and Mini-LED. The problem for Samsung is the LCD production, which is manufactured on the mainland in China at dumping prices, which is why they looked for an exit and an alternative here last year.
LG, on the other hand, continued to pursue OLED production and is now delivering the panels not only to its own house brand LG Electronics, but also to Sony, Philips, Panasonic, Vizio and up-and-coming Chinese manufacturers.
A strike timed to match the rumors
The timing of the rumors about a possible purchase of competing panels was probably anything but random. Because at the beginning of the week, the first strike in the company's history began at Samsung Display. Although still on a very small scale with only a few employees who stopped their work for about 90 minutes, this should not only emphasize the demands for 6.5 percent more salary. Whether the next larger strike round is pending is still open, the manufacturer is ready to negotiate and has already received up to 4.5 percent more money. Until May 2020, Samsung was not allowed to form unions. Now around ten percent of the workforce belong to this group.
At the end of the day, Samsung's denial was surprisingly clear, incidentally the second within two months after it was already mentioned in mid-April , Samsung would buy OLEDs from LG, which were also denied as a rumor by Samsung at the time. LG stayed out of the matter today and simply stated that there was nothing to confirm regarding the rumors.