The world’s largest information technology (IT) and electronics exhibition, Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, which concluded last week, highlighted the dawn of the robotics era. Displays emerged as a crucial factor influencing robotic competitiveness. In this evolving landscape, Samsung Display and LG Display are both positioning themselves to lead the new display market with their cutting-edge organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology.
Industry sources reported on Tuesday that both companies are approaching robotic displays not as an experimental niche, but as a practical avenue for growth that builds on existing OLED technology. Their presentations at CES and executive statements clearly indicated a shift from a preparation phase to an expansion phase. Samsung Display emphasized broadening OLED applications to connect artificial intelligence (AI) robots with edge devices, while LG Display highlighted its strategy of leveraging automotive OLED expertise for the robotics market.
Samsung Display: Expanding OLED Through AI Robots and Wearables, Anticipating Surge in Display Demand
At CES 2026, Samsung Display prominently showcased OLED’s potential for robots and edge devices. They demonstrated an AI OLED Bot featuring a 13.4-inch OLED display, designed as an AI robot assistant for classroom guidance and information delivery. This underscored how displays can serve as both an expressive medium for robots and a crucial interface with users.
The company also unveiled an AI OLED Pendant with a 1.4-inch circular OLED and an AI remote control incorporating small circular OLEDs. These innovations illustrated Samsung Display’s vision of extending OLED applications beyond robots to wearables, accessories, and remote controls. The key lies in the ability to design displays of various sizes and shapes, breaking free from conventional constraints.
Lee Cheong, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Samsung Display, spoke with reporters at CES on January 7. He emphasized that displays are essential for robots to effectively convey information, predicting a significant increase in display demand in the era of edge device AI. Lee envisioned displays being used in far more diverse ways, specifically mentioning new form factors like watches, glasses, and pendant necklaces.
Samsung Display plans to expand its existing IT and mobile technologies – including foldable OLEDs, anti-reflective quantum dot (QD)-OLEDs, and ultra-thin OLEDs – into robotics, wearables, and AI accessories. With mass production of 8.6-generation IT OLEDs set to begin this year, the company aims to create a unified OLED ecosystem encompassing IT devices, robots, and edge devices in the long term.
Humanoids No Longer a Novelty: LG Display Aims to Dominate Robotics Market With Automotive OLED Expertise
At CES 2026, LG Display boldly expressed its confidence in the humanoid robot display market. The company showcased an OLED panel designed for humanoid robot faces, marking their first public reveal of display products specifically for robots.
This panel utilizes plastic OLED (P-OLED) technology with a plastic substrate, enabling high resolution and curved shapes. Given that humanoid robots typically feature human-like curved faces, this technology is poised for high demand in the future robotics market. Notably, the panel incorporates tandem OLED technology from automotive applications, enhancing durability and reliability.
During a CES press conference, Jeong Cheol-dong, CEO of LG Display, stated that physical AI and humanoids have transitioned from concept to reality. He noted that the displays required for humanoids closely resemble automotive displays in terms of durability, reliability, and long-term operation. Jeong expressed confidence in their technological prowess, adding that it is already excelling in this area.
Jeong further explained that they’re not starting from scratch with new technology; rather, they are transferring the accumulated expertise. Given that robots must operate reliably in extreme temperature conditions, LG Display believes its design experience and quality control capabilities from automotive OLEDs can be effectively applied to robotics.
At the CES 2026 auto booth, LG Display emphasized its comprehensive OLED platform strategy. The company showcased advanced form factors, including automotive displays expandable up to 33 inches and dual-view technology, demonstrating its capabilities across both automotive and robotics sectors. Jeong acknowledged that while robotics companies are still finalizing display specifications, LG Display is fully prepared to proactively meet the emerging demands in robotics.