What you can look forward to: Chinese tech giant TCL is reportedly developing OLED monitors with refresh rates of up to 700 Hz. While most U.S. consumers know TCL as a TV brand, the company makes a wide range of consumer electronics, including smartphones, air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators and other smart devices.
According to market research firm Omdia, TCL’s planned 700Hz panels will come in 32- and 34-inch sizes and will be manufactured at the company’s Gen 8.6 OLED factory in Guangzhou, China. Production is expected to begin in 2028, but the possible start time frame remains unclear. Further specifications, including pixel resolution and response time, have yet to be announced.
The report suggests that the high refresh rate displays will use inkjet printed OLED (IJP OLED) technology. The process involves spraying picoliter-sized organic materials dissolved in liquid directly onto a plate via piezoelectric nozzles, similar to how a traditional desktop inkjet printer applies ink to paper.
In comparison, traditional OLED panels are manufactured using vacuum thermal evaporation (VTE) technology, where the entire process takes place in a vacuum chamber. This method involves heating red, green and blue light-emitting organic compounds and depositing the vaporized molecules onto a substrate through perforated, ultra-thin metal sheets called fine metal masks.
Proponents believe IJP could significantly reduce the cost of OLED manufacturing by reducing waste of expensive organic compounds by up to 90%. The technology is also more scalable for large panels, potentially making the production of huge 4K and 8K OLED TVs more economical. IJP is also expected to support advanced pixel structures and deliver high production yields for custom displays.
OLED monitors are becoming increasingly popular among gamers, largely due to significant price reductions. So far in 2026, the price of mainstream 27-inch 240 Hz gaming OLED monitors has fallen more than 40% to around $350. This trend is expected to continue next year, with prices moving closer to the $300 mark and potentially accelerating adoption among gamers and general users alike.
According to Omdia, global shipments of OLED monitors are expected to reach a record 6.1 million units in 2026, up 79% year-on-year. Deliveries are expected to exceed 7.5 million units in 2027 as prices continue to fall. Asus is expected to become the largest OLED monitor supplier in 2026, accounting for 23% of all shipments, followed by MSI with a 14% market share.
