Katarzyna Petru
In the world of screens, it is rare for major infrastructure projects to be completed ahead of schedule. And yet, Samsung Display is proving that for a market leader, nothing is impossible. The latest reports from the Korean campus in Asan and OLED-info confirm: mass production on the 8.6-generation line will start in May 2026. That's a few months earlier than was announced a year ago.
Generational Leap, or Why Size Matters
If you're wondering what all the fuss is about with the "8.6-Gen," let me explain. Until now, screens for laptops and tablets have mainly been produced on 6th generation lines. The new line, internally called A6, works on gigantic glass sheets. They are more than twice the size of the previous ones.
What does it mean? First of all, huge efficiency. From one such sheet, Samsung can cut out significantly more panels in a shorter time. It's simple math: larger scale means lower production costs, which over time should translate into more affordable prices for laptops with OLED screens, which until now have been mainly associated with the premium segment.
Race against time and competition from China
Why was Samsung in such a hurry with the May deadline? The answer has five letters: Apple. The giant from Cupertino is the main buyer of the new panels that are set to be used in the upcoming MacBook Pros. A faster start to production gives Samsung a powerful bargaining chip and allows it to "book" the number one position before Chinese competitors (like BOE or TCL CSOT) start their lines at the end of the year.
We can expect that the first devices equipped with these super-modern screens will hit store shelves in the second half of 2026, although a more realistic deadline is the beginning of 2027.
