Strong global gaming demand is emerging as the core engine behind OLED monitor adoption, with consumers increasingly valuing the superior image quality, faster response times, and immersive viewing experience these displays offer.
Brands and panel makers are leveraging this trend through aggressive marketing campaigns, promotional bundles, and targeted outreach to gaming communities, helping to accelerate acceptance of OLED despite their higher price point compared with LCD monitors.
The purchasing power and scale of the customer base in North America, Europe, and China — markets that together account for more than 80 percent of global shipments — are providing a solid foundation for expansion.
China, in particular, is benefiting from an additional growth catalyst: the ongoing upgrade cycle in the country’s vast network of internet cafés. Operators are increasingly opting for high-spec monitors to attract competitive gamers, making OLED a compelling choice for the premium segment. This is driving not just individual sales but also large-volume orders that significantly boost shipment figures. Europe, on the other hand, is gaining momentum thanks to a combination of strong gaming culture and intensified promotional activities by major gaming brands, leading to steady market share growth.
Shifts in global trade dynamics are also playing a role. Uncertainty over U.S. tariff policies in 2025 is prompting brands to diversify their geographical focus. Instead of relying heavily on the North American market — which accounted for 44 percent of shipments in 2024 but is expected to drop to 33 percent in 2025 — manufacturers are ramping up their presence in Europe and China. As a result, Europe’s share is forecast to climb from 28 percent to 33 percent, while China’s is projected to rise from 14 percent to 21 percent within the same period.
TrendForce expects global OLED monitor shipments to reach 2.66 million units in 2025, an 86 percent year-on-year increase, giving the segment around 2 percent penetration in the overall monitor market. Growth momentum is likely to continue over the next several years, with penetration potentially hitting 5 percent by 2028. Sustaining this growth will depend on continuous innovation in OLED technology, the introduction of models tailored to specific gamer needs, strategic regional sales pushes, and effective positioning of OLED as the display of choice for high-performance gaming and premium experiences.
Major vendors
Samsung Display and LG Display dominate supply of OLED panels for monitors. Samsung Display is betting big on QD-OLED technology, aiming to grow shipments by over 50 percent in 2025 relative to the previous year, building on its commanding 71 percent+ share of OLED monitor panels and leveraging rapid annual adoption trends. Its strategy includes expanding its product range across both consumer and business segments, featuring high-density 27-in UHD panels with over 160 PPI and blazing-fast 500 Hz QHD models.
LG Display has also ramped up its commitment: after setting an initial 2025 shipment goal of under 700,000 units, surging demand — particularly from ASUS for WOLED panels — pushed the company to boost its target to 800,000 units, with potential to reach 1 million.
LG also plans to invest aggressively — reports mention a roughly $925 million investment dedicated to advancing OLED technologies. On the innovation front, LG recently revealed a groundbreaking 27-inch 4th-Gen Tandem OLED panel capable of a native 540 Hz refresh rate, expandable to 720 Hz at 720p using Dual-Mode tech, delivering exceptional brightness (~1,500 nits) and rich color accuracy.
On the brand side, ASUS and MSI are fueling demand with aggressive promotional strategies. ASUS is projected to exceed 500,000 panel orders in 2025 through its dual push in QD-OLED and WOLED gaming monitors, including innovative 27-in 500 Hz models showcased at Computex TrendForce report said. MSI likewise made significant strides—its OLED shipments jumped 36-fold in the past year, capturing around 14 percent market share thanks to aggressive expansion and multiple new models.
Leading the market in 1Q 2025 was Samsung Electronics with approximately 22 percent share, followed closely by ASUS (around 21.5 percent), MSI (14 percent), LG Electronics (13 percent), and Dell (11 percent). Dell appears poised for a potential rebound, having launched a 27-in UHD OLED and a 31.5-in 120 Hz business-oriented model expected to boost its shipments in the coming quarters.
Samsung Electronics is also diversifying its OLED efforts beyond gaming. Its new Smart Monitor M9 integrates AI-driven features like Picture Optimizer, AI Upscaling Pro, and productivity enhancements, positioning OLED in modern hybrid-work environments. Furthermore, Samsung Entertainment division is introducing exciting new gaming OLED models such as the Odyssey OLED G81SF (27-in 4K at 240 Hz, ultrafast 0.03 ms response with burn-in protection) and high-refresh QHD and 3D options—all reinforcing its premium gaming-first strategy.
Meanwhile, BOE, a major Chinese display manufacturer, remains focused on LCD but is recognized for its broader OLED ambitions and global R&D expansions. However, no recent OLED monitor-specific investments or strategic moves were highlighted.
Rajani Baburajan
