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111-inch OLED TVs: what LG Display's Guangzhou investment does and does not tell us

A reported RMB 1 billion investment will add OLED lines for panels up to 111 inches. It is a promising sign for big-screen fans, but there is no price, no date and no TV announced.

By Andrew Ingleton · Published

A current OLED television, the Samsung S99H
A current OLED TV (Samsung S99H); the 111-inch panels discussed here are made by LG Display © Samsung

Large OLED televisions are about to get more interesting, or at least more talked about. Reports published on 27 October say LG Display and a Chinese state-owned investment group will put RMB 1 billion (roughly £112 million) into the company's Guangzhou plant. Here is what is reported, what is guesswork, and what it means if you are shopping before Black Friday on 27 November.

What has been reported

According to TrendForce, as relayed by UK and French trade sites, the money will go into LG Display Optoelectronics Technology (China), which runs the Guangzhou factory. The plant is reported to be adding module assembly lines for OLED panels of 77, 83, 97 and 111 inches. Chinese industry documents are said to describe the 111-inch line as the first dedicated module line of that size in the world. One report says LG Display holds 80 per cent of the plant and the Guangzhou partner 20 per cent. Reports disagree on small details, such as the exact name of the partner, so treat the finer points as unconfirmed.

What has not been announced

  • No TV. No brand has said it will sell a 111-inch OLED, and none has named a price.
  • No start date. The reports give no production schedule.
  • No promise of lower prices. It is suggested that a more efficient process could improve yields, which are a big driver of cost for large panels, but nothing guarantees savings reach shoppers.

LG itself sold a 97-inch OLED TV in 2022 before concentrating on 83 inches, according to one of the reports, which shows how expensive these sizes have been.

What it means for your next TV

For a typical living room, a 55 to 77-inch set remains the sweet spot, and the mid-size market is where Black Friday deals will happen. If you are weighing technologies, our OLED, QD-OLED and Mini LED buying guide explains the trade-offs, and a bigger picture also puts more pressure on your sound, so see soundbar or AV receiver. Do not wait for a 111-inch OLED: even if the plant delivers, it will take time to reach shops, and such sets are likely to be niche.

We will update this article if a manufacturer confirms a product or a UK price. Sources: TrendForce reporting as covered by What Hi-Fi? (29 October) and AVcesar (27 October); the image shows a current OLED TV and not the future 111-inch model.

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