DB GlobalChip Co. has begun mass-producing OLED display driver ICs for smartphones, marking the South Korean company’s strategic expansion beyond TV and tablet components. The chip design subsidiary of foundry DB HiTek Co. is already supplying these specialized chips to Samsung Display for use in recently launched Galaxy A26 smartphones.
The company’s TCON embedded driver ICs support full high-definition plus resolution while promising enhanced power efficiency and durability. This development puts DB GlobalChip in direct competition with Samsung Foundry, which currently leads the AMOLED driver IC market according to market research firm Omdia.
Industry analysts note that OLED driver chips command higher prices than their LCD counterparts, potentially strengthening DB GlobalChip’s profit margins. The global display driver market is projected to reach $12.77 billion by 2029, growing at an 8% compound annual rate.
DB GlobalChip, which was spun off from DB HiTek in 2023, aims to leverage its design intellectual properties and production capacity to deepen its penetration into the premium smartphone segment. The company’s entry comes as Samsung Electronics faces reported supply shortfalls in OLED driver components.
