Panasonic had originally planned to launch OLED TVs in 2015, but their 56-inch 4K OLED TV might launch as early as the fourth quarter of 2013, says the OLED Association. Panasonic uses a so-called print production method.

Panasonic 4K OLED TV this year?
Panasonic and Sony were first to showcase 4K OLED TVs at CES 2013 back in January. At the recently concluded IFA show, Samsung and LG joined the race with 4K OLED TVs; LG's with a 77-inch panel.


Panasonic exhibited its first 4K OLED TTV at CES

The OLED Association claims that Panasonic’s mass production efforts are progressing faster than planned. The goal was to launch OLED displays in 2015, but Panasonic now expects to release the first OLED TV in the fourth quarter of 2013. In our view, it would make more sense for Panasonic to launch in January at CES 2014, but we will know more in just a few months, it seems. Panasonic plans to launch the 56-inch 4K OLED TV.

FlatpanelsHD has seen the TV on several occasions, and it is extremely impressive. Panasonic is cooperating with Sony and AUO for development, and Panasonic recently told us that the OLED TV exhibited at CES was manufactured in collaboration with Sony, but that the new prototype at IFA was produced at Panasonic’s own 5.5G factory. Panasonic uses a so-called inkjet printing method where a print head is depositing pixels on a substrate (eg. metal, glass or plastic).

However, expect the first OLED TV from Panasonic to come in limited quantities and with a high price tag. Even though Panasonic’s printing production method is very flexible they will need to build larger mass production facilities to take OLED TVs mainstream.

- Source: OLED Association