The choice of an OLED monitor is pathetic. 2023 could change that

For many of us, many of the screens we view on a daily basis could easily be OLED. iPhone in your pocket. The screen of the new laptop you finally bought. This luxurious 4K TV and even the beloved Nintendo Switch. But the brilliance of OLED is far from computer monitors, especially if you’re not into gaming.

Numerous hurdles are limiting the adoption of OLED monitors, including concerns about screen burn-in. But one thing we hope to see in 2023 is more choice. Right now, you can count the number of OLED monitors that aren’t giants over 42 inches or high refresh rates that require serious GPUs on the one hand. OLED monitors that are geared towards productivity, photo editing, or HDR get minimal love.

We hope that by the end of 2023, there will be more than a few OLED monitors to keep non-gamers interested. We don’t expect homes and offices to be flooded with them, but 2023 could be a big step towards the diversity and affordability of OLED monitors that OLED TVs and other devices have enjoyed for years.

Looking forward to the breakthrough year of OLED monitors

First, let’s moderate expectations. OLED monitors are far from mainstream among PC displays, and next year the situation will not change. In September, market researcher Trendforce predicted that OLED monitors would make up 2 percent of the monitor market in 2023. It’s far from mainstream. IPS monitors, for example, accounted for 43 percent of monitors shipped in 2021.

Business consultant and market researcher UBI Research via OLED-Info has estimated that OLED tablets, monitors and laptops for “IT applications”will increase from 9.5 million units this year to 48.8 million units by 2027.

So, if we had to bet on what type of monitor this or that person would buy in the next year or two, our chips would be in the LCD.

And because supply and demand are tightly coupled, desktop-sized OLED monitors have remained a rarity this year, with options even scarcer if you want a sub-42-inch non-gaming display. Here is a dizzying list of four:

1. Asus ProArt OLED PA32DC Display (MSRP $3,500)
2. LG 27EP950 (MSRP $ 3,000)
3. LG 27EQ850-B (MSRP $ 2,000)
4. LG 323P950-B (MSRP $3,000)

That said, computer users have had plenty of OLED laptops this year, from the HP Specter x360 2-in-1 to Dell’s flagship ultraportable clamshell XPS 13 Plus. But given the link between OLED laptops, high prices and shorter battery life, there’s a reason to get OLED from a dedicated monitor instead.

New year, new OLED monitors

Most OLED monitors are in the ultra-high resolution 40-inch class, adding to the size of an already expensive technology. But the end of this year already promises more variety in terms of monitor size, resolution and price.

LG will begin selling its first high refresh rate OLED monitors on December 12, The Verge reported this week. The 26.5-inch LG UltraGear 27GR95QE-B with 2560×1440 resolution will cost $1000, while the 45-inch LG 45GR95QE-B with 3400×1440 resolution will cost $1700.

MSI is also planning to announce a new ultra-wide OLED monitor at CES next month, but we don’t know much about it other than that it’s ultra-wide, curved, and runs at 240Hz.

It is also possible that next year we will see the release of a foldable OLED monitor. Corsair hasn’t confirmed when its Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240 will be released or how much, but in September the company announced a 45-inch 3440×1440 gaming monitor.

The Philips 27E1N8900 4K 27-inch video editing monitor was supposed to be released in the US for around $1,070, which would be a competitive size and price, according to a May report by What HiFI, but we haven’t heard from Philips yet.

Also, we may see OLED monitors next year or later with even smaller designs. LG Display is reportedly working on 20-inch OLED panels that can be used in smaller monitors.

With any luck, we’ll hear about 2023 OLED monitors over the next few weeks and during CES.