Flexible AMOLED displays are rapidly cementing their dominance in smartphone technology, commanding 63% of global shipments during Q1 2025 according to Omdia's latest analysis. This marks a substantial leap from the 57% penetration recorded in the same period last year. LCD panels, meanwhile, continue their downward trajectory, accounting for just 37% of shipments as manufacturers pivot toward advanced display solutions.

China's display panel manufacturers have turbocharged this transition through aggressive capacity expansion. Their AMOLED shipments skyrocketed to 364 million units in 2024 – a staggering year-over-year increase exceeding 120 million units. Industry giants Apple and Samsung maintain their leadership in adoption rates, with Apple achieving full AMOLED integration across its iPhone lineup following the discontinuation of LCD-equipped SE models. Samsung follows closely with 84% AMOLED implementation. Chinese smartphone brands, while steadily increasing adoption, lag below 50% penetration due to their strategic focus on budget and mid-tier devices.

The flexible AMOLED segment – encompassing foldable smartphones – delivered robust 15% year-over-year growth in Q1 2025, reaching 151 million shipments. This category has consistently maintained approximately 20% annual growth over the past three years, culminating in 2024's remarkable leap from 442 million to 566 million units shipped globally.

Contrasting this expansion, rigid AMOLED panels face accelerating obsolescence. Q1 2025 witnessed a 1% shipment decline to just 36 million units, with Samsung accounting for the lion's share. Brands including OPPO, vivo, and Xiaomi have abandoned rigid AMOLED in mid-range devices as Chinese suppliers' flexible alternatives achieve price parity through scaled production.

AMOLED technology is now cascading into affordable price brackets, with average selling prices dropping to $510 in early 2025. While LCD maintains supremacy in the sub-$100 ultra-budget segment, AMOLED is gaining rapid traction across sub-$200 smartphones. Omdia Senior Research Manager Jusy Hong emphasizes AMOLED's entrenched position: "We project AMOLED will exceed 60% of global smartphone shipments this year, with total volumes surpassing 750 million units by 2025's close."