Key Takeaways
1. Prices of older TV models typically decrease between March and May, but this year is expected to see an increase in prices across all TV types.
2. Over 95% of televisions sold globally are still LCD-equipped, despite the popularity of OLED panels in the premium market.
3. Supply chain issues, including hoarding of components and factory shutdowns in China, are contributing to rising costs for large TV panels.
4. The reduction in TV panel availability is predicted to outpace the drop in demand, leading to higher retail prices, especially for popular sizes.
5. Samsung’s Q4 earnings forecast suggests potential record profits, driven by high prices of memory products amid rising demand for AI-related technology.
With Samsung and LG showcasing their OLED TV lineup for 2026 at the CES expo in Las Vegas, it’s typical for the prices of older models to start decreasing. This decline often reaches its lowest point between March and May, coinciding with the launch of new models into retail markets.
Price Trends in TV Market
However, this year may not follow that pattern. Instead, prices across all TV types, including Samsung and Chinese LCD TVs, are expected to increase. Even though OLED panels are highly sought after in the premium market, they remain quite costly. As a result, over 95% of televisions sold globally are still equipped with LCD screens. Take, for instance, the popular 2025 Samsung S90F 65-inch model with its QD-OLED display, which still has a price of $1,500, despite being available at a discount on Amazon.
Supply Chain Pressures
A combination of hoarding expensive components, such as memory and displays, to avoid future price hikes by both TV and phone manufacturers, alongside factory shutdowns in China during this time of year, are contributing to an increase in the prices of large TV panels.
This rise in component costs is likely to push up the MSRP of retail LCD TVs, especially in the sizes that consumers prefer, at least in the near term. Supply chain experts predict that the reduction in TV panel availability will exceed the drop in demand by a factor of two during the first quarter of the year.
Future Outlook
Following the inventory buildup, there may be a pause in the rise of electronics prices, similar to what was experienced during the previous memory crisis. However, the surge in demand for AI suggests that the current situation could be distinct.
Recently, Samsung revealed its Q4 earnings forecast, and for the first time, it may have exceeded the 20 trillion won ($13.8 billion) profit mark within a single quarter, benefiting from high prices of memory products used in laptops, phones, and AI data centers.
Samsung & The Elec’
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