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Innolux Latest Panel Development Plans – Dec 2019

Simon Baker
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We have some updates from Innolux about their panel development plans. This is Innolux as a panel manufacturer, as opposed to any specific monitor/display manufacturer, but it gives an indication of where monitors are likely to go in the future by looking ahead at the panel production plans. Innolux make an increasingly large range portion of the IPS-type panels (their ‘AAS’ technology) along with some VA-type options. We’ve seen these IPS-type panels adopted in more gaming screens of late, including models from Acer, Philips and Gigabyte. They give an interesting alternative to more widespread AUO and LG.Display IPS equivalents.

Please keep in mind that the production dates are not set in stone and may change, and there is then also a lag of several months before a panel is produced, then used in a display and launched to market. We have updated our panel parts database with all the new information we have as well as best we can. Here are the highlights.

Updates to previously discussed panels

Out last update was in June 2019, here are a few updates to the panels discussed at the time:

  • The 31.5″ IPS-type panel (now confirmed as part M315DCA-K7B) with 3840 x 2160 resolution and 144Hz refresh rate is now in development, with mass production expected in June 2020. This will have a standard SDR backlight and will offer 7ms G2G response time, 3-side borderless design, >90% DCI-P3 gamut. A lot of people are interested in the larger 31.5″ screen size with this res/refresh rate combination so this will be eagerly anticipated we are sure.
  • The 28″ IPS-type panel (M280DCA-E7B) with 3840 x 2160 resolution and 144Hz refresh rate now has a mass production expectation of Q4 2020 (previously not known). This panel will offer a 5ms G2G response time, 3-side borderless design and >90% DCI-P3 gamut.

An update on the 31.5″ IPS-type Panel with 4K @ 144Hz with MegaZone Backlight – now over 2 million dimming zones!

The most interesting panel development from our last update was a new 31.5″ sized panel in their AAS technology (IPS-type) range, the M315DCM-E70. The panel will offer a 3840 x 2160 UltraHD (“4K”) resolution along with a high refresh rate. This has, as we understand it, a 120Hz native refresh rate, and 144Hz can be supported through an overclock.

Adding to the interest for this particular panel option is their plans to make this a “Megazone” display, a panel with millions of dimming zones. This would be a step up from current FALD backlight, and even Mini LED options, and is designed to reduce and eliminate halos and blooming and could give an incredible level of local dimming control. From the latest update we have this is now listed as having >2 million dimming zones for “pixel level halo size” and it aims to compete with OLED technology according to the information we have. Obviously it isn’t direct pixel level dimming as for 3840 x 2160 res that would need ~8.3m zones, but it’s still a massive improvement over current FALD and even forthcoming Mini LED options which are restricted to around approximately 500 – 1150 maximum dimming zones at the moment respectively.

The panel is listed as being VESA DisplayHDR 1000 compliant thanks to this MegaZone backlight with a 600 cd/m2 normal brightness and 1000 cd/m2 peak brightness for HDR. There is also a (now listed) 94% DCI-P3 colour gamut and 8-bit+FRC colour depth spec. Innolux now even talk about meeting the VESA DisplayHDR True Black certification levels which is used for OLED panels and a 1 million:1 contrast ratio.

Innolux have also been working on improving their response times of their IPS-type panels, pushing them down from common 14ms specs to 5 – 7ms apparently. This planned panel carries a 7ms G2G response time spec.

The panel is under early development now and apparently Innolux were hoping to have a prototype ready earlier this year. Mass production is now listed and penciled in for Q2 2020 which is actually not too far away! It will be aimed at both professional grade screens and gaming monitors apparently.

An update on the 31.5″ Option with 4K @ 144Hz but with a 10,000 Zone Mini LED backlight

Innolux are also working on another 31.5″ IPS-type panel option of similar specs as the Megazone option discussed above, but this time instead of using the Megazone backlight, they will be using a 10,000 zone Mini LED option. Still very impressive and miles beyond current FALD and Mini LED options talked about to date. This should also be great for HDR local dimming. Specs remain very similar to the Megazone version talked about above, with 3840 x 2160 res, 120/144Hz refresh rate, 7ms G2G response time, 600 cd/m2 brightness (1000 cd/m2 peak), and 8-bit+FRC colour depth. This time an even wider 95% BT 2020 colour gamut is listed. An update we have now is that this panel (part now known as M315DCB-K80) is due to go in to production in Q3 2020.

New panel highlights

There are also a few new panels planned we have not seen before:

  • 31.5″ IPS-type panel with 2560 x 1440 resolution and 165Hz refresh rate (M315KCA-E7B). This will have a 3-side borderless design, 5ms G2G response time and >90% DCI-P3 gamut. There looks like there will be an HDR400 option as well as an HDR600 option, with the latter having local dimming support (suspect edge-lit). Mass production is scheduled for Q3 2020.
  • A new 31.5″ sized IPS-type panel this time with 3840 x 2160 resolution (M315DCA-E5B). This will have a 7ms response time, 60Hz refresh rate and >90% DCI-P3 colour gamut. Mass production schedule is not yet confirmed on this one.
  • An update to one of their existing 27″ IPS-type panels with 2560 x 1440 resolution and 165Hz refresh rate. The M270KCJ-K7B(Cx) will offer an improved 7ms G2G response time spec to the existing M270KCJ-K7B panel (14ms spec) and is scheduled for mass production in March 2020. A further update is planned at an unknown point in the future to move from the existing 3-side borderless design to 4-side.
  • An update to an existing 27″ 1920 x 1080 IPS-type panel already in production (currently M270HCA-L6B). The new version (M270HCA-L7B) will have an improved 7ms response time (previously 14ms) but will keep the same 144Hz refresh rate and >90% DCI-P3 colour gamut as its predecessor. The new version is 3-side borderless whereas the old one is 4-side borderless. Mass production of the new version is planned for April 2020.
  • A new 23.8″ sized IPS-type panel with 1920 x 1080 resolution and 165Hz refresh rate (M238HCA-L7Z). This panel will offer a 5ms response time and >90% DCI-P3 colour gamut. Mass production not until Q3 2020 though.
  • A couple of new commercial panels with 60Hz refresh rate and sRGB gamut. There’s a 27″ option with 2560 x 1440 resolution (M270KCA-LCS) due to go in to production in Q2 2020, and a 23.8″ version (M238HCA-LCS) due for Q3 2020.
  • A new 23.8″ IPS-type panel (M238HCR-L3B) designed for “switchable privacy displays”. This allows you to switch to privacy mode which restricts viewing angles and luminance if you need to work more privately. This has a 350 cd/m2 brightness and 178/178 viewing angles in normal “sharing” mode, but in privacy mode this restricts it to 100 cd/m2 and 45/45. Mass production is due April 2020.

A New 240Hz IPS-type panel

Innolux are also planning to enter the 240Hz IPS market alongside AU Optronics and LG.Display. Their 27″ M270KVA-E9B panel is in development which will offer a 2560 x 1440 resolution, 5ms response time and >90% DCI-P3 gamut. It is also listed as HDR 600 so should support some form of local dimming. Mass production isn’t expected until Q3 2020 though.

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