Research from Taiwanese trade publication, DigiTimes, claims suppliers have already begun production of mini-LED backlit LCD screens, as they seek to combat demand for OLED smartphone panels.

Digitimes claims mini-LED backlit LCD screens entered mass production in the second half of 2018, citing lower costs, simpler production and easier application. Date of volume production remains unclear.

Unlike regular LCD screens, mini-LED backlit variants pledge a higher contrast ratio, thinner body builds, and added power conservation.

Commentators claim the screen technology is able to compete with OLED smartphones, however, at a lower cost.

The technology could welcome a new era of smartphones, providing OLED quality at a cheaper cost, lowering the price of ‘flagship’ phones or redefining the term altogether.

In addition, mini-LED backlit LCD screens intensify competition in the mid-tier phone market, as sales of flagship smartphones continue to slump.

Suppliers claim mini-LED backlit LCD screens are usable in a wide variety of applications – e.g. gaming devices, citing visibility under bright lighting conditions.