Technology, Process and Cost
TCL MiniLED X9 85” TV BLU
By Yole SystemPlus —
In-depth technical and cost analysis of the third generation miniLED backlight unit and its assembly
Key Features
- Detailed optical and SEM photos
- Precise measurements
- Materials analysis
- Manufacturing process flow
- Supply chain evaluation
- Manufacturing cost analysis
- Estimated selling price
- Comparison between Samsung Monitor and TV and Apple iPad Pro and TCL TV
What's new
The TCL technology is very interesting, with a high miniLED density.
The comparison between TVs from Skyworth, Samsung and TCL, and Apple’s iPad is very informative as it shows the technology choices of the four actors in material, BLU structure, and driver architecture.
- TCL
- Macroblock
- HC Semitek
- Hongli Zhihui
- Samsung
- ShengYi Technology Co.,
- Skyworth
TCL launched its third generation of miniLED TVs with OD-zero technology to reduce the thickness of the backlight unit and the screen. This Yole SystemPlus teardown report provides insights into the choices TCL brings to the table.
In this report, Yole SystemPlus provides a full reverse costing study of the miniLEDs and their assembly in the backlight unit of the TV display in the 85-inch X9 QLED TV from TCL.
The backlight system comprises 96,000 miniLEDs divided into 12 panels of 8,000 miniLEDs. The backlight unit integrates 1920 dimming zones.
- The miniLEDs - GaN-based dies on patterned sapphire substrate - have an engineered light-emission pattern using dedicated top dielectric reflectors. We think they are manufactured by HC Semitek in China.
- The chip-on-board assembly of the more than 96000 miniLEDs is believed to be by Hongli Zhihui in China. The miniLEDs are mounted in a flip-chip configuration.
- The miniLEDs are driven by 24 driver dies from Macroblock.
This report provides insights into technology data with optical and SEM pictures of cross-sections and the manufacturing cost and selling price of the BLU, with a focus on the miniLEDs and their drivers. The teardown of the TV is also explained to show the integration of the OD-zero BLU in a TV. A comparison with the TCL and Samsung Neo QLED 2021 TVs and the Apple iPad Pro highlights the different technology choices.
Overview / Introduction
- Executive Summary
- Reverse Costing Methodology
- Glossary
Company Profile & Supply Chain
- TCL
- Supply Chain
Teardown Analysis
- TCL X9 85” TV Overview
- TCL X9 85” TV Opening
Physical Analysis
- Backlight Unit
- MiniLED
- Die Overview
- Die Cross-Section
- MiniLED Driver
- View & Dimensions
- Delayering & Main Blocs
- Die Process
Manufacturing Process Flow
- MiniLED Front-End Fab Unit
- MiniLED Front-End Process
- MiniLED Driver Front-End Fab Unit
Cost Analysis
- Supply Chain
- Yield Hypothesis
- MiniLED Cost
- LED Front-End Cost
- LED Die Probe Test and Dicing
- LED Wafer and Cost
- MiniLED Driver Cost
- Front-End Cost
- Probe Test, Thinning and Dicing
- Dies Cost
- Backlight Unit Cost
- Complete Unit Cost
- Complete Unit Price
- Comparison
- Back Light Unit
- Back Light Unit Cost
- LED
- Driver
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