Analysis of industry development trends and opportunities from the isle2025 exhibition

Posted by

On 04/16/2025

Reporters: Jing Ouyang, Xiaolei Wang, Xiaoyan Li
Special Planning: Tao Cheng, Xinru Wang

From March 7 to 9, ISLE 2025, the largest LED display exhibition in China, was held with great fanfare in Shenzhen. The three-day event was a massive success, with record-breaking numbers: over 1,000 exhibitors participated both online and offline, the exhibition area exceeded 80,000 square meters, and more than 220,000 visitors attended. The show attracted buyers and professionals from over 100 countries, demonstrating the global influence and vitality of the LED industry.

This year’s exhibition featured a strong lineup of display manufacturers such as Leyard, Unilumin, Absen, AOTO, LianTronics, and Ledman. Leading upstream chip and driver IC providers like Sanan Optoelectronics, MTC, Chipone North, and Sunmoon Microelectronics were also present. Midstream packaging giants including NationStar, Dongshan Precision, and Kinglight showcased their innovations. Supporting technology firms like NovaStar, Colorlight, Chuanglian, and Youquke enriched the ecosystem.

Notably, major cross-industry players such as BOE, Skyworth Digital, Lenovo, Hisense, Hikvision, Dahua, Zishi, Pico, Tianma, and CSOT actively participated, along with AV specialists like Yifan Audio, indicating increasing convergence across tech sectors.

Table of Contents

1. COB and MiP Technologies Drive MicroLED Progress

At ISLE 2025, COB (Chip-on-Board) and MiP (Mini/Micro LED in Package) emerged as dual engines powering MicroLED innovations, with numerous companies launching new products utilizing both technologies.

COB packaging directly integrates LED chips onto printed circuit boards (PCBs), eliminating the traditional process of lamp bead encapsulation. This design simplifies manufacturing and significantly improves LED display performance. As market demand for ultra-fine pixel pitches grows, COB has become a mainstream solution.

Early COB adopters such as Cedar Electronics, Ledman, and BOE have paved the way, and more companies like MTC, Gaoke, and Tengcai are now entering the space. Competing alongside COB, MiP technology—though later to emerge—has been widely recognized for its compatibility with existing packaging methods and its potential to scale.

Industry experts note that COB has a competitive edge for pixel pitches under P1.5, while MiP performs better for P1.5 and above, suggesting room for parallel development. According to LED Screen World, total monthly COB production reached 50,000 sqm in 2024 and is projected to double to 100,000 sqm this year. MTC alone currently has a monthly COB capacity of 30,000 sqm, and its subsidiary MTC Jingxian plans to scale up to over 5,000 production lines. BOE Jingxin also announced a COB production target of over 10,000 sqm per month, while Zhongqi Optoelectronics achieved that same milestone by the end of 2024. The COB market is forecasted to grow 30% annually in the coming years.

During the exhibition, Cedar Electronics unveiled the world’s first 0.3mm pixel pitch Micro LED COB splicing display, marking the smallest pixel pitch showcased at the event. Cedar announced its commitment to expanding the technology across diverse applications.

Dahua Technology and its subsidiary Fengshi Technology presented a P1.5 COB foldable all-in-one display, built with a full flip-chip three-in-one COB design. Its smooth visuals and accurate color performance delivered a stunning viewing experience.

MiP refers to chip-level packaging of Mini/Micro LEDs, where chips are cut into single units and processed through binning, color mixing, and assembly—while maintaining full compatibility with surface-mount technology (SMT). As chip prices drop, MiP offers a cost-effective pathway to ultra-fine pitch displays. However, challenges such as under-soldering, warping, die placement precision, and color block uniformity still need resolution.

Since 2024, MiP has gained traction among major manufacturers including Leyard, Unilumin, Absen, BOE, Hisense, Kinglight Optoelectronics, NationStar, and SINYOPTO.

Compared to COB, MiP’s production scale is still smaller, but it’s growing rapidly. In 2023, AOTO deployed a 400-square-meter MiP project at London’s Future Stores, with excellent results. The MiP market is expected to commercialize more aggressively in 2025.

Official projections show Leyard plans to reach a MiP capacity of 4,000KK/month by the end of 2024, while Unilumin aims for 6,000KK/month. On December 3, 2024, Hubei Aimipu Optoelectronics announced its goal to expand to 5,000KK/month by the end of 2025.

At the show, Ledman unveiled its new Micro LED-grade MiP product with a 0.9mm pixel pitch, earning praise for its color accuracy, low screen temperature, and environmental durability (waterproof, dustproof, anti-static). It is well-suited for high-end conference rooms and large-scale home theaters demanding peak visual fidelity.

In the private cinema space, Qingsong Optoelectronics presented a 162-inch 4K home cinema solution based on MiP technology. The display features 1,000 nits brightness, over 99% DCI-P3 color gamut, ultra-low gray brightness down to 0.005 nits, and a built-in 6TOPS AI processing engine. It supports 8K@60fps video decoding, RGB4:4:4 lossless HDMI input, and is paired with a 120W hybrid speaker system for an immersive all-in-one theater experience.

2. LED/LCD + AI: Powering Every Industry with Intelligence

At ISLE 2025, LED/LCD + AI solutions were undoubtedly one of the hottest topics, bringing smart innovation to a wide range of industries. These advancements are not only making daily life more convenient but are also expanding the boundaries of display applications, driving the prosperity and evolution of the display industry.

When LCD and LED screens are equipped with an “AI brain,” they undergo a complete transformation—from content generation and interactive experience to scenario-based applications—ushering the display industry into a new era of intelligent upgrades. AI technology is profoundly reshaping the display landscape, enhancing both hardware and software to deliver more immersive visuals, while also improving R&D efficiency and reducing project timelines.

AI plays a pivotal role in smart power supplies and intelligent modules with HUB (LED receiving board interface) signal transmission. Intelligent chips can swiftly process large amounts of data, while smart power supplies can dynamically adjust power consumption based on display content, improving signal efficiency and forming a powerful “energy-saving formula.” In display control, AI can help analyze user input in real time, identify abnormal patterns or trends, predict potential failures in advance, and automatically generate diagnostic reports to assist technicians, significantly reducing maintenance costs.

At this year’s event, Leyard Group and its partner Virtual Point brought an eye-catching AI-driven spatial computing experience to the show floor. In Leyard’s markerless motion capture experience zone, visitors watched objects on screen respond to hand gestures in real-time—without wearing motion capture suits or using any physical markers. This was made possible by Virtual Point’s LydCap markerless recognition algorithm, enabling intuitive spatial interaction where users could control, rotate, zoom, or shrink digital objects just by moving their hands in the air.

Unilumin attracted crowds with its “Display Robot,” which became a highlight of the event. Powered by AI voice recognition, natural language processing, and multimodal interaction technologies, the robot could engage in real-time conversations, provide intelligent announcements, and support information queries. It also allows for highly customized branding with IP-based characters, offering an ultra-realistic and immersive interactive experience. The robot is compatible with Unilumin’s full range of ultra-fine pixel pitch LED displays (P0.9–P2.5), making it ideal for commercial complexes, cultural tourism venues, and corporate lobbies looking to enhance their tech-driven brand image.

At the Uniview booth, reporters were immediately drawn to a fun and engaging AI-powered fitness screen. Visitors could select training routines on screen and follow interactive workout instructions. This kind of solution is particularly well-suited for schools, gyms, and health-focused public venues.

Uniview officially launched its “5+7+6” All-Scenario Ecological Strategy at the show, showcasing 128 innovative AI-powered products across diverse applications. Their vision integrates artificial intelligence and large-scale AI models to build a new world of display technology. A key highlight was Uniview’s debut of its DeepSeek-powered AI interactive flat panel, targeting smart education and collaborative workspaces. This solution supports intelligent handwriting recognition, semantic analysis, and knowledge graph generation—enhancing interactivity, collaboration, analysis, and decision-making.

With the increasing integration of AI software like DeepSeek, LED/LCD + AI solutions are becoming more mature and widespread—from power supplies and display control systems to end-user terminals. This evolution is propelling the display industry toward smarter, more diversified, and scenario-driven applications.

3. Spotlight on All-in-One LED Displays, LED Cinema Screens, and Virtual Production

At every ISLE exhibition, all-in-one LED displays consistently steal the spotlight—and this year was no exception. Numerous manufacturers showcased their intelligent all-in-one solutions with stunning display performance, stronger interactivity, sleeker and more lightweight designs, improved energy efficiency, and increasingly diversified functionality. These enhancements significantly elevate the user experience, particularly in meeting rooms, education environments, and home theaters.

In recent years, the cost of LED all-in-one displays has dropped considerably, making them more accessible to broader markets. For example, the price of a 110-inch unit has decreased by nearly 50% in just five years—from over RMB 200,000 in 2020 to around RMB 110,000–120,000 today. Compared to LCD counterparts, LED displays offer superior visual performance, higher brightness, and seamless splicing capabilities—especially advantageous for large-format applications. Some exhibitors even showcased MicroLED all-in-one displays, featuring ultra-fine detail and vibrant colors that captivated attendees.

Absen introduced its X Series Smart Display powered by MicroLED technology, offering 4K UHD resolution and enhanced image quality via proprietary image processing algorithms. The setup is impressively efficient—two people can complete the installation within an hour, cutting construction time by 80% compared to traditional methods. The display is equipped with an octa-core processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB of storage, enabling high system performance and compatibility with mainstream AV peripherals and control systems for seamless integration and automation.

LianTronics showcased its METAGO Series, integrating video conferencing, interactive annotation, and a thin, lightweight design suitable for wall-mounted or floor-standing setups. These displays adapt to various use scenarios and enable fluid, high-efficiency user experiences.

AET Altai brought its all-in-one display with support for multi-system interaction, multi-screen collaboration, and split-screen functionality. Deep integration with educational software resources allowed visitors to see firsthand how LED large-format displays can enhance office productivity and teaching efficiency.

Another key highlight at ISLE 2025 was the spotlight on LED cinema screens and virtual production solutions. Industry giants like AOTO, BOE, Unilumin, and Qiangli Jucai presented their latest innovations.

The adoption of LED cinema screens has accelerated rapidly in recent years, with over 100 installations across China and exports to international markets. Initially, Chinese brands faced challenges passing the stringent DCI (Digital Cinema Initiatives) certification, with the market long dominated by global players like Samsung, LG, and Sony. However, since 2022, companies like Unilumin have broken through this barrier, gaining DCI certification and expanding into global markets. Notably, Chinese manufacturers also advanced acoustic transparency technology, with Unilumin and Lopu making significant breakthroughs last year—marking a milestone in the global history of cinema display technology.

These advancements are expected to dramatically enhance viewer experience, attracting more moviegoers and encouraging broader adoption by cinemas, further accelerating the LED cinema screen market.

At the show, Unilumin demonstrated its UC-B21 LED cinema screen, the first DCI-certified projection system in China. Its ultra-high resolution and immersive visuals drew significant attention from the audience.

Virtual production represents a revolutionary shift in how movies and content are created. Traditionally, filmmakers relied on green/blue screens and heavy post-production to build visual environments. This process was time-consuming, costly, and often difficult for actors who had to perform without visual references.

With virtual production, filmmakers now use LED screens to build immersive virtual sets. By preloading environment footage into a computer and displaying it in real-time during filming, actors can react naturally to their surroundings. This approach enhances emotional performance, improves visual quality, and drastically reduces post-production time and costs. It also eliminates frequent location changes, making it highly cost-effective—a major reason why this technique has been embraced globally by film studios, advertising agencies, and broadcasters.

Chinese virtual production studios are now gaining global traction, appearing in photography studios, livestream rooms, TV broadcasting centers, and more. The application landscape continues to expand.

At the exhibition, AOTO Electronics recreated a modern urban street scene inside its virtual production (VP) zone—an immersive experience blending high-precision LED displays, real-time rendering, and camera tracking technology. Their VP solution relies on HDR, color accuracy, and high refresh rates to ensure flicker-free, low-latency visuals tailored to high-end filming needs. It supports a variety of camera tracking systems, offering a stable and efficient production workflow that significantly lowers production costs while boosting quality.

4. Expanding the Boundaries of LED Display Applications: Helping the Industry Grow Bigger

Today, the competition in the traditional LED display market is intensifying, and the profit margins for companies are shrinking. To survive and thrive, many companies have ramped up their research and development efforts, continuously developing new application scenario products based on customer demands, such as texture screens and new retail solutions. This has allowed them to acquire more customers, and this is the new trend for future development. In fact, only by continually expanding the market and constantly updating products will participants have a chance to gain a share of the growing market. At this exhibition, we saw several new products, such as artistic screens, texture screens, smart sports displays, and new retail solutions, which are worth noting.

At the Unilumin booth, the company unveiled a texture screen that seamlessly transitions from artwork when off to a display when turned on. We were lucky enough to witness this amazing texture screen in action. When it is off, it blends perfectly with the wall, making it almost impossible to detect that an LED screen is installed. However, once powered on, vivid images come to life, leaving viewers in awe.

This UNatura1 Texture Screen is Unilumin’s innovative creation, offering high brightness, low light loss, and low reflection. It truly realizes the visual revolution of “art when off, display when on.” With its nano-optical layer treatment, over 16 micro-optical structures, and more than 10 customizable texture development options, the screen can integrate into various environments—whether it’s in a home, hotel, retail space, or office building—making the display a true part of the scene rather than an “add-on” screen, bringing new vitality and commercial value to architectural spaces.

In the new retail sector, AOTO Electronics made a global debut with their new digital retail solution, which became the highlight of the exhibition, drawing countless visitors. They eagerly flocked to the “digital tea drink shop,” immersing themselves in the experience, personally trying out features like QR code ordering, smart recommendations, and data loop applications. Attendees were able to directly experience how smart technology is reshaping business models and user experiences, as if stepping into a new world of future retail. According to reports, AOTO’s new digital retail solution has unique advantages such as intelligent ad switching, remote updates with one click, and precise user analysis. It has already been deployed in over 4,000 stores, covering industries such as jewelry, dining, and chain supermarkets, and is leading the new trend in the industr

Dingli Display their impressive products, including the “KM Series 3.91 Wall and Floor Sports Experience Zone” and the “MAT Series 2.6 Multi-Function Magic Carpet Screen.” The high refresh rate LED floor screens from Dicolor can provide real-time feedback on player movements, with scenes seamlessly switching according to the action. Whether it’s an urban streetball style or a spirited high school atmosphere, the experience is immersive within seconds. The screens also intelligently record sports data, offering scientific insights for player training. Dicolor’s full range of interactive floor screens has a minimum pixel pitch of 0.78mm.

Additionally, Dicolor’s ultra-thin, high-definition LED interactive multi-functional magic carpet screen is designed for multiple installation options: it can be laid flat on the floor, rolled up, or wall-mounted. With built-in interactive sensing capabilities, the screen is only 17mm thick and weighs just 17kg per square meter, making it easy to carry, transport, and install. It can also withstand up to 2 tons per square meter.

Furthermore, LED displays have become a medium for showcasing art, acting as both a display player and a frame. This has made them incredibly popular among art enthusiasts. At the Absen and Unilumin booths, we saw dedicated art exhibition areas where various art styles were vividly displayed, enriching the visual experience and offering a unique spiritual enjoyment to viewers. We believe LED displays still have much more potential, and we will see them appear in even more scenarios in the future.

5. LED Display Products Becoming More Intelligent and Integrated

With continuous technological advancements, the LED display industry is progressing rapidly. Especially with the application of new materials and technologies, LED products are becoming more intelligent, integrated, and user-friendly, saving space and reducing energy consumption… making them more efficient and easier to use. In the MicroLED field, the integration of LED chips and driver ICs has become an industry trend. Within the industry, the three-in-one and two-in-one integrated solutions are gradually maturing and being promoted.

At the exhibition, AET Altai launched their groundbreaking NXCOBUltra series, which features revolutionary chip technology that integrates the traditional receiving card, constant current driver, line driver, and logic IC into a single unit. The number of ICs has been reduced by 85% compared to traditional fully flip-chip COB products, solving the issues of IC overuse and the color temperature drift caused by heat from the driver ICs. With HDMI direct connection and integrated video signal encoding and decoding, this product delivers an immersive experience with zero latency.

G-Energy showcased their next-generation 2 in 1 and 3 in 1 integrated power solutions. These ultra-thin and lightweight solutions simplify system design by reducing external wiring through functional integration and integrated design. This makes installation easier, improves system reliability, and reduces the failure rate. The solutions also save space and, at the same size, are available with both common cathode and common anode functionality. These products were extremely popular at the event, attracting countless fans.

In the display control field, NovaStar presented their adaptive thermal compensation solution, which is based on the thermodynamic characteristics model analysis of LED cabinets. It calculates the thermal changes of the cabinet in real-time and dynamically adjusts the thermal compensation coefficients. This solution efficiently addresses issues caused by temperature variations and uneven temperature distribution in the display cabinet, which could lead to color temperature deviations, red streaks, and greenish hues due to the placement of internal power supplies and driver ICs. It ensures that the cabinet’s color temperature and color accuracy are consistently and accurately maintained.

6. Sustainability, Energy Efficiency, and Environmental Protection as Unchanging Themes

For years, display companies have continuously climbed to new heights in their pursuit of sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental protection. Through technological innovation, these factors have been considered from the design phase, resulting in the creation of many high-quality products. For example, some companies use common cathode technology, which saves over 30% in energy consumption; others optimize software to incorporate eye-protection features, helping customers safeguard their eyesight. Additionally, some companies employ scientific management of displays to help customers reduce usage costs and simplify processes. There are even companies harnessing clean energy sources like solar and wind power to generate electricity for LED displays. At this exhibition, we witnessed some of these new technological achievements.

Absen showcased its A25 series, a low-carbon, energy-efficient LED display with outstanding performance, suitable for applications such as billboard advertising, landmark signage, transportation hubs, and sports venues. According to estimates, the A25 series consumes less than 1 kWh per square meter per day, with a 300m² display saving up to 1.44 million RMB in electricity costs over 5 years. The product offers a 10-year warranty and “zero down payment” options. Its exceptional display performance—high brightness, refresh rate, contrast, and grayscale—ensures that displays remain distortion-free even in complex environments and scenarios, supporting the outdoor advertising industry’s low-carbon green transformation. Additionally, Absen’s KLCOBV2 series, backed by innovative technology, significantly improves heat dissipation efficiency, reducing energy consumption by 40%.

Lianjian Optoelectronics made a domestic debut with its photovoltaic energy storage display solution, which garnered enthusiastic reactions. This innovative solution cleverly integrates photovoltaic technology and energy storage systems. The surface of the display product features HOB (Hybrid Organic and Inorganic) technology, with an IP65 protection rating, enhancing the product’s durability. This solution achieves a green, sustainable energy supply and leads the industry toward a future of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and intelligent solutions.

In material innovation, Uniview’s Xianghu Series LED display cabinet creatively adopts graphene material, which enhances heat dissipation and extends product lifespan. At the same time, by incorporating graphene, the company continues to implement its green manufacturing philosophy, setting a benchmark for the industry’s sustainable development.

7. Standardization in the LED Industry Needs Urgent Attention to Improve Efficiency and Reduce Costs

Currently, the LED display industry faces significant challenges due to long-standing issues with inconsistent product specifications and incomplete standards. These problems have led to massive resource waste and market saturation. From discrepancies in chip sizes, packaging dimensions, and display interface standards to differences in communication protocols, these inconsistencies not only complicate the supply chain but also result in substantial wasted R&D and market investment, severely hindering the efficient development of the industry. As a result, the industry needs a comprehensive, top-to-bottom standardization strategy.

At this year’s exhibition, the “New Display Industry and LED Standards Development Forum” garnered widespread attention. Zhang Jinfang, Chairman of JC North, the organizer of the event, stated that after in-depth discussions with many experts and scholars, they all agreed that standardization—such as protocol standardization and interface unification—is the key to breaking through the industry’s challenges. He emphasized the importance of gradually establishing an open, inclusive platform for standardized development, which would allow the LED display industry to overcome technical barriers, lower development thresholds, enhance equipment compatibility, and promote industry growth. With the continued evolution of standardized protocols, JC North believes that by working with industry peers, they can eliminate technical barriers, lower entry barriers, and advance the industry to seize the massive market opportunities in the trillion-dollar commercial display era.

At the end of the forum, the “Guide to the Construction of Group Standards for the New LED Display Industry” was officially released. This guide, which consolidates the expertise of leaders from academia, research, and industry, marks a key step in advancing the standardization and internationalization of LED display technology in China.

The forum is expected to prompt many companies to recognize the importance of standardization. As the market becomes increasingly competitive, reducing costs has become an effective strategy for many businesses. But how can costs be reduced? One way is to break down technical barriers in the market and quickly promote LED display products to customers. However, due to the lack of unified standards across companies, many products face compatibility issues, causing significant resource waste and making promotion very challenging. For example, many companies’ software products have various names but similar functions. If these could be integrated, it would significantly improve the customer experience and increase conversion rates. In the future, the LED/LCD industry should strengthen cooperation across the entire supply chain—from upstream to downstream—considering standardization from the very beginning. By unblocking the industry’s channels, we can quickly stimulate the market and gain greater customer recognition.

Conclusion

This year’s ISLE exhibition attracted significant attention, with many new technologies, products, and solutions showcased. However, the future remains uncertain. As market competition becomes increasingly fierce, there is a need to intensify R&D efforts and develop new products to avoid homogeneous competition. With the development of new display technologies, Chinese companies must collaborate on innovation to lead the world. Notably, the standardization of the LED industry will help improve efficiency, reduce resource waste, and ensure that the entire supply chain works more closely together, driving the standardization of chips, packaging, display interfaces, and communication protocols, ultimately accelerating the industry’s growth in a faster, more efficient, and more effective manner.