Samsung’s M16 OLED reaches 10,000 nits with 30% better efficiency

Samsung Display has unveiled the M16, its first OLED panel to reach 10,000 nits of peak brightness. The figure applies to 1% of the display window; across the full screen, the panel reaches 2,800 nits.

The panel is Samsung’s second-generation polarizer-free OLED, and the company claims a 30% improvement in efficiency. That could reduce battery use even when the display is operated closer to the 1,000 nits typical of high-end phones. The technology may also suit smartwatches and other mobile devices.

According to FlatpanelsHD, Samsung Display will supply M16 panels to Vivo for its iQOO 16 gaming phone. Previous reports also suggest that Apple is using the M16 in the iPhone 18 Pro, although that has not been confirmed here.

The M-series development could eventually reach OLED TVs and monitors. Samsung introduced its first 5,000-nit OLED in March 2025, meaning the company has doubled peak brightness in just over a year. However, removing the polarizer can reduce contrast and black-level definition, so manufacturers may need other anti-reflective technologies.