Samsung Electronics is estimated to have sold 1.08 million QLED TVs last year that saw the premium segment outpace OLED sales, the latest market analysis showed on Feb. 21.

According to IHS Markit, 2.68 million QLED TVs were sold worldwide in 2018, more than the 2.51 million OLED sets. The winner was confirmed after fourth-quarter data were announced by the market surveyor.

QLEDs picked up big sales in the October-December months during the global shopping season, highlighted by Black Friday. Some 1.1 million sets of the premium TV were estimated to have been shipped during the fourth quarter alone, compared with 895,000 for OLED TVs.

By brand, LG Electronics sold 519,000 OLED TVs in the final quarter.

In yearly terms, Samsung’s QLED TVs sold 2.6 million units and LG‘s OLED about 1.56 million units, according to IHS Markit.

The year’s sales amount, however, was higher for OLEDs at US$6.53 million compared with US$6.34 million for QLEDs.

By Ram Garikipati and newswires (ram@heraldcorp.com)