Samsung Display Could Power the ‘Face’ of Tesla’s Optimus Robot

Samsung’s relationship with Tesla is deepening. Following the recent $16.5 billion AI chip deal between Tesla and Samsung Foundry, fresh reports suggest that Samsung Display will also begin supplying OLED panels to Tesla starting in 2027. Industry experts believe these displays will go into Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus.

Tesla’s Optimus robots may feature Samsung displays

According to Korean media, the supply agreement centers on 8-inch OLED panels. At first glance, this would appear to target Tesla’s current electric vehicles, where 8-inch LCD screens are used for rear passenger entertainment in the Model S, 3, X, and Y. However, industry watchers doubt that these OLEDs are intended for Tesla cars.

With electric vehicle demand softening, automakers are under pressure to reduce costs. Since OLEDs are two to three times more expensive than LCDs for the same size, it makes little sense for Tesla to upgrade existing in-car displays. Instead, the company may be planning to use Samsung displays in its Optimus robots.

Tesla unveiled the second-generation Optimus robot at the end of 2023, but it didn’t feature any external display. Rumors suggest the upcoming Gen 3 model, expected in 2026, may introduce a display on the robot’s face. An OLED would be ideal for such an application. Unlike LCDs, OLEDs don’t need a separate backlight, making it easier to design lightweight, curved, or non-traditional shapes.

For a robot face, where hemispherical contours are important and weight reduction is critical, OLED technology offers clear advantages. The display could be used to show task progress or system information in industrial environments or visual responses to user interactions. It could also be an interface mimicking human expressions if Tesla pushes the robot toward consumer markets.

This potential OLED deal follows a string of collaborations across Samsung Group divisions. Aside from semiconductors and displays, Samsung Electro-Mechanics is reportedly pursuing contracts to supply camera modules for Optimus. The synergy works well for Tesla’s famously lean supply chain strategy. By tapping Samsung, Tesla gains access to an integrated ecosystem covering advanced chips, memory, displays, circuit boards, and camera systems from a single group.