Xiaomi show off the world’s first mass produced transparent television
Being able to manufacture truly transparent displays takes us one step closer to being able to develop transparent electronics, if you like that kind of thing.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2020) 'Xiaomi show off the world’s first mass produced transparent television', 311 Institute, 1 September. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/xiaomi-show-off-the-worlds-first-mass-produced-transparent-television/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
A little while ago I showed off Panasonic’s concept invisible TV, and discussed how researchers were now using supercomputers to try to design the first truly transparent electronics and gadgets. Now on their 10th birthday China's Xiaomi have launched their own fully transparent TV, the Mi TV Lux Transparent Edition, that brings sci-fi into the living room with an edge-to-edge self-luminous television that you can see through. Furthermore, unlike other wannabe transparent TV’s, which make use of a whole host of interesting new technologies that aren’t quite there yet, Xiaomi say their new creation will be the world’s first mass produced transparent television.
The 55-inch OLED panel is just 5.7mm thin and sits on a rounded base and, when the TV isn't powered on, the display looks like a window between you and whatever is behind it, though it can be set to show arty display images if desired. But Xiaomi is promising an "unprecedented visual experience" when it's switched on, with "extra rich blacks and unmatched brightness."
Indeed, the reported static contrast ratio is 150,000:1, with an "infinite dynamic contrast" waiting in the wings. The 10-bit panel can display over a billion colors, supports 93 percent of the DCI-P3 color spectrum, boasts a 120-Hz refresh rate and 120-Hz MEMC technology for smooth, clear moving images, and a 1-ms response time for low latency onscreen gaming.
AI Master Smart Engine and custom MediaTek processing brains make use of more than 20 optimization algorithms for image refinement, while AI Master for Audio auto adjusts the sound depending on the content being played, and there's Dolby Atmos support too, and it’s priced at $7,200.
Source: Xiaomi
What this means for your organisation
Screens can disappear into spaces.
A display that looks like glass when off removes the black rectangle from a room. That lets screens sit in windows, shop fronts and partitions. Retail and property leaders should rethink where digital content can live.
Mass production signals maturity.
Earlier see-through screens were concepts or lab work. Moving to mass production suggests costs and yields are improving. Product teams should expect suppliers to offer transparent panels sooner than planned.
Chinese makers set the pace.
Xiaomi moved first on a mass-market transparent set, ahead of rival concepts. That reflects how quickly Chinese firms turn display research into products. Rivals and buyers should track Chinese display roadmaps closely.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Where could see-through screens add value in our stores or buildings?
- Which of our products could integrate a transparent display?
- How closely do we track Chinese display suppliers?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Being able to manufacture truly transparent displays takes us one step closer to being able to develop transparent electronics, if you like that kind of thing.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Turning moment for tv industry xiaomi unveils mi tv lux oled transparent edition blog.mi.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 1 September 2020. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2020). Xiaomi show off the world’s first mass produced transparent television. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/xiaomi-show-off-the-worlds-first-mass-produced-transparent-television/
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