The 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) opens on January 6 in Las Vegas, and tablet PCs are highly expected to take the center stage at the tradeshow. It is estimated that the worldwide leading mobile and PC brand vendors  will roll out 7-inch to 12-inch tablet devices one after another, which will certainly bring the tablet fever to another level. Based on the estimates by WitsView, a research division of TrendForce, the overall tablet demand will potentially reach 52M units in 2011, posting a more than threefold increase in YoY growth rate.

 

Apple iPad adopts projected capacitive touch technology with the brand new multi-touch operating experience, thereby giving tablet PCs new features. Apple iPad triggers not only the tablet fever but will also potentially capture 70% market share to become the primary beneficiary of the year. Since iPad adopts a glass type projected capacitive technology, the follow-ups consider glass type the standard package, and use the technology aggressively. In our view, glass type tablet will reach up to 76.5% share in 2011.

 

Film type is another mainstream for projected capacitive technology. According to WitsView’s research director Eric Chiou, film type leading edge is the capabilities to create lighter, slimmer, and lower-cost touch panels. However, touch displays have to take on numerous touches, so film type’s weaker durability becomes its drawback in the competition with glass type. The film-capacitive technology is expected to mostly concentrate on 5-inch and below in the smartphone sector, says WitsView. Even though its penetration rate will gradually increase, its 19.1% share is still relatively low in 2011. 

 

Currently, although the using experience of projected capacitive are widely accepted, the integration still takes much to improve. Take glass-type touch panels for example, Chiou indicates that the major directions in improving the integration design are categorized in two groups – first, those touch panel makers who take the initiative in touch segment will focus on the integration with cover lens; second, the integration conducted by panel makers holding large capital and technical advantages will base on the color filter, which they are more familiar with.

 

According to WitsView, even though differences remain between the two core technologies in one glass type, the main purpose is to reduce one piece of glass, thereby achieving the major goals of lighter, slimmer, and lower-cost touch panels. However, improvement in yield rate is still the main challenge in one glass type touch panels. In our view, one glass type may not be able to top the competition with out-cell touch panels in the near term. In 2011, one glass type adoption in tablet segment is still at the early stage, and the penetration rate may merely account for 1.6%.

 

Although projected capacitive technology becomes the must-have on tablet PCs in 2011, resistive touch technology still accounts for certain share in niche market. For non-brand vendors and telecommunications companies who launch free tablet PCs with special plans, the lower-cost resistive type remains appealing. As long as the emphasis is not placed on the entertainment feature, resistive touch technology could still meet most users’ requirement. The projection for 2011 resistive touch tablets is 2.8% share in tablet segment, and it will concentrate on entry-level models.

 

Source:WitsView