WitsView, a division of TrendForce, reports that strong demand is pushing up prices of LCD panels for smartphone displays of the lower resolution specs. With demand for high-end device models falling short of expectations, smartphone brands are now relying on low-end devices with bargain-priced panels to boost their product shipments. However, limited supply and increasing demand have caused prices of 4-inch WVGA and 4.5-inch FWVGA panels to reach new highs in September, with monthly increases at over 50%, respectively. Looking ahead, prices of lower-end smartphone panels are expected to keep rising in the fourth quarter.
WitsView, a division of TrendForce, anticipates growing oversupply of LTPS LCD panels. Worldwide LTPS panel capacity expansion for this year is slower than initially expected as several new fabs have delayed mass production until after this year’s fourth quarter. However, this delay will also lead to an annual increase of 31.6% for next year’s total LTPS panel capacity. The oversupply situation will also get worse with the gradual adoption of AMOLED panels among mid-range and high-end smartphones.
The mass production of the long-anticipated 8K resolution TV sets will formally begin the second half of this year. WitsView, a division of TrendForce, reports that a Taiwanese panel maker is first to be approved by international TV brands as a supplier of 8K TV panels. TV brands hope that the market release of 8K TV sets will generate interests among consumers in the near future.
The latest large-size LCD panel shipment report by WitsView, a division of TrendForce, says shipments of LCD TV panels totaled 22.8 million units in July, representing a 5% increase from June and a 2.2% year-on-year increase. As the TV market enters the peak sales season, branded TV vendors are focusing on stocking up for their promotional activities. Rising panel prices are also spurring them to replenish their inventories. Consequently, the surge of demand in the TV panel market has begun earlier than usual.
Following LCD and AMOLED, micro-LED has emerged as the next-generation display technology that is expected to be deployed widely in various applications. Increasing interests from electronics giants Apple and Sony during the recent period have encouraged further investments in micro-LED and accelerated the timetable for its commercialization. The latest analysis from LEDinside, a division of TrendForce, forecasts that micro-LED displays for smart wearable devices will enter the mass production stage in 2018. The technology will become available for smartphones later in 2020.