FPD Resolution Continues to Rise, Especially in Mobile Devices

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More than Half of Mobile Phone Displays Will Be Over 200 PPI in 2015

SANTA CLARA, CALIF., October 5, 2011—Increasing demand for high information content and multimedia capability in mobile devices continues to drive flat panel display resolution to higher levels of pixel density. With panel makers developing ultra-high resolutions, such as 4K × 2K for TVs and QXGA (2048 × 1536 pixels) for tablet PCs, the average pixel density of flat panel displays is expected to grow over the next few years.

According to the latest DisplaySearch Quarterly Worldwide Flat Panel Display Forecast Report, the average pixels per inch (PPI) of large-area (>9.1”) TFT LCDs will increase from 88 in 2010 to 98 in 2015, while average PPI for small/medium (<9.0”) TFT LCDs will grow from 180 to 210 over the same period. Mobile phones are the most obvious driver of increasing PPI due to growth in smart phones, with displays like 3.5” 960 × 640 resolution (330 PPI), 4.3” 800 × 480 (217 PPI) and 1280 × 800 (330 PPI). In 2010, the share of mobile phone displays (including TFT LCD and AMOLED) with more than 200 PPI was 22%. By 2015, the share is forecast to reach 50%, and increase further to 55% in 2018.

Figure 1: Mobile Phone Display Resolution Trends

Source: Quarterly Worldwide Flat Panel Forecast Report

According to Hiroshi Hayase, DisplaySearch Vice President for Small/Medium Display Research, “As consumers come to expect multimedia performance and internet access on handheld devices such as mobile phones or tablet PCs, it is important for such devices to utilize high resolution displays.”

Charles Annis, Vice President for Manufacturing Research, added, “Panel makers are rapidly commercializing a variety technology solutions that enable super high resolution FPDs, such as low temperature polysilicon (LTPS) and other high mobility backplane materials, low resistivity metal bus lines, high aperture ratio pixel designs, and laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) for AMOLEDs.”

Later this year and early in 2012, products will offer displays such as 7” 1280 × 800 (215 PPI), 9.7” 2048 × 1536 (264 PPI) and 10.1” 1920 × 1200 (218 PPI). Such products are expected to be attractive to consumers who spend more time on applications that require pixel formats closer to that of PCs or TVs. “More and more consumers are expecting seamless experience and visual performance between smart phones and tablet PCs, and manufacturers are looking to extend high resolutions from smart phones to tablet PCs,” added Hayase.

Figure 2: Pixel Density Evolution in PC and Smart Phone Displays

Source: Quarterly Worldwide Flat Panel Forecast Report

The DisplaySearch Quarterly Worldwide Flat Panel Forecast Report covers quarterly worldwide shipments of all major flat panel applications. With over 140 FPD producers across 10+ countries and authored by industry experts, the report analyzes historical shipments and forecast projections. PPI is the latest feature added to this report.

For more information about the report, please contact Charles Camaroto at 1.888.436.7673 or 1.516.625.2452, e-mail contact@displaysearch.com or contact your regional DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan or more information.

About DisplaySearch
Since 1996, DisplaySearch has been recognized as a leading global market research and consulting firm specializing in the display supply chain, as well as the emerging photovoltaic/solar cell industries. DisplaySearch provides trend information, forecasts and analyses developed by a global team of experienced analysts with extensive industry knowledge. In collaboration with The NPD Group, its parent company, DisplaySearch uniquely offers a true end-to-end view of the display supply chain from materials and components to shipments of electronic devices with displays to sales of major consumer and commercial channels. For more information on DisplaySearch analysts, reports and industry events, visit us at www.displaysearch.com. Read our blog at www.displaysearchblog.com and follow us on Twitter at @DisplaySearch.

About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,800 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, contact us or visit www.npd.com and www.npdgroupblog.com. Follow us on Twitter at @npdtech and @npdgroup.