Rapid demand for smartphones and tablet computers this year is expected to cause the global market for small and midsize liquid crystal displays to expand at its fastest pace in three years, according to iSuppli.
The research firm said global shipments of thin-film transistor panels, advanced types of displays used in sophisticated mobile devices including smartphones and tablet PCs, are set to rise 28 percent. That would be the highest level of growth for the market since 2007, when shipments jumped 50 percent.
ISuppli director Vinita Jakhanwal said because such devices focus on delivering a high-quality user experience, “many are employing TFT-LCD displays that offer bright, sharp images–a move that represents a boon for the suppliers of these displays.”
Global smartphone shipments are set to rise 36 percent this year, while tablet PC shipments are expected to surge, driven almost entirely by Apple Inc.’s iPad. Inspired by Apple’s iPhone 4, iSuppli said smartphone makers are adopting the display panels using In-Plane Switching technology. That technology supports a wider viewing angle and better picture quality in terms of presentation of color than a conventional LCD. It also consumes less electricity.
Though demand for thin-film-transistor LCDs will jump this year, growth is expected to slow in 2011 and beyond as the expansion of the smartphone and tablet markets cools to more normal.
