Date: 30/11/2010

Higher resolution for tablet PCs is the trend in LCD panels as per study

According to the NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report - Advanced LED, two important large-area TFT LCD trends are on the horizon: higher resolution tablet PC panels and the emergence of low-cost direct type LED-backlit panels.

The NPD DisplaySearch shipment forecast indicates that the average resolution of tablet PC displays will grow to more than 200 pixels per inch (ppi) in Q2'12. Q1'12 will be the first quarter that LED backlights (including edge and direct type) will account for more than half of total LCD TV panel shipments. In addition, low-cost direct type LED backlights will capture 5% of LCD TV panel shipments in Q3'12.

"The TFT LCD industry is undergoing some extraordinary changes in regards to high resolution and LED backlights for tablet PC panels. Rapid growth in multimedia usage of tablet PCs is driving panel makers to upgrade the resolution of tablet PC panels," noted David Hsieh, Vice President, Greater China Market, NPD DisplaySearch. "At the same time, the rapidly growing LCD TV market in emerging countries is encouraging panel makers to develop 'fit spec' products, such as low-cost direct type LED-backlit panels, which have a similar structure to traditional CCFL models, but consume less power," Hsieh added.

Hsieh continued, "While there are many technical challenges in developing high resolution tablet PC panels, high resolution and slim type displays can help panel makers raise their ASPs. Alternately, low-cost direct type LED backlights can help panel makers reduce panel prices."

The launch of higher resolution displays in tablets, such as 10.1" 1920 × 1200 and 9.7" 2048 × 1536, expected at the end of 2011, will drive average tablet PC resolution to more than 200 ppi in Q2'12. The average resolution of all large-area TFT LCDs will surpass 100 ppi in Q1'12 and 110 ppi in Q3'12.

Application Q2’11 Q3’11 Q4’11 Q1’12 Q2’12 Q3’12
Monitor 92 92 93 93 93 93
Notebook PC 110 110 110 110 111 111
Mini-Note 119 120 120 121 122 122
Tablet 134 136 147 191 203 212
TV 58 57 56 56 56 55
Large-Area Average 92 93 94 101 106 110

Source: NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report - Advanced LED

LED backlight penetration in LCD TV panel shipments reached 39% in Q3'11. Penetration is forecast to surpass 50% in Q2'12 and reach 53% in Q3'12. The main drivers for LED backlight penetration include lower power consumption, slimmer form factors, and environmental friendliness (no mercury). Many panel makers are developing low-cost direct type LED backlights, trading off panel thickness for cost, but still gaining the advantages of LEDs. Some panel makers are using direct type LED backlights in new sizes such as 39" and 50" in order to provide value models in developing markets.

Backlight Type Q2’11 Q3’11 Q4’11 Q1’12 Q2’12 Q3’12
CCFL 63% 61% 56% 50% 47% 47%
Direct Type LED 1% 1% 1% 3% 4% 5%
Edge Type LED 36% 38% 43% 47% 49% 48%
Source: NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report - Advanced LED