- The rigid amoled display market, as per Omdia, is forecast to decline by 12 per cent in 2020
- In 2019, amoled panel shipments for smartphones increased to 471 million units, up 16 per cent from 2018
- Samsung Display shipped 407 million smartphone amoled panels in 2019
Despite a projected double-digit decline in smartphone shipments due to the coronavirus pandemic, the global market for active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (amoled) smartphone displays is expected to rise by nine per cent in 2020. A recent report published by Omdia also pointed out towards Samsung Display as the leader in amoled display panels market.
“Smartphone brands across the world are increasingly migrating their product lines to amoled display technology—even amidst the catastrophic market conditions spurred by the coronavirus pandemic. Apple is expected to expand its amoled iPhone line-up to three models in 2020, up from two in 2019. Meanwhile, Chinese smartphone OEMs are expected to increase the number of high-end smartphones integrating AMOLED panels this year,” said Brian Huh, principal analyst, small/medium displays, Omdia.
Growth to be entirely driven by demand for flexible amoled panels
This growth, as per the report, will be entirely driven by demand for flexible amoled panels. The shipments of these are expected to increase by 50 per cent in 2020.
“Demand for foldable smartphones is helping fuel sales growth for flexible amoled panels. In contrast, the rigid amoled panels market is forecast to decline by 12 per cent in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and the fierce competition with the alternative display technology,” read the report.
It continued “Shipments of amoled panels used in smartphones are set to soar to 513 million units this year, up from 471 million in 2019, as reported by the Omdia OLED Display Market Tracker. In contrast, worldwide smartphone shipments are expected to plunge by 13 per cent in 2020 as the coronavirus impacts both consumer demand and supply-chain availability. This indicates that the penetration of amoled panels is rising sharply this year.”
It is to be noted here that several smartphone brands have introduced smartphones with amoled panels in the below Rs 20,000 category in India. Once limited to premium smartphones, amoled displays have started making way into mid-range smartphones as well.
Samsung Display’s amoled panel shipments declining
Though Samsung Display continues to be the leader in amoled panel shipments, its share in the market is on the declining end. Samsung Display shipped 407 million smartphone amoled panels in 2019, up eight per cent from 2018. The company accounted for 86 per cent share of unit shipments during 2019.
Samsung Display’s competitors BOE, Everdisplay and Visionox, were able to increase their shares in the amoled display panels market. Excluding Samsung Display, total panel shipments increased by 113 per cent to reach 64 million units in 2019.
“Panel shipments to Chinese OEMs increased dramatically. Panel shipments to Huawei and Xiaomi increased by 287 percent and 120 percent respectively to reach 73 million and 20 million units. Both companies in 2019 increased their adoption of AMOLEDs in place of TFT-LCDs in their mid- to high-end smartphone line-ups,” read the report.
