What They Say
DSCC put out its new forecast report that foldable panel shipments will hit 3.1 million units, with revenue rising 394% to $462 million, but below earlier expectations because Huawei could not launch its Mate X2 due to US trade restrictions. Samsung completely dominates the market with 88% share for 2020. Other items
- By model, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip and the Z Fold 2 are expected to be the two best-selling foldables in 2020 on both a unit and revenue basis. In Q3’20 on a panel procurement basis, the Z Fold 2 led with a 65% share followed by the Z Flip 5G with a 27% share. On a device shipment basis, the Z Flip led Q3’20 with a 43% share.
- Korea was the #1 region for Samsung’s foldable smartphones in 2020 with more than a 40% share followed by Europe.
- By form factor, in-folding led in Q3’20 with a 69% share on a panel procurement basis, leading for the first time since Q4’19. For the year, clamshells are expected to lead with nearly a 60% share.
- In terms of cover material on a panel procurement basis, ultra-thin glass (UTG) led with a 92% share in Q3’20 and is expected to lead in 2020 at 84%.
- 120Hz refresh rates led for the first time in Q3’20 as did LTPO backplanes.
- 5G also accounted for a majority of foldable devices for the first time in Q3’20.
- Qualcomm is the dominant chipset supplier accounting for a 96% share in 2020 with the Snapdragon 855+ and 865+ splitting over 80% of the market.
- SDC accounted for 96% of the foldable panels shipped in Q3’20 and is expected to have an 87% share for all of 2020.
What We Think
DSCC said that Samsung Display will try to widen its market by helping other brands. Although the firm can gain benefits from its strong vertical integration into the Samsung smartphone business, it’s difficult to have a lot of agency to do things its own way when so much of its output goes to a single customer, even an internal one. (BR)
