The flexible display market is on the rise – not as a niche product, but as an increasingly-important part of the display market’s revenues. IHS DisplaySearch expects these products to represent 15% of total display revenues by 2024.
As flexible OLED production continues to improve, IHS has forecast that flexible display revenue will rise at a 44% CAGR from 2014, ending 2024 at $23 billion. “Flexible OLED production yield has improved dramatically over the last few years, which could prompt panel manufacturers to ramp up flexible OLED production lines”, said IHS’s Jerry Kang. “Market growth could also accelerate when flexible displays debut in foldable, rollable and stretchable forms”.
Flexible displays have multiple uses. They are rugged, thin, light and non-brittle. Both LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics have used such devices on their newest flagship smartphones, to bolster sales. The Apple Watch is another example of flexible OLED technology, and is helping to boost OLED’s momentum in the wearable sector.
According to Kang, both start-ups and “electronics giants” are experimenting with flexible display applications.
