Amid growing demand for AMOLED panels for smartphones, shipments of flexible AMOLED panels are expected to account for more than 50% of total AMOLED panel shipments by 2020.
According to IHS Markit, shipments of flexible AMOLED panels are expected to reach 335.7 million units by 2020, topping those of rigid AMOLED panels at 315.9 million units. Flexible AMOLED panels are predicted to make up 52% of total AMOLED panel shipments, up from 38.9% in 2018. Senior principal analyst Jerry Kang commented:
“Growth in d
emand for smartphones with flexible AMOLED panels has accelerated since 2016 as demand increased for curved-form or full-screen displays. Major smartphone brands have been promoting flexible AMOLED screens for their premium products, which allow a differentiated form factor from ones with rigid AMOLED and LTPS LCD panels”.
Apple first applied flexible AMOLED panels in 2017 to the iPhone X. It is expected to launch its second phone with a flexible AMOLED panel, slightly larger than the first one, in 2018. Demand for the new iPhone is expected to contribute to boosting shipments of flexible AMOLED panels. Kang added:
“Another factor is that high-end smartphone brands are now planning to launch foldable applications using flexible AMOLED panels, which is not possible using rigid AMOLED or LTPS LCD panels. Foldable AMOLED panels will be key in changing the demand situation from mobile devices in the foreseeable future”.
Shipments of flexible AMOLED panels are expected to reach 157.6 million units in 2018, more than triple compared to 46.5 million units in 2015, with a CAGR of 50%.
