TV vendors will focus on larger-size, higher-resolution units, namely 40-inch and above size TVs. Ultra HD resolution, wide color gamut, OLED and quantum dot (QD) will be in increasing demand in mature markets while Full HD TVs will continue to grow in emerging markets.
The global TV market is set to show slight growth but competition will be on the rise. Creating improved ecosystems through smart TVs and content providers in addition to more comprehensive supply chains will help vendors and related supply chains stay profitable, especially as the TV industry in China continues to flourish.
It is not improbable that within 1-2 years vendors will start offering TVs for little or no cost as long as there are signed contracts with content providers. Mobile device vendors have already started in this direction and TVs will follow suit as consumers become bogged down with too many choices and as vendors are faced with too much competition. Therefore, TV vendors should look to expanding their value-added characteristics through services, create experiences for consumers rather than promoting products and push forth cooperation with their ecosystems to bring about mutual benefit for everyone in the industry.
Handsets
Handsets are looking more and more the size of mobile handsets back in the 90s, only now they have screens. Large-size screens will be in demand and LTPS TFT LCD technology will make a comeback after seeing its market share threatened from OLED panels, currently used primarily in Samsung Electronics handsets. Thinner, lighter and even flexible units will further make their way into the market, although bendable units will see minimal shipments due to complications in related supply chains. Moreover, consumers are unsure what to do with their bendable handsets other than to replicate a modern-day like Andy Warhol figure.
Tablets
Tablet display technology is stagnating as vendors are seeing that the market is more limited compared to 2-3 years ago. There needs to be increased efforts to make protective eye features so that consumers can enjoy reading their tablets like books. If you look at a computer screen all day and then look to your Apple or Samsung tablet to read later at night you may find your eyes are exhausted and returning to books as a result. EPD makers can use this to their advantage and try to cooperate more with vendors to create book-like reading experiences without the eye strain.
Commercial displays
Panel makers have done a good job expanding applications into the commercial, public and vehicle segments, and should continue doing so in order to drive panel demand. This is the most obvious case where panel makers seem to be creating their own demand rather than waiting for the demand to arrive.
Makers
Out of all the makers in the market, Taiwan-based ones face the biggest risk. The reason is that Taiwan makers neither take an aggressive stand for producing leading technology such as Korea and Japan makers, and yet do not have the funding or government assistance to expand production capacity or create new facilities. Taiwan is stuck in the middle in this regard and needs to make improvements so that it can secure orders from major vendors outside of the TV segment, otherwise it will be at a loss in the future.
