Monitor vendors are continuing to tackle curved units sized 27-inch and above with 2560 by 1080 and Ultra HD resolutions as part of their strategy in the first half of 2015, according to Digitimes Research.
In May, Samsung Electronics launched 29- and 27-inch curved units, the S29E790C and S27E591C, that feature similar resolutions. Vertical Display technology in addition to DisplayPort and HDMI dual-interfaces are also a focus for these units compared with previous units of similar sizes and above such as 34-inch units. 34-inch units are Samsung's main push featuring Ultra HD resolution in the first half of 2015.
Also climbing in popularity from vendors is curved units. Since the first curved-panel LCD monitor model was launched in the second half of 2014, the price gap between curved models and flat-panel ones has narrowed to as low as 18%, and as prices are expected to further drop and additional vendors will join the market in the second half of 2015, global demand for curved-panel LCD monitors will take off in the year, noted Digitimes Research.
Vendors are eyeing the technology due to its aesthetics in addition to the benefits the new technology has for entertainment such as gaming. Additionally, due to price reductions curved units are now becoming the standard for newer uits released in the market, with vendors such as Samsung Electronics releasing various units with 21:9 aspect ratio and higher resolutions.
In terms of LCD makers, Taiwan-based ODMs shipped 18.799 million LCD monitors worth US$2.155 billion in the first quarter of 2015, with the shipment volume dropping 15.5% on quarter and 6.5% on year. Shipment value slipped 13.8% and 1.2% respectively, added Digitimes Research.
20-inch and above models accounted for 63.1% of shipments, 18- to 19-inch 34.2%, 17-inch and 17-inch W 1.3%, 15- to 16-inch 1.4%, Digitimes Research indicated.
TPV Technology was the largest ODM accounting for 54.9% of shipments, followed by Qisda with 18.4%, Foxconn Electronics 17.7%, Wistron 8.7% and Compal Electronics 0.4%.
Most market observers expect monitor shipments to drop in 2015 but that due to larger sizes and higher resolutions that vendors' profits will remain stable.
