LG and Samsung lead tablet display panel market

Telecom Lead Asia: LG Display and Samsung Display are
leading the tablet display panel market in 2011.

Their dominant position is primarily due to high-profile
design wins at Apple and Amazon.

The other top companies in this category included Chimei
Innolux, Chunghwa Picture Tubes and E-Ink Holdings – all from Taiwan; Tianma
Microelectronics and Beijing Orient Electronics Group from China; and Hitachi
Displays from Japan.

LG and Samsung command more than 80 percent of all
shipments. This was down from the 98 percent combined share they commanded in
2010.

Of the 81.3 million panels shipped to the tablet space in
2011, LG Display controlled the largest portion of the market at 46 percent,
followed by Samsung at 35 percent, according to an IHS iSuppli Small and Medium
Displays Market Tracker report from information and analytics provider HIS.

LG and Samsung in 2011 retained their positions as the
dominant panel suppliers in the media tablet display market due to their sales
to high-profile customers, such as Apple Inc. for its iPad, Amazon for its
Kindle Fire, Barnes & Noble for its Nook, and Research In Motion Ltd. for
its PlayBook,” said Vinita Jakhanwal, director for small & medium Displays
at IHS.

While LG and Samsung are expected to maintain their
dominance this year, new players such as Japanese-based Sharp Corp. and Japan
Display, as well as AU Optronics of Taiwan, will begin to gain share.

Tablet panel shipments this year will reach 144.5 million
units, up 78 percent from 81.3 million units last year. The solid growth
predicted for this year follows the phenomenal 408 percent expansion in tablet
display shipments in 2011 from 2010, when shipments were only 16 million units.

The 9.x-inch category reigned supreme in 2011 with 68
percent of the market, due mainly to the success of Apple’s iPad. However, the
7.x-inch category will gain increased traction this year, especially if Apple
goes ahead with an expected 7.x-inch iPad Mini to compete with similar 7.x-inch
tablets already on the market, such as the Kindle Fire and Nook.

Growth in the 7.x-inch segment will translate into a 36
percent share of market this year for that category, with market share for the
9.x-inch declining to 56 percent, down from 67 percent in 2010.

This year will also see increased diversification take
place in the tablet supply chain, with display suppliers projected to operate
in both high- and low-end tablet segments. More panel suppliers are expected to
enter the display business, leading to increased competition.

Higher levels of competition will help to drive down
panel costs to OEMs and in turn increase demand and help sustain growth for the
tablet panel market, IHS believes.

editor@telecomlead.com