Display panels for wearable devices: Market overview and forecast through 2017

The wearables market is a growing focal point for many vendors and players in the display panel supply chain. This Digitimes Research Special Report looks at developments in panel applications in the wearable industry, with a specific focus on panel makers in Greater China. The report also covers the investments being made moving forward (through 2017) in order to meet end-market demand, including capacity expansion for small- to medium-size TFT LCD and AMOLED panels.

This Digitimes Research Special Report also provides in-depth analysis regarding the technological and strategic advantages from makers both in China and Taiwan, and compares their shipment prospects from 2015-2017 to give readers a comprehensive understanding of how the panel supply chain in Greater China is shaping developments in the wearables market.

• Introduction

• Emerging demand for wearable displays

• Chart 1: Cost factors and technology barriers for smart devices

• LTPS and AMOLED for wearables

• Table 1: Display technologies by device

• Table 2: Most high-end devices use AMOLED displays

• Table 3: Types of displays being used by device type

• LTPS capacity in Greater China, 2014-2017

• Japan LTPS TFT LCD production capacity

• Chart 2: Japan LTPS capacity, 2011-2017 (k2m)

• Korea LTPS TFT LCD production capacity

• Chart 3: Korea LTPS capacity 2011-2017 (k2m)

• Taiwan LTPS TFT LCD production capacity

• Chart 4: Taiwan LTPS capacity 2011-2017 (k2m)

• China LTPS TFT LCD production capacity

• Chart 5: China LTPS capacity, 2011-2017(k2m)

• LTPS maker production capacity changes by regions

• Chart 6: LTPS capacity by global region, 2017 (k2m)

• LTPS production capacity share by region - 2010-2017

• Chart 7: Global LTPS capacity share by region, 2010-2017

• Greater China AMOLED capacity expansion, 2014-2017

• China makers will have 10 AMOLED production lines in operation in 2017

• Table 4: China AMOLED fabs and production timelines, 2014-2017

• Taiwan makers are investing more conservatively in AMOLEDs

• Table 5: Taiwan AMOLED fabs and production timelines, 2014-2017

• China will surpass Taiwan in small- to medium-size AMOLED production in 2015

• Chart 8: Taiwan and China small- to medium-size AMOLED panel production, 2014-2017 (k2m)

• BOE balancing investments in both large size and small- to medium-size AMOLED panels

• Chart 9: BOE small- to medium-size AMOLED and LCD capacity, 2014-2017 (k2m)

• Taiwan makers

• AUO wearable display development

• Table 6: AUO wearable display development plans

• Innolux wearable display development

• Table 7: Innolux wearable display development plans

• CPT and HannStar wearable display development

• Table 8: CPT and HannStar wearable display development plans

• E-Ink's wearable display development

• Table 9: E Ink wearable display development plans

• Taiwan PMOLED wearable display development

• Table 10: Taiwan PMOLED makers, wearable display development plans

• China makers

• BOE

• Table 11: BOE's opportunities for wearable displays

• Tianma Microelectronics

• Table 12: Tianma opportunities for wearable displays

• CSOT

• Table 13: CSOT opportunities for wearable displays

• EverDisplay

• Table 14: EverDisplay opportunities for wearable displays

• GVO

• Table 15: Visionox/GVO opportunities for wearable displays

• Table 16: GVO's roadmap for AMOLED panels

• Chart 10: Plastic AMOLED panel module thinness advantages

• Truly

• Table 17: Truly opportunities for wearable displays

• Holitech

• Table 18: Holitech opportunities for wearable displays

• Summary

• Greater China forecast through 2017

• Chart 11: Global panel shipments for smart watches and smart bands, 2014-2017 (m panels)

• Chart 12: Global smart watch and smart band panel shipments, 2014-2017 (m panels)

• Greater China smart watch panel shipment forecast

• Chart 13: Greater China smart watch panels shipments, 2014-2017 (m panels)

• Chart 14: Greater China share of worldwide smart watch panel shipments, 2014-2017

• Greater China smart band panel shipment forecast

• Chart 15: Greater China smart band panels shipments, 2014-2017 (m panels)

• Chart 16: Greater China global share of smart band panel shipment, 2014-2017

• Comparison of Taiwan, China, Japan, and Korea makers

• Table 19: Strengths and weaknesses of makers by region

• Summary