AMOLED Display Volume Up But Could Be Hampered by Note7 Recall Issues, Says Report

The use of flexible displays in smartphones, tablets and connected wearables is fueling a surge in active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display volume, said an IHS report. AMOLED display revenue is expected to reach $14.3 billion this year, closing in on low-temperature polysilicon displays (LTPS) at $14.7 billion and surpassing amorphous silicon (a-Si) TFT LCD displays at $14 billion, it said. AMOLED is poised to become the leading next-generation display technology, but a-Si TFT LCD will see decreasing demand, especially for smartphone displays, said IHS. Oppo and Vivo added AMOLED displays to their high-end smartphones in 2016, and Samsung used AMOLED in mid- and high-end Galaxy phones, it said. Apple, meanwhile, stuck with LCD displays, and “lackluster” sales of the iPhone 6S had a negative impact on thin-film transistor (TFT) LCD display revenue, especially LTPS TFT LCD displays, IHS said. Well-publicized battery issues with Samsung’s Galaxy Note7 and stronger than expected iPhone 7 orders in the U.S. could have a negative impact on AMOLED sales, it said. “Our latest forecast shows strong growth for small and medium AMOLED displays in 2016, but the trend may be revised in the fourth quarter, depending on how the market shakes out,” said analyst Hiroshi Hayase.