Market for Top Emerging Display Technologies to Nearly Triple to $21 Billion in 2020

BOSTON, MA--(Marketwired - Dec 8, 2015) - Driven by organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), the market for the top emerging display technologies will nearly triple to $21 billion by 2020, as ubiquitous liquid crystal displays (LCDs) lose market share, according to Lux Research.

OLEDs -- which enjoy a distinct advantage in mobile devices on account of performance in small form factors -- will create a $15 billion market, up from $6.2 million in 2015. Smartphones alone will account for $13 billion. The OLED market could grow as high as $26 billion if Apple were to switch to OLED for its iPhones and iPads and OLED manufacturers could further bring down costs to enable wider adoption.

"The display industry will become fragmented as emerging displays take advantage of LCDs' limitations," said Tony Sun, Lux Research Analyst and lead author of the report titled, "The Multi-Billion-Dollar Emerging Display Opportunities."

"Suppliers to the industry will need to diversify their product portfolio to fit individual technologies' needs," he added.

Lux Research analysts evaluated the emerging display technologies that will most impact traditional LCD market share, and quantified individual markets. Among their findings:

• Quantum dot (QD) is fastest-growing segment. Driven by adoption in televisions, QD LCDs will be the fastest-growing display technology, growing over 10-fold to $5.3 billion in 2020. In a more favorable environment, the market could grow to as much as $11 billion.
  
  
• Flexible OLEDs will be worth $2.2 billion. Flexible OLEDs -- used primarily in smartphones and smartwatches, but also in televisions, tablets and virtual reality headgear -- will grow eight-fold to a $2.2 billion market in 2020. However, 92% of this market will come from OLEDs on flexible substrates incorporated into rigid devices. Truly foldable and rollable OLEDs will hit the market in 2018 and grow to $170 million in 2020.
  
  
• E-reader decline will hit reflective displays. E-readers will drop by 40% from 2015 to 2020, crippling electrophoretic displays (EPDs) and other reflective displays commonly used in these devices. Nonetheless, reflective displays will be able to stand pat at a $590 million market in 2020, just above the current $560 million, due to growth from emerging applications like signage, electronic shelf labels and wearables.

The report titled, "The Multi-Billion-Dollar Emerging Display Opportunities," is part of the Lux Research Wearable and Flexible Electronics Intelligence service.

About Lux Research

Lux Research provides strategic advice and ongoing intelligence for emerging technologies. Leaders in business, finance and government rely on us to help them make informed strategic decisions. Through our unique research approach focused on primary research and our extensive global network, we deliver insight, connections and competitive advantage to our clients. Visit www.luxresearchinc.com for more information.