'LG, Samsung rule global tablet display mkt'

SAN FRANCISCO, USA: According to market research firm IHS iSuppli, the two South Korean giants, LG display and Samsung display remained the top suppliers of panels for tablet devices. Both LG and Samsung accounted for total 81 per cent of all panel shipments last year.

In 2011, 8.13 crore panels were shipped to the tablet space. Out of this, LG Display controlled the largest portion of the market at 46 per cent, followed by Samsung at 35 per cent (both of them accounting for 81 per cent market share). Remaining 19 per cent of the market share was distributed among six suppliers- Chimei Innolux Corp, Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd. and E-Ink Holdings (from Taiwan); Tianma Microelectronics and Beijing Orient Electronics Group (from China); and Hitachi Displays (from Japan).

There are other market players trying to get a share in the market. New players like Sharp and Japan Display (both from Japan) and AU Optronics (from Taiwan) are gaining their share in this particular segment. 

"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 for its PlayBook. LG and Samsung became the majority suppliers of tablet display panels in 2010, when tablets re-emerged from obscurity thanks to the launch of the iPad that year,'' said Vinita Jakhanwal, director, small & medium displays, IHS.

In 2012, tablet panel shipments will reach 14.45 crore units, up 78 per cent from 8.13 crore units last year. IHS says ''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.''

Last year, the 9.x-inch category ruled the market (with 68 per cent market share) compared to other size segments in the tablet panel space. The 9.x inch was the most popular category mainly due to the success of Apple’s iPad. 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, believes IHS.