DisplaySearch: Touch screen module revenue
to reach $13.4B in 2011 and $23.9B by 2017
In the recently released Touch Panel Market Analysis, DisplaySearch
reported that total touch screen module revenue will reach
$13.4 billion in 2011, and nearly double in six years, reaching
$23.9 billion by 2017.
"Touch screen penetration has rapidly increased in
mobile phones, handheld games, game consoles, and tablet
PC applications, which collectively will account for more
than $10.5 billion in touch screen revenues this year,"
noted Jennifer Colegrove, PhD, Vice President of Emerging
Display Technologies at DisplaySearch."In addition,
we see strong touch screen growth over the next several
years driven by demand in larger display applications such
as all-in-one PCs, notebook PCs, and consumer gaming."
Figure 1: Touch Screen Module Revenue Forecast
Source: DisplaySearch 2011 Touch Panel Market Analysis
The highlights shared by DisplaySearch are:
Projected Capacitive Increasingly Becoming the Dominant
Touch Technology: As DisplaySearch previously forecasted,
projected capacitive became the leading touch screen technology
in terms of revenue in 2010. Projected capacitive growth
has been explosive since being popularized by Apple in 2007,
and many tablet PCs manufacturers have adopted it. In 2011,
projected capacitive shipments are expected to grow by more
than 100% Y/Y, and will account for 70% of all touch screen
revenues. In addition to dedicated touch screen suppliers
moving into projected capacitive, several color filter suppliers
and LCD manufacturers have converted lines to produce it.
In fact, over 60 companies are supplying projected capacitive
in 2011.
Shipments for in-cell touch, which first came to market
in 2009, didn't materialize in 2010. However, in-cell touch
is expected to take off in 2012 as yield rates improve.
On-cell touch, meanwhile, has seen greater adoption, but
the mix has shifted to smaller screen sizes used in mobile
phones and digital still cameras, whereas it has had difficulty
competing with projected capacitive in tablet PC applications.
Other touch technologies are experiencing market growth,
such as combination-type touch panels which offer both pen
and finger touch.
Mobile Phone Still the Leading Application, Tablet PCs
Gaining Share in 2011: Mobile phones are the major application
for touch screens in terms of unit shipments, accounting
for two-thirds of units shipped in 2010. DisplaySearch forecasts
that 868 million touch screens will ship for mobile phone
applications in 2011, up 68% Y/Y.
The tablet PC represents a fast-growing application for
touch screens, accounting for 26 million units in 2010.
Growth continues to be strong, with DisplaySearch forecasting
over 72 million touch screens for tablet PCs in 2011, and
over 100 million in 2012. Revenues for projected capacitive
touch screens in tablet PCs are expected to grow by more
than $1 billion in 2011.
Touch penetration is increasing in consumer gaming devices,
including consoles such as Microsoft Kinect, as well as
handheld games such as the Nintendo 3DS. Over the next few
years, notebook and all-in-one PCs as well as automobile
monitors are expected to contribute to touch screen market
growth as well. Touch technologies with high transmittance,
low power consumption, multi-touch or gesture recognition
will benefit the most.
