LEDs price-drop trend analysis in 1Q2013 by LEDinside

LEDinside has estimated in 1Q13 LED price for monitor backlight application fell by approximately 4%-8%, whereas LED price for TV application dropped by 3%-9%. Affected by the price cut by Korean manufacturers, average price of high power LED for lighting applications fell by 6%-9% this quarter. With the price drop continuing, the total number of LED backlights applied to middle and large sized panels is expected to peak. LED backlight application has grown from 2012’s 70% to 92% in monitors, and from 70% to 90% in TVs. Other analysis shared by LEDinside: Manufacturers Look to Edge-Type and Direct-Type LED TVs as LED TV Backlight Prices Drop As the data from LEDinside’s “Gold Member Report” shows, in 1Q13 the cost of direct-type LED BLU dropped by approximately 3%-5%, while the cost of edge-lit LED BLU decreased by 4%-5%. LEDinside indicated that due to the enlarged light guide plate, the number of optical films must be increased in order to enhance module brightness in 46-inch or larger edge-type LED backlit TVs. Such being the case, however, module cost will also increase. In 46-inch backlight modules, for example, there is a price difference of 1.5 times between edge-type BLU and direct-type BLU. This year, Korean TV brands Samsung and LG simultaneously introduced direct-type LED TVs of all sizes, accounting for over 70%. Lacking brand advantage, Taiwan’s two major ...