Blog from March 2023

TV

LCD TV Panel Prices Edging Up in Q1

March 6, 2023

After a pause in December and January, LCD TV panel prices are increasing again from their all-time lows. With LCD fab utilization well below normal levels, TV supply chain inventories have been decreasing and panel purchases have started to recover. While the price increases are undoubtedly welcomed by panel makers, the industry remains in a difficult position with prices below cash costs.
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Foldable

More Foldable Report Highlights – 37 Foldables in the Market this Year, CoE Panels from China, Multi-Fold Coming and More

March 6, 2023

We published our Quarterly Foldable/Rollable Display Shipment and Technology Report last week and it is clear 2023 will be a busy year for foldables. While 19 different foldable smartphone models had shipments in 2022 from seven different brands. In 2023, DSCC expects to see at least 37 different models ship in 2023 from 10 different brands with Google, OnePlus and Tecno entering the mix as brands look to breathe new life into the stagnant smartphone market. At least 16 different clamshell models are expected along with at least 20 different in-folding (book-type) models and one new out-folding model. While the foldable smartphone market is heating up, DSCC reports delays in foldable notebooks with a number of models expected in Q4’23 pushed out to 2024 due to the weak IT market this year.
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Advanced Tablet Panel Shipments Fall Y/Y in Q4’22, Larger Decline Expected in Q1’23

March 20, 2023

As reported in our latest Quarterly Advanced IT Display Shipment and Technology Report, OLED and MiniLED tablet panel shipments fell 10% Q/Q and 11% Y/Y in Q4’22 to 2.3M units. It was the first Y/Y decline since Q1’21. The decline can be attributed to lack of compelling new models, the weak IT market resulting from the COVID bubble where significant forward demand was pulled in, high inflation such as higher energy and food prices weakening consumer spending and recessionary concerns. Q1’23 looks even worse likely due to some inventory concerns at Apple and again a lack of new products. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S9 series isn’t expected to launch till August, so Q1’23 will have a more challenging comparable. A steeper 42% Y/Y decline is expected in Q1’23.
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Mobile

DSCC Reports April Panel Shipments for the iPhone 14 Series Fall 23% M/M

March 20, 2023

As we approach the end of March, our latest survey of supply chain data shows that panel shipments for the iPhone 14 Series are tracking 2% higher than the iPhone 13 Series during the same time period of April – April. This continued decline in growth is the result of weakening demand, inventory corrections and macroeconomic turbulence.
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MiniLED

How MiniLEDs Can Remain Cost Competitive

March 20, 2023

Since Apple adopted MiniLEDs in the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro’s in 2020, MiniLED has become a rising star in the display and LED industries. Other IT brands have also adopted MiniLEDs in notebook PCs and monitors since then. However, Apple plans to adopt OLEDs to replace MiniLEDs in the iPad Pro next year and in MacBook Pro’s over time. This will have a large impact on the MiniLED market. Increasing MiniLED’s advantages and minimizing their weaknesses has become a big task for the LED industry. This is being achieved through collaboration with companies in optics, backplanes and driver ICs for next generation MiniLED solutions. High cost is still the main obstacle. DSCC sees a number of ways in which the MiniLED industry is approaching cost reduction:
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IT

Advanced Monitor Market Expected to Rise 99% Y/Y in 2023 On Triple-Digit Growth for OLEDs Monitors

March 27, 2023

In the recently released Quarterly Advanced IT Display Shipment and Technology Report, some highlights for advanced monitors include: • In Q4’22, advanced monitor panel shipments grew 15% Q/Q and 126% Y/Y to 643K panels. We expect to see an increase to 825K panels in Q1’23, a 28% Q/Q increase with OLED displays increasing 88% Q/Q and MiniLEDs increasing 20%. The significant Q/Q growth for OLED displays is a result of significant growth from 34” QD-OLED and 49” QD-OLED models and 27”, 45” and 48” WOLED models.
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IT

Advanced Notebook PCs Decline 6% Q/Q in Q4’22 – 2023 Expected to Remain Flat

March 27, 2023

Last week, we released the advanced notebook PC display (OLEDs and MiniLEDs) results and our latest forecast in the Quarterly Advanced IT Display Shipment and Technology Report. In Q4’22, we saw a Q/Q decrease of advanced notebook PC displays as a result of elevated channel and brand inventories in the total notebook market and slower growth in the advanced notebook display market as a result of the continued macroeconomic turbulence and the slowing of consumer and commercial demand.
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