2018 Foldable Display Technology and Market Report

Report Summary

This report explores the challenges and opportunities associated with foldable displays which have the opportunity to breathe new life into stagnant markets. It examines the obstacles that must be overcome, the most likely solutions, timing of foldable display production and which markets are most likely to benefit. It also provides detailed foldable costs, how they compare with flexible OLEDs and how fast they are likely to fall by application, size and resolution. It also provides a capacity forecast, yield analyst and a detailed shipment forecast in units, revenues, application, size and area. This report relies directly on interviews with panel, equipment and materials suppliers and provides detailed industry roadmaps.

This report is critical for any company participating in the flexible OLED supply chain, looking to enter the flexible OLED supply chain or investing in these companies. The report reveals:

  • Why foldable displays must succeed;
  • What the key challenges are and industry solutions to overcome those challenges;
  • What changes are required to the backplane and frontplane processes to maximize yields and foldability;
  • What are the requirements, new materials and manufacturing processes for foldable touch sensors, optically clear adhesive (OCA) materials, circular polarizers, cover films, hard coats and foldable glass covers;
  • What kind of mechanical solutions are required;
  • Cost and price forecasts for multiple sizes and resolutions;
  • Capacity and yield forecasts with yield scenarios by tier;
  • Segmentation of the foldable market into 6 distinct segments;
  • Shipment forecasts by application, size, area, units, revenues, ASPs, etc.;
  • Foldable supply vs. demand;


The report answers the following important questions:

  • How OLEDs are made flexible?
  • How OLEDs are made foldable?
  • What are the biggest challenges?
  • What are the most likely solutions?
  • How much more will foldable OLEDs cost than flexible and rigid OLEDs?
  • How fast will foldable capacity grow?
  • What are the likely yields for Tier 1, 2 and 3 suppliers?
  • Where is yield loss the greatest concern?
  • What are brands and panel suppliers foldable roadmaps?
  • How big will the foldable market get on an area basis, unit basis and revenue basis?
  • ​What sizes will be introduced first and what sizes are likely to lead the market?
  • What applications are likely to adopt foldable displays and why? Which ones are likely to be most successful?
  • ​What panel sizes are likely to dominate the tablet and keyboard-less notebook market?
  • Are keyboard-less notebooks really going to happen?​

This report includes

  • Technology Analysis
  • Manufacturing Process Flows
  • Display Materials Market Analysis
  • Cost Forecasts
  • Price Forecasts
  • Capacity Forecasts
  • Market Forecasts
    • Smartphones
    • Tablets
    • Notebooks
  • Supply/Demand Forecasts

Markets/Technologies Covered

  • Foldable OLEDs​
  • Flexible OLEDs
  • Rigid OLEDs
  • LTPS LCDs
  • Tablets
  • Notebook PCs
  • Polyimide
  • OCA
  • Touch Sensors
  • Polarizers
  • Cover film
  • CPI
  • Hardcoats
  • Foldable Cover Glass​

Companies Covered

  • 3M
  • Apple
  • Applied Materials
  • AP Systems
  • Ares Materials
  • Asahi Glass
  • BOE Technology
  • C3 Nano
  • DuPont
  • Fuji Film
  • Huawei
  • Kaneka
  • Kateeva
  • Konica Minolta
  • LG Chemical
  • LG Display
  • Light Polymers
  • Microsoft
  • Nippon Zeon
  • Nissha
  • Nitto Denko
  • Samsung Display
  • Samsung Electronics
  • Schott
  • SKC Kolon
  • Solip Tech
  • Sumitomo Chemical
  • Tosoh
  • TPK
  • ​Ube Industries
  • Unitika
  • Visionox
  • ​and more

Table of Contents

Page 3 - Executive Summary

Page 5 - Initial Product Analysis

  • Page 7 - Royole
  • Page 10 - Samsung Galaxy Fold
  • Page 15 - Huawei Mate X
  • Page 17 - Latest Status

Page 18 - Brands' Product Roadmap & Production Plans

  • Page 19 - Foldable Product Roadmap
  • Page 20 - Samsung
  • Page 23- Huawei
  • Page 25 - Lenovo / Motorola
  • Page 28 - Xiaomi
  • Page 29 - Oppo
  • Page 30 - Vivo
  • Page 31 - TCL
  • Page 32 - Google
  • Page 33 - Sony
  • Page 34 - Apple
  • Page 35 - PC Brands

Page 36 - Panel Supplier Capacity Analysis

  • Page 37 - SDC
  • Page 38 - BOE
  • Page 39 - LG Display
  • Page 40 - Royole
  • Page 41 - Visionox
  • Page 42 - China Star
  • Page 43 - AUO
  • Page 44 - EDO
  • Page 45 - Unyielded Capacity
  • Page 46 - Yielded Capacity
  • Page 47 - Yield Comparisons

Page 48 - Cost and Price Forecast

  • Page 49 - Assumptions
  • Page 51 - Foldable 7.3" Costs
  • Page 53 - Foldable 6.7: Costs
  • Page 55 - Foldable 8" Korea Costs
  • Page 57 - Foldable 8" China Costs
  • Page 59 - China vs. Korean Cost Comparison
  • Page 60 - Foldable Panel Price Forcast

Page 62 - Defining the Market

  • Page 63 - Clamshells
  • Page 64 - Book Type
  • Page 65 - Tablets
  • Page 66 - Notebooks

Page 68 - Unit Forecasts

  • Page 69 - By Application
  • Page 70 - By Form Factor
  • Page 71 - By Brand
  • Page 72 - By Panel Supplier
  • Page 73 - By Size

Page 74 - Revenue Forecasts

  • Page 74 - By Application
  • Page 75 - By Form Factor
  • Page 76 - By Brand
  • Page 77 - By Panel Supplier
  • Page 78 - By Size

Report Samples

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