Rise of Plastic and Flexible Displays Technology analysis and detailed forecasts by market segment and display type. The market for plastic and flexible AMOLED displays will rise to $16bn by 2020. OLED displays are thinner, lighter, and offer better color performances compared to backlit liquid crystal displays (LCD). OLED displays are already mass produced for mobile phones and OLEDs will continue gaining market share against LCD technology.

The next evolution is plastic and flexible displays. The first flagship phone with a flexible display is expected to ship in 2017. Based on this scenario, the market for plastic and flexible AMOLED displays will rise to $16bn by 2020.

The rise of plastic and flexible displays will be accompanied by a shift from glass substrates to plastic substrates such as polyimide. However, glass-based displays will remain an important technology, especially in TV applications where scale-up and cost reduction are still big challenges. Flat and curved OLED TVs were recently launched by Samsung and LG to critical acclaim. However, manufacturers are hedging their bets by investing in LCD backlights enhanced with quantum dots. These so-called “quantum dot LCD” TVs will be positioned as a cheaper upgrade from existing sets. Nevertheless, the market for OLED TV panels will experience steady growth over the next decade.

Based on a deep understanding of the technology roadmap and the existing bottlenecks, market has been forecasted for the OLED display market in eight segments:

• Mobile phone displays
• Tablet and notebook displays
• TV panels
• Automotive and aerospace
• Wearable electronics
• Industrial and professional displays
• Microdisplays
• Other applications