DisplaySearch announced it forecasts that the average resolution of tablet PC displays will grow to more than 200 pixels per inch (ppi) in 2012.

For more information visit: www.displaysearch.com

Unedited press release follows:

Resolution for Tablet PCs Improves, with Large-Area LCDs Forecast to Reach 200 ppi in 2012

Low-Cost Direct Type LED Backlights for LCD TV Panels to Emerge in 2012

SANTA CLARA, Calif., November 29, 2011—According to the NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report – Advanced LED, two important large-area TFT LCD trends are on the horizon: higher resolution tablet PC panels and the emergence of low-cost direct type LED-backlit panels.

The NPD DisplaySearch shipment forecast indicates that the average resolution of tablet PC displays will grow to more than 200 pixels per inch (ppi) in Q2’12. Q1’12 will be the first quarter that LED backlights (including edge and direct type) will account for more than half of total LCD TV panel shipments. In addition, low-cost direct type LED backlights will capture 5% of LCD TV panel shipments in Q3’12.

“The TFT LCD industry is undergoing some extraordinary changes in regards to high resolution and LED backlights for tablet PC panels. Rapid growth in multimedia usage of tablet PCs is driving panel makers to upgrade the resolution of tablet PC panels,” noted David Hsieh, Vice President, Greater China Market, NPD DisplaySearch. “At the same time, the rapidly growing LCD TV market in emerging countries is encouraging panel makers to develop ‘fit spec’ products, such as low-cost direct type LED-backlit panels, which have a similar structure to traditional CCFL models, but consume less power,” Hsieh added.

Hsieh continued, “While there are many technical challenges in developing high resolution tablet PC panels, high resolution and slim type displays can help panel makers raise their ASPs. Alternately, low-cost direct type LED backlights can help panel makers reduce panel prices.”

The launch of higher resolution displays in tablets, such as 10.1” 1920 × 1200 and 9.7” 2048 × 1536, expected at the end of 2011, will drive average tablet PC resolution to more than 200 ppi in Q2’12. The average resolution of all large-area TFT LCDs will surpass 100 ppi in Q1’12 and 110 ppi in Q3’12.

Table 1: Large-Area TFT LCD Resolution Trends (ppi)

Source: NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report – Advanced LED

LED Backlights for LCD TV Panels Achieve 39% Market Penetration
LED backlight penetration in LCD TV panel shipments reached 39% in Q3’11. Penetration is forecast to surpass 50% in Q2’12 and reach 53% in Q3’12. The main drivers for LED backlight penetration include lower power consumption, slimmer form factors, and environmental friendliness (no mercury). Many panel makers are developing low-cost direct type LED backlights, trading off panel thickness for cost, but still gaining the advantages of LEDs. Some panel makers are using direct type LED backlights in new sizes such as 39” and 50” in order to provide value models in developing markets.

Table 2: LCD TV Panel Shipment Percentage by Backlight Type

Source: NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report – Advanced LED

The NPD DisplaySearch Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report covers the entire range of large-area panels shipped worldwide and regionally. This report analyzes historical shipments and forecast projections with 100% coverage of panel makers. Authored by industry experts, the Quarterly Large-Area TFT LCD Shipment Report provides some of the industry’s most detailed information and insights. It is delivered in PowerPoint and includes Excel-based data and tables. For more information on this report, please contact Charles Camaroto at 1.888.436.7673 or 1.516.625.2452, or contact@displaysearch.com or contact your regional DisplaySearch office in China, Japan, Korea or Taiwan.

About NPD DisplaySearch
Since 1996, NPD DisplaySearch has been recognized as a leading global market research and consulting firm specializing in the display supply chain, as well as the emerging photovoltaic/solar cell industries. NPD DisplaySearch provides trend information, forecasts and analyses developed by a global team of experienced analysts with extensive industry knowledge and resources. In collaboration with The NPD Group, its parent company, NPD DisplaySearch uniquely offers a true end-to-end view of the display supply chain from materials and components to shipments of electronic devices with displays to sales of major consumer and commercial channels. For more information on NPD DisplaySearch analysts, reports and industry events, visit us at http://www.displaysearch.com/. Read our blog at http://www.displaysearchblog.com/ and follow us on Twitter at @DisplaySearch.

About The NPD Group, Inc.
The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,800 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, foodservice, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, contact us or visit http://www.npd.com/ and http://www.npdgroupblog.com/. Follow us on Twitter at @npdtech and @npdgroup.