As Mobile Phone Market Matures, Display Makers Turn to In-Cell and On-Cell Touch Technologies for Growth

As the mobile phone market slows, display manufacturers are looking to new in-cell and on-cell touch-screen solutions that offer consumers thinner and brighter displays, while shortening the supply chain for smartphone manufacturers.

As panel makers promote these new solutions, and offer aggressive pricing as well, in-cell and on-cell touch solutions are expected to comprise half of all smartphone displays shipped in 2017, according to IHS Inc.

With the advent of active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) used in smartphones, new touch solutions are emerging that boast greater flexibility, lighter weight and other feature improvements.

Emerging touch solutions for flexible displays are expected to grow more than 50 percent in 2016 compared to the previous year, which will bolster revenue levels, according to the latest IHS Touch Panel Market Tracker.

“Since Samsung announced their Galaxy S6 Edge smartphone last year, flexible displays have grabbed consumer and industry attention,” said Calvin Hsieh, director of display research for IHS Technology. “Flexible AMOLED displays offer many more features than traditional rigid AMOLED and LCD displays, which is an attractive proposition for device makers and consumers.”