Mini LED backlighting purposes will likely be principally adopted for gaming LCD displays in 2019, with demand to take off within the second half of the 12 months, in keeping with trade sources.
A 27-inch gaming LCD monitor wants about 10,000 mini LED chips for its backlighting unit (BLU), equal to utilizing a 2-inch mini LED epitaxial wafer, the sources mentioned. In comparability, a 5.5- or 6.0-inch smartphone BLU makes use of solely about 2,000 mini LEDs, however world demand for smartphones is way bigger than that for gaming LCD displays, promising a lot stronger demand, the sources famous.
While China-based smartphone distributors Huawei and Xiaomi are reportedly seeking to undertake mini LED BLUs, their selections will hinge on value and yield fee for the BLUs, the sources defined.
Smartphone-use mini LED BLU costs are prone to drop to US$20-30 in 2019, with the general value of mini LED-backlit LCD shows falling to a stage about US$10 larger than an OLED equivalnt. But OLED panel costs are additionally anticipated to fall additional in 2019 on account of further manufacturing capacities approaching line, crippling mini LED BLUs’ competitiveness, the sources indicated.
Taiwan-based Epistar has begun manufacturing of mini LEDs and brought a 52.5% stake in LED packaging service supplier ProLight Opto Technology, which has completed the certification course of for BLUs utilizing mini LED chips provided by the previous, the sources famous.
Lextar Electronics started manufacturing of mini LED BLUs for gaming LCD displays and high-end notebooks in fourth-quarter 2018, and can supply upgraded fashions in 2019.
