Market and Technology Trends
MiniLED 2022: LCD Backlights and Direct View LED Displays
By Yole Intelligence —
MiniLEDs will thrive in direct view LED displays, but continuous OLED improvements are closing the window of opportunity for some LCD backlight applications.
Three-page summary
Executive summary
Context
- MiniLED Backlight Units
- From FALD to miniLED Backlights
- Benefits of Increasing LED and Dimming Zone Numbers
- MiniLED Benefits
- Direct-View LED Displays
- Toward Increased Added Value
- Pixel Pitch vs. Applications
Consumer Market Forecasts: MiniLED LCD Backlights
- Televisions
- 2020-2022 Trends in the TV Industry
- 2020-2022 LCD and OLED TV Panel Price Evolution
- 2021-2027 TV Volume Forecast by Size
- TV Price Bands and New Technology Adoption
- TCL 85” 8K X12 and Samsung 65” 8k Neo QLED MiniLED Backlights
- MiniLED Backlight Performance: Samsung Neo QLED
- TCL vs. Samsung Backlight Unit Cost Structure
- MiniLED vs. OLED TV Cost: Present and Future
- 2021 TV Models: Number of Chips vs. Dimming Zones
- Comparison of OLED and MiniLED TV Prices vs. Size and Resolution
- Dynamics for MiniLED Adoption in TVs
- Dual-Cell LCD
- 2021-2027 OLED and MiniLED TV Volume Forecast by Size
- 2021-2027 TV Volume Forecast and Technology Breakdown
- Tablets and Notebooks
- Trends in OLED Adoption in Tablets and Notebooks
- 2021-2027 Rigid OLED Capacity for Notebook and Tablet Panels
- The 12.9” miniLED iPad Pro MiniLED Backlight
- MiniLED for Tablets: Performance
- MiniLED for Tablets: Cost Aspects
- 2021-2027 Tablet Volume Forecast and Technology Breakdown
- Notebook Trends: OLED Adoption
- OLED vs. MiniLED in Notebooks: Cost and Performance
- List of MiniLED Notebook Models (as of May 2022)
- 2021-2027 Notebook Volume Forecast and Technology Breakdown
- Desktop Monitors
- OLED Panel Supply and Technologies for Desktop Monitors
- List of MiniLED Monitors (as of May 2022)
- Samsung Odyssey MiniLED Backlight (Yole SystemPlus consulting)
- OLED and MiniLED: Size vs. Price
- Automotive Applications
- Context
- Integration
- Display Performance
- 2021-2027 Automotive Display Forecast by Function
- Comparison of Display Technologies for Automotive (2022)
- MiniLED Automotive BLU and Displays and Key Players
- Automotive Categories and Price Bands
- 2021-2027 Automotive Display Forecast by Technology
- Other MiniLED Backlight Applications
- 2021-2027 MiniLED VR Forecast
- Smartphones
Industrial Market Forecasts: Direct-View LED Displays
- Recent and Macro Market Trends
- Comparison of Competing Technologies for NPP Signage
- Direct-View LED Display Cost Structure
- Direct-View LED Displays vs. LCD
- Direct-View LED Display Price vs. Pitch
- Display Pitch and Size per Application. LCD vs. LED
- Application Trends for Narrow-Pitch Direct-View LED Displays
- From B2B to B2C: Direct-View LED Display TVs?
- Cost Benchmark: LCD, OLED, Mini/MicroLED, Projection
- 2021-2027 DVLD Area Forecast by Pixel Pitch
- 2021-2027 DVLD Revenue Forecast
MiniLED Epiwafer Forecasts
- 2021-2027 Epiwafer Volume Forecast per Application for Backlights
- 2021-2027 Epiwafer Volume Forecast for Direct-View LED Displays
- 2021-2027 Epiwafer Forecast by Material (GaN/InGaAlP)
Supply Chain and Competitive Landscape
- Major MiniLED Projects, Investments: 2020
- Major MiniLED Projects, Investments: 2021 and H1-2022
- MiniLED Investment by Type, Country and Year
- MiniLED Investment: Top 20 Spenders
- Sanan’s Hubei Mini/microLED Investment Breakdown
- MiniLED Chip Makers
- MiniLED Packaging Companies
- Backlight Unit Supply Chain
- LCD Backlight Unit Supply Chain Overview
- Transfer of Value with MiniLED
- Company list: Components
- Company List: Services and Assembly
- Discussion: MiniLED chips for LCD Backlights
- MiniLED BLU Module Makers
- Backlight Unit Supply Chain Overview for Major TV OEMs/EDMs [1]
- Apple - iPad Pro 12.9” and Notebook MiniLED Backlight Supply Chain
- Samsung Neo QLED 2021
- TCL 2021 X12/X925 Pro (Europe) and 2022 X11 Flagship TVs
- BOE MiniLED on Glass Supply Chain
- Backlight Unit Driver ICs: Key Players and Supply Chain
- Direct-View LED Display Supply Chain
- Direct-View LED Display Supply Chain Overview
- Company List: Hardware and Components
- Leading Narrow-Pixel-Pitch LED Display Makers per Region
- Geographic Characteristics
- Installers and System Integrators
- Leyard/Planar and Leadstar
- Unilumin
- Ledman
- Absen
- AOTO, Daktronics, Liantronics
Chip Architecture, Substrates and Driving
- Backlight and Direct-View LED Application Characteristics
- Chip-On-Board: Wire Bonding vs. Flip-chip
- Printed Circuit Boards vs. Glass Circuit Boards (GCB/PCB)
- Thin-Film Transistor Glass
- Signal Routing with Glass: Through-Vias and Edge Connection
- Active vs. Passive Driving: Pros and Cons
- Passive Matrix: Multi-Channel and Scanning
- MiniLED Backlight Technology Trends
- MiniLED Backlight Technological Challenges
- Backlight Substrates, LED Size Types
- Die Size, Number of Die and Optical distance
- Package-on-Board vs. Chip-On-Board/-Glass
- TV Price vs. Package Type and Number of Zones
- Glass Substrates for Backlight Units
- TCL Flagship MiniLED TV Backlight Timeline
- MiniLED LCD Backlight Unit Architecture Evolution
- Backlight Optical Stack
- Key Elements: Substrate, Chips, Optical films, etc.
- Example: Apple Pro Display XDR Monitor
- Cost Reduction Example: Corning, BOE, Sharp
- MiniLED Backlight Display Blooming (Halo)
- Local Dimming and Blooming (Halo)
- Native Panel Contrast
- Number of Zones
- Dimming Algorithms
- MiniLED Backlight Driving
- Implementation: Drivers, Minidrivers, TFT, Smart Pixels etc.
- Active Matrix and AM/PM Hybrid Discrete Minidrivers
- Examples: Apple iPad, Samsung Neo QLED, TCL Vidrian
- Minidrivers: Samsung Neo QLED 8K Driving Architecture
- DVLD: substrate. Driving and Architecture
- Narrow and Ultra-Narrow Pixel-Pitch Image Quality
- Time Division Multiplexing’s Impact on LED Size
- Direct-View LED Display Architecture: Glass and PCB, AM or PM
- Glass and TFT Substrates for Direct-View LED Displays
- DVLD Architecture Evolution
- LED Package and Assembly Types for Narrow Pixel Pitch
- ‘Smart Pixels’
- Interconnects and Reliability
- IMD/MIP vs. COB: Cost Distribution and Transfer of Value
- P0.x Status at Various Companies
- Color Conversion in DVLD
- Narrow-Pixel-Pitch Direct-View LED Display Technology Roadmap
Equipment: MiniLED Die Transfer and Rework
- MiniLED Module Assembly Process Flow
- Comparison of MiniLED Assembly Technologies
- Top Three Players and Major Customers
- Key Players
- Cost Of Ownership: Depreciation and Assembly Yield
- Emerging: Mass Transfer
- ASM Pacific Technology
- Kulicke and Soffa
- ASMADE
- Stroke PAE
- Hoson
- Other players
- Challenges for Die Attach
- Rework Flow
- Rework: Major Players
Outlook
Yole Group Related Products
Key features
- Volume forecasts with breakdowns by technology for TV, notebooks, tablets, monitors, automotive and virtual reality headsets
- Cost analysis against OLED for all major applications
- Area and revenue forecast for narrow pixel pitch direct view LED displays
- Epiwafer forecasts
- Technology trends and challenges: modules, substrates, driving scheme and implementation with standard drivers, minidrivers and TFT
- MiniLED equipment for assembly and repair processes
What's new
- Updated forecast for miniLED LCD backlights and narrow pixel pitch direct view LED displays
- Extensive discussion on miniLED assembly technologies and equipment makers
- Detailed supply chain with more than 100 companies listed, major investments, recent news, partnerships etc.
- Thorough technology analysis: chip architecture, glass and PCB substrates, AM and PM driving implementations, optical stack, halo effect in backlights, packaging type for direct view LED displays
Product objectives
- Detailed analysis of miniLED technologies in LCD backlights and direct view LED displays
- Which applications can miniLED address and when? How disruptive are they for incumbent technologies?
- Understand the competitive landscape: identify the key players and how value is transferred along the supply chain?
- Understand miniLED display technologies: benefits and drawbacks vs other display technologies, drivers and challenges for adoption
- Understand cost structures and all key technology bricks: LED chip size, architecture, active or passive matrix driving, module substrates including glass, PCB and TFT
Absen , AET, AOT, Aoto, Applem APT, ASMADE, ASMPT, Aucksun, AUO, Barco, BMTC, BOE, BOE Pixey, Cai Liang, Cedar, Changelight, Chipone, Christie, Contrel, Coreach, Createled, Dahua Technology, Daktronics, Darwin, Dicolor LED, Dongshan Precision (DSBJ), Ennostar, Epistar, Everlight, FitTech, Focus Lighting, GIS, GKGD, GQY, Hanbo Display / Highbroad, Harvatek, HC Semitek, HCP, HCX Axxon, Heesung Electronics, HGC, Hi Test, Hikvision, Himax, Hisun, Hongli, Hoson, Hualei Optoelectronics, Huangjia - Royal display, Huaxia Luster, HyASIC, Infiled, Innolux, Jufei, K&S, King Shine, Kinglight, KN-Light, Konka, LP Display, Laserssel, Lattice Power, Leadstar, Ledman, Lextar, Leyard,LG, Liande Automatic Equipment, Liantronics, Longli, Lumens, Luster, Luxshare, Macroblock, Maxhub, Maxim, Mento, MicroASM, Microview, MLS, MR Photoelectricity, Nationstar, Nichia, Novatek, Osram, PanelSemi, Parade, PIE Peng cheng, PlayNitride, PrecisioNext, Premteco, Prima, Prolight Opto, Qiangli, QMC, QSTech, Radiant/ROE, Refond, Renesas, Retop, Samsung, Sanan, Sansi, Saultech, Seoul Semiconductor, Sharp, Silan, Sineva, Sinyopto, S-King, Skyworth, ST Micro, Star Technologies, Stroke PAE, Sunmoon, Taiwan PCB Techvest (TPT), Taiwan SMT, TCL-CSOT, Texas Instrument, Teyi, Tli (Technology Leaders & Innovators), Tripod Technology Corporation, Unilumin, Unimicron, Unishine, Uniview, VOD Visual, Vtron, WG Tech, Wingtech, Xianxin Technology, Xindeco, XM-Plus Technology, Yenrich, YP Electronics, YTEC, Zhen Ding Tech, Zhiyun Automation and more.
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Backlights: Shrinking Window of Opportunity
With a 27% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), Mini-Light Emitting Diode (LED) backlights help LCD makers fend off Organic LEDs (OLEDs) in consumer device displays. Good miniLED performance does not come cheap though. Meanwhile, OLED cost and performance keep improving. The construction of multiple Generation 8.5 Red/Green/Blue (RGB) OLED fabs by Samsung, LG, BOE and others to address the notebook and tablet markets will accelerate OLED penetration in those segments from 2024. This will also shrink the space in which miniLED LCDs can operate. For TVs, miniLEDs must be priced below OLED or focus on specifications that OLED struggles with, such as large sizes above 75”.
Reduction in LED counts, better equipment, multi-functional optical films, economies of scale and intensifying competition amongst component makers will reduce MiniLED cost and drive them into higher volume, mid-range TV products at price points below what OLED can achieve. With this, however, comes the risk of subpar products damaging the high-end reputation of miniLEDs.
MiniLEDs Enable fast Growth in Narrow Pixel Pitch Direct View LED Displays (DVLDs)
With low entry barriers and hundreds of players, DVLD makers must differentiate themselves by offering displays with better resolution, picture quality, homogeneity, and serviceability. They must evolve into full system and solution developers spanning hardware, software and services. They must also develop sales and support channels.
Broader availability of miniLED chips, packages and equipment have increased supply and are enabling area growth of the narrow pixel pitch market at a 24.3% CAGR. Prices for 1.2-1.9 mm pixel pitches have entered LCD territory and P0.9 mm is next. Pushing toward P0.6 mm will increase adoption in retail, conferencing and command centers. It will also unlock further markets dominated by LCDs such as transportation hubs or quick service restaurants.
Manufacturers are eying home theatre consumer markets. We are skeptical of this endeavor as the required pixel pitches at or below P0.4 imply high costs. Off-state appearance, tile-to-tile consistency are other concerns. The high-end TV market will require convergence of miniLED and microLED technologies, with the adoption of much smaller die and mass transfer processes. Collaborations between DVLD makers eying consumer applications and TFT makers eager to enter the direct view display market are on the rise.
China dominates investments. Technology transitions still uncertain.
The miniLED opportunity has triggered more than $14B of investment through the 2019-2021 period, with 90% of it in China. MiniLED transfers value away from the LCD panel toward the backlight. Since the backlights require less expertise and capital than the panels, many are eager to capture this value.
Direct view displays are driving chip size reduction, but small sizes bring challenges in chip manufacturing. Improved assembly tools are needed, and costly High-Density Integration Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) required for die size below 3*5 mil (75*125 µm) and very narrow pixel pitches. With high dimensional stability and potentially lower long-term cost, glass is emerging as an alternative but remains hard to justify above P0.5 mm. Thin Film Transistor (TFT) makers are the most active in this path with BOE already commercializing glass-based backlights and displays, but companies like WG Tech or Corning are also developing glass substrates.