4K TV panel shipments hit new record in April

Is 4K really becoming the new standard for HDTV? According to IHS subsidiary DisplaySearch, not only is the answer “yes” but the market is growing rapidly. Overall, 3 million 4K TV panels were shipped in April 2015, the highest single-month figure on record. This accounted for about 14 percent of all TV panels shipped globally during the month.

DisplaySearch had previously forecasted that 15 percent of all TV panels would be 4K or UHD displays in 2015, and the rapid increase in April may be an indicator that the forecast will be revised upward. Prices for 4K displays have continued to drop, partly driven by the entrance - and leadership - of South Korean makers LG and Samsung. Taiwanese panel makers have not given up by any means, and with TV makers becoming more dependent on the high-margin UHD TV market, the result has been an all-around decrease in price for 4K panels of every size.

The firm also said that there is an increased risk of excess supply in the TV panel market, including full HD displays, especially in 2H 2015. This may push panel prices lower, which could be to the benefit of those sourcing LCD TVs.

See a comparison table of selected UHD TV suppliers on GlobalSources.com