Almost everyone has heard about HDMI and have experienced the many benefits of having HDMI-enabled equipment. But even though it achieves the same end result, not many people are “in-the-know” when it comes to DisplayPort technology.
TechNavio analysts conducted in-depth research for both HDMI and DisplayPort technology and have answered a few of the commonly asked questions that arise for these markets. You can find the answers below:
What’s the Difference between HDMI and DisplayPort?
As me mentioned, both display interfaces are used in multimedia devices to obtain high-definition, ultra-clear pictures.
HDMI is audio/video interface equipment that transfers audio/video data from an HDMI-equipped device connected to an external monitor for viewing enlarged high-definition content. The devices equipped with an HDMI port are DVD players, Blu-ray players, digital cameras, and smartphones.
A DisplayPort is a digital interface that transfers data from a video source to a display device such as a computer monitor. This technology is newer and has not completely penetrated all electronic devices.
What’s Happening in the HDMI Equipment Market?
The Global HDMI Equipment Market is experiencing a declining growth rate because of the decreasing demand for HDMI, but is still expected to post a CAGR of 8.77 percent from 2013-2018. The market is currently witnessing the maturity of this technology because most electronic devices such as video game consoles, smartphones, and plasma and LCD TVs are equipped with HDMI ports. The unit shipments of devices such as PCs, TVs, and DVD players are also declining.
However, the demand for high-definition clarity in plasma and LCD TVs is leading to increased adoption of HDMI in these devices. HDMI technology is mainly deployed in TVs, PCs and laptops, DVD players, and Blu-ray players. HDMI equipment is also adopted by the Smartphone segment, but it is currently restricted to high-end smartphones.
What’s Happening in the DisplayPort Equipment Market?
DisplayPort technology is newer and hasn’t penetrated the Electronics Industry as deeply as HDMI has, so it is only mainly used in laptops and computers. DisplayPort equipment completely replaces the traditional digital video connectors used in computers. The shipments of PCs and laptops, which account for about 50 percent of the Global DisplayPort Equipment Market, are declining year on year. Nonetheless, the market is expected to post a CAGR of 14.87 percent through to 2018.
Which Display Interface is Right for You?
For Everyday Consumers: HDMI is still the “go-to” for most consumer electronics vendors. Some of the major consumer electronics products that use HDMI ports are DVD players, Blu-ray players, and digital cameras. Laptops and PCs also use HDMI.
Currently, only high-end smartphones are HDMI-enabled, however it is expected that all smartphones will be equipped with HDMI ports in the future, and the Communication Devices segment is expected to be one of the most promising segments in the HDMI market.
For Businesses: Most PCs and laptops are currently equipped with DisplayPorts, and this is driving the demand for DisplayPorts because of their ability to display multiple pictures from a single computer. This equipment has the advantage of higher versatility than the traditional digital connectors because a single DisplayPort can connect to a number of monitors, which are operated through a CPU. This is an advantage for companies as it can ultimately reduce their overall costs.
What Does the Future have in Store?
It seems that many vendors are still heavily reliant on HDMI-enabled equipment, but DisplayPort technology offers some advantages that the competition can’t. Instead of fighting a war on two fronts, vendors have designed and developed HDPlay transceivers, which combine both HDMI and DisplayPort functionality in a single IC. This reduces the size and space that an individual HDMI or DisplayPort requires. HDPlay has another major benefit because it can be connected to a wide range of multimedia devices.
