Smartwatch display manufacturers don’t exactly have an easy task set for themselves. Consumers are demanding displays with greater clarity and sensitive touch technology that are also durable enough to withstand the bumps that come with living on someone’s wrist.
But these challenges certainly aren’t stopping vendors like LG, Samsung and Sharp from investing in next-gen displays for smartwatches—so much so, that the global smartwatch display market is growing at a CAGR of 151.8% from 2014-2019.
The market saw 1.3 million units shipped in 2014 and this number is likely to increase to 134.9 million units by 2019, as smartwatches become more mainstream, and demand for better and brighter displays increases.
Top smartwatch display trends
Competition between rigid and flexible displays
The jury’s still out on what kind of display will dominate the market in the future. Smartwatch vendors from all corners are experimenting with different materials—some with flexible plastics and some maintaining their allegiance to rigid glass—in order to offer products with enhanced imaging capabilities and higher resolution displays.
This push and pull between rigid and flexible displays is expected to drive up demand for next-gen displays of all types, and provide a competitive advantage for vendors who take the innovative route.
Increase in pixel density
Many software developers have started creating applications specifically meant for new flexible display smartwatches, which require a higher pixel resolution in order to provide a more immersive screen experience. In response, companies like LG and Samsung have launched smartwatches with high scale pixel density. This kind of technology is expected to boost growth for display manufacturers.
The vendors in the market are expected to further enhance pixel dimensions and density to develop an increased number of screen dimensions. This will provide consumers with more buying options in the forecast period.
Crowdfunding
Several smartwatch display vendors have taken the crowdfunding route to raise funds for their projects.
As new vendors enter the market, buoyed by successful crowdfunding campaigns, market competition will increase and actually drive down the price of smartwatches. Additionally, this trend allows vendors to anticipate interest in their products, communicate directly with potential buyers, and involve these buyers in the product development process.
