New Product Launches Spur Demand Recovery as Global Smartphone Panel Shipments Rise 8.1% in 3Q25

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TrendForce’s latest investigations reveal that global shipments of smartphone panels reached 586 million units in the third quarter of 2025, up 8.1% QoQ and 5.3% YoY. This growth was driven by increased panel demand for the iPhone 17 series and new models from leading smartphone brands in the latter half of the year. AMOLED panels continued to see strong demand, while LCD panels remained stable for entry-level devices and replacement markets. For 2025, total smartphone panel shipments are forecast to reach 2.243 billion units, a 3.4% increase compared to 2024, marking a recent high in shipment levels.

BOE remained the leading supplier worldwide in the third quarter, shipping over 145 million units, a 1.3% increase from the previous quarter. CSOT saw a notable rise in a-Si LCD shipments, boosting its total by 13.5% to 75.5 million units. Meanwhile, Tianma experienced strong growth with shipments climbing 25.1% to 56.3 million units, driven by increased demand for a-Si LCDs.

Thanks to the iPhone launch cycle, SDC’s shipments went over 100 million units, growing 8.3% quarter-over-quarter. Meanwhile, LGD’s shipments rose 16.7% to 21 million units, with its yearly supply of iPhone panels expected to exceed 80 million units. Despite Innolux downsizing its smartphone panel operations, it still shipped 23.2 million units in Q3.

TrendForce reported that AMOLED smartphone panel shipments totaled 246 million units in the third quarter, marking a 9.9% increase from the previous quarter. As adoption in mid-range models grew, AMOLED's market share continued to expand. SDC held a leading 40% share of the mid-to-high-end market, BOE remained a major supplier for the iPhone and other top brands, and Visionox increased its market share by leveraging cost advantages.

LCD smartphone panel shipments increased by 6.9% quarter-over-quarter to reach 340 million units. BOE led the market with over a 30% share. HKC sustained strong a-Si LCD production and expanded its market share, while CSOT continued to increase its a-Si LCD shipments to bolster its position. Entry-level a-Si LCD panels remain popular due to their cost-effectiveness and demand in replacement markets, whereas LTPS LCD shipments are declining. TrendForce anticipates AMOLED and a-Si LCD to stay the two primary technologies shaping the future of the smartphone panel industry.

In 2025, growth will primarily stem from increased AMOLED adoption and stronger collaborations between Chinese panel makers and smartphone brands. While overall smartphone demand remains modest, the use of AMOLED displays will keep expanding due to technological improvements and decreasing costs. Simultaneously, LCD supply—boosted by new capacity from Chinese producers—will stay competitive and continue to cater to the entry-level segment in the long run.

Looking to 2026, the smartphone panel landscape will keep evolving: AMOLED is projected to exceed 45% share, with LCD maintaining approximately 55%. Korean manufacturers will continue to lead in the high-end market, whereas Chinese companies will rapidly expand their presence in mid-to-high-end segments by leveraging cost efficiencies and joint ventures or brand collaborations. This dynamic will drive the smartphone panel industry into a new phase of competition and growth.