3D display shipments are set to explode in coming years with DisplaySearch forecasting revenues of $22 billion (€15 billion) by 2018. In its recently released ‘3D Display Technology and Market Forecast Report’ the market research body predicted that the total stereoscopic 3D display market will grow 75 per cent, in terms of units shipped, by 2018.
DisplaySearch says the market will grow from 0.7 million units and $902 million in revenues in 2008 to 196 million units and $22 billion in revenues in 2018, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38 per cent for revenues and 75 per cent for units.
The market for 3D displays has recently been enjoying a boost largely due to the success of 3D cinema. The market is forecast to really take off in 2010, providing a welcome boost to the electronics industry.
“3D displays are taking off with consumers due to increasing availability of 3D content. In addition, 3D standardisation has also been addressed or is being evaluated in several 3D organisations,” said Jennifer Colegrove, director of Display Technologies at DisplaySearch. “A number of manufacturers of consumer electronics devices, including TVs, monitors, notebooks, Blu-ray disc players, and digital cameras/camcorders/photo frames have aggressively promoted 3D in the home. In addition to consumer use of 3D displays, the technology has also been used for many professional applications and advertisement/public displays.”
DisplaySearch forecasts 3D-ready TVs will grow from 0.2 million units in 2009 to 64 million units in 2018. 3D-ready TV will be the largest application in terms of revenue in 2018 with $17 billion.
The body pinpointed LCD as the primary display technology used for 3D displays, as a result of its wide range of display applications ranging from small mobile phones to large public displays and TVs. Furthermore it predicts that eyewear will be necessary for most 3D applications for many years to come, due to the limitations of auto-stereoscopic (no glasses) technologies. Finally, there will be more than 7,000 new 3D cinema screens installed in 2010 and an additional 9,000 in 2011, according to the report.