Omdia released a report that due to the decline in demand on the computer side of the market and increased inventory pressure, notebook manufacturers customers from 1Q22 (2022 first quarter) began to cut panel orders.
The report points out that even if the panel demand for tablet PCs still has 2% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) growth compared with 4Q21 (2021 Q4), but its 60.8 million quarterly shipments are still 10 million lower than the historical average of 2020-2021, which represents a weakening of demand starting in 2022.
Omdia said that quarterly tablet shipments from 2Q22 (2022 Q2) to 4Q22 (2022 Q4) are only expected to reach 58 to 60 million units. As a result, the 2022 panel shipment forecast for tablets has been revised downward to 240 million units, a 14% year-over-year (YoY) decline compared to 2021. After three consecutive years of growth in 2019, shipments in 2022 are expected to return to 2020 levels.
According to the 2022 new model plans of major tablet brands, most plan to launch LTPS panel tablet products of 11 inches and above, especially in sizes such as 11, 11.45 and 12.4 inches.
According to the report, the major tablet brands are trying to make a push into the high-end market in 2022 as the demand in the low-end and mid-range markets has slipped. Therefore, sizes of 11 inches and above, with OLED / LTPS technology, resolution of 2.5K, and equipped with stylus function will be the main features of the new 2H22 tablet products. But most brands are also worried that if the macroeconomic downturn continues, high-end tablet sales will not be ideal this year either.
