There has been much hype about the arrival of the 5G era, but 4G is still very much alive and kicking. Global smartphone sales have slowed down in 2019, but Taiwanese IC designers have seen demand for 4G smartphone chips rebound in the fourth quarter of the year. At any rate, 5G smartphone demand will shoot up exponentially in 2020, during which more foldable handsets are expected to be made available. Taiwanese firm TPK has disclosed that its nanowire touch solutions has already entered design-in processes of 1-2 foldable phones. For the display industry, the year 2020 does not seem a promising year with fears of panel oversupply lingering. It may have to wait a bit longer before seeing TV panel prices rebound in the second quarter of 2020. But chances are high such a price recovery will be short-lived.
Chip demand for 4G smartphones picking up: A decline in chip demand for 4G smartphones seems to have bottomed out, according to industry sources in Taiwan.
TPK wins deals for silver nanowire touch solutions: TPK Holding's small-size silver nanowire-based touch solutions have entered design-in processes of 1-2 foldable handsets, according to Leo Hsieh, president of the touch module and sensor maker.
TV panel prices likely to rebound in 2Q20: TV panel prices are expected to remain steady in the first quarter of 2020 before staging a possible rebound in the second quarter, as they have become stabilized recently thanks to massive production cuts by makers to prevent pricing falling further, according to industry observers.
