Research: 2026 Smartphone Panel Shipments to Decline Only 2.5% Annually, Supported by Secondhand and Repair Markets

Market research firm TrendForce indicates that despite memory supply shortages and rising prices intensifying cost pressures on the smartphone supply chain and affecting brands' 2026 shipment plans, the secondhand and repair markets continue to provide support, resulting in smartphone panel demand outperforming expectations. Global shipments in 2026 are projected to reach approximately 2.25 billion units, with the year-on-year decline narrowing to 2.5% compared to earlier estimates.

TrendForce notes that demand for smartphone panels is increasingly polarizing between AMOLED and a-Si LCD technologies. AMOLED continues to penetrate mid-to-high-end markets, while a-Si LCD maintains a stable shipment volume due to its cost advantage and sustained demand from low-to-mid-tier, secondhand, and repair markets.

In contrast, LTPS LCD applications in the smartphone market continue to shrink, with related production capacity gradually shifting to automotive and IT markets. Based on 2026 shipment forecasts, LCD smartphone panels (including a-Si LCD and LTPS LCD) are expected to reach approximately 1.33 billion units, accounting for about 59% of total shipments. AMOLED smartphone panels are projected at around 920 million units, representing approximately 41% of the market.

Examining Q2 2026 smartphone panel shipments, total volume reached approximately 560 million units, slightly down from the previous quarter. BOE led with about 146 million units shipped, maintaining its position as the global leader with a 26.1% market share. BOE's product portfolio spans a-Si LCD, LTPS LCD, and AMOLED. Its a-Si LCD panels are supplied not only to smartphone brands but also maintain significant volume in secondhand and repair markets. AMOLED shipments continue to benefit from expanded adoption by smartphone brands, supporting overall performance.

Second-ranked SDC shipped approximately 90 million units in Q2, capturing a 16.1% market share. Its product lineup is overwhelmingly dominated by AMOLED, primarily supplying its own brand series and Apple iPhone models. Although the 2026 Android new-device market faces headwinds from rising component costs like memory, leading brands to adopt conservative inventory strategies, demand for AMOLED in Samsung and Apple's mid-to-high-end and flagship models remains stable, helping SDC maintain its shipment scale.

TCL CSOT ranked third with approximately 84 million units shipped in Q2, marking the first time its market share exceeded 15%. The significant ramp-up in LCD smartphone panel shipments from its T19 production line became the primary driver of growth in the quarter. Despite weak demand in the overall new-device market, secondhand and repair markets continue to support LCD panel shipments, boosting TCL CSOT's overall market share.

HKC ranked fourth with approximately 13% market share, with a-Si LCD as its main product. Fifth-ranked Tianma held a 12.4% share, offering both LCD and AMOLED products. In addition to supplying major smartphone brands, Tianma increased its a-Si LCD shipment proportion in 2026, supporting its overall shipment performance.