Apple has yet again swept the market with the launch of the new iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. The new cell phones have acted as a propeller for sapphire substrate manufacturers and LED manufacturers with the introduction of new fingerprint recognition technology. This has significantly increased the demand in sapphire substrate. Whether or not price inflation for substrate ingot will be able to expand substrate manufacturing, or if it will affect LED chip manufacturing cost is the current focal point of the market. The new iPhone uses a duel-LED flash. In regards to the expanded LED application market, LEDforum has invited Philips Lumiled and sapphire substrate ingot manufacturer Monocrystal to speak on sapphire substrate application in mobile devices. This will be the main focus of the seminar.
Mobile device demands will be the main drivers for the industry in the upcoming year. According to data provided by global market intelligence provider Trendforce, 2Q13 smart phone deliveries was around 20 million, an increase of 6.6 percent compared with 1Q13 and 31.4 percent increase from 2Q12. It is predicted that global smart phone delivery quantity for 2013 will reach about 90 million, a yearly increase of 32 percent.
Aside from supplying backlight products for mobile devices, smart phone and tablet flash technology is also an important area LED manufacturers are pursuing. iPhone 5S has a duel-LED flash which helps to improve the color of the flash giving it a more "true tone" appearance. Although the iPhone is not the first to use duel-LED flash technology, it is hoped that through the iPhone this technology will become more popularized and help to exponentially increase Flash LED usage.
Philips Lumiled plays an important role in the Flash LED market. Philips Lumiled is the first manufacturer to produce Flash LED using high efficiency sapphire substrate paired with phosphor to create the white tone in the flash. At the same time, the company is also a supplier for iPhone Flash LED. Therefore LEDform 2013 hosted by LEDinside has specially asked marketing director for Philips Lumiled Dr. Michel Zwanenburg to analyze the Flash LED market, focusing on the changing way the world takes pictures as well as sharing Philip Lumiled strategy in the mobile device market.
Smart phones and tablets have revitalized the sapphire substrate market. In the past, sapphire substrate was mainly used in camera lens covers but with the launch of the new fingerprint recognition technology in the new iPhone 5s, the substrate market has once again been opened.
How will the LED market evolve? Will it lead to new applications?
Epistar chairman B.J. Lee Ph.D during a recent interview expressed that he has heard that sapphire substrate manufacturing might experience price fluctuation. He is currently closely observing the changes in the market and price. LEDforum is inviting sapphire substrate manufacturer Monocrystal Senior VP Global Sales Director Mikhail Berest to give an in-depth review on the sapphire market and how mobile devices will affect the sapphire market.
LEDforum 2013 Taipei is a two-day event organized by LEDinside and will be held on October 16th and 17th at Evergreen International Conference Center. The agenda for the first day LED advanced technology the opportunities and challenges, while the agenda for the second day LED innovative application and design – a new LED future. Focused on the future direction of LED industry, LEDforum is an advanced conference to grasp new market trend and future opportunities.
