Major technology companies have been developing solutions and platforms for 3D sensing, which is expected to be featured on the upcoming iPhone devices. Market intelligence TrendForce anticipates that from 2017 onward, the market for 3D sensing solutions used in mobile devices will witness leaping growth. The total value of the global market for 3D sensing modules used in mobile devices is estimated to reach US$1.5 billion in 2017 and is forecast to grow at a massive CAGR of 209% to around US$14 billion in 2020. Note that the 3D sensing module that is being discussed includes IR transmitter and receiver components.
This year, numerous sections of the IT supply chain including IC, IP development, EDA and OS have rolled out next-generation products and platforms for applications related to artificial intelligence (AI). According to market intelligence firm TrendForce, AI will create new market opportunities as well as upgrading the fabrication process for semiconductor manufacturers. With AI becoming a major growth contributor, TrendForce forecasts that the global revenue from semiconductor chip sales will grow at a CAGR of 3.1% from 2018 to 2022.
DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce, reports that the global sales revenue of DRAM modules for 2016 totaled US$6.9 billion, amounting to a decline of about 12% compared with the result of the previous year. The depressed PC DRAM prices during the first half of 2016 and the continuing contraction of the DIY market were the main factors behind the revenue drop.
The share of In-Cell solutions in the global smartphone market is estimated to reach 31.9% by the end of 2017, according to the latest research on touch display solutions by WitsView, a division of TrendForce. This latest share figure for In-Cell solutions, which is an upward revision from the earlier projection of 29.6%, is mainly attributed to the near maturation of IC products for TDDI (Touch with Display Driver Integration) as well as their rapid adoption in the panel industry.
DRAMeXchange, a division of TrendForce, reports that the global mobile DRAM market experienced some recovery during the second quarter, though smartphone sales remained sluggish. Smartphone brands had lowered their annual production volume targets in the first quarter and in turn faced inventory pileup for memory components. However, the situation later improved in the second quarter and stock-up demand returned.