(iTers News) - In 2015, the first year that 4K×2K, or ultra-high-definition (UHD), smartphones will become available to consumers, global shipments are forecast to reach 23 million. According to the latest NPD DisplaySearch Smartphone Quarterly, 4K×2K displays will account for more than 5% of smartphone shipments in North America and Japan in 2015, and just under 5% in Western Europe.

Global smartphone shipments are expected to reach 1.2 billion in 2014. With a three-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13%, shipments will rise to 1.7 billion by 2017. Although entry-level smartphones priced below US$200 will account for 35% of total smartphone shipments in 2014, the average display resolution will continue to increase globally.

Global shipments of smartphones with high-definition (HD) and full-high-definition (FHD) screens are forecast to reach 570 million in 2014. 2K displays (also known as wide-quad-HD) shipments are also expected to reach significant levels. NPD DisplaySearch forecasts 41 million will ship in 2014. AUO, JDI, Samsung, and other display-panel manufacturers already have 2K displays in production, and applications processor and GPU (graphic processor unit) vendors have products ready to support and handle display resolutions beyond 1080p.

All told, smartphones with HD and higher display resolutions will comprise over half of global shipments in 2014, up from 29% in 2013.

Figure 1: Global Smartphone Display-Resolution Forecast

Source: NPD DisplaySearch Smartphone Quarterly

“Market growth for smartphones with high-definition screens is being fueled by increasingly affordable application processors, which along with increased production of high resolution smartphone displays are enabling brands to provide greater resolution and lower power consumption at lower prices,” said Tina Teng, senior analyst for smartphones at NPD DisplaySearch. “In the maturing smartphone ecosystem consumers can expect far better visual performance and improved gaming experience.”

(Credit: NPD DisplaySearch)