Rising Demand for UTG Amid Foldable Phone Spotlight... Transparent PI Heads to Budget Models and Laptops

Yuriri Research Report Presentation
UTG-Transparent PI Market Size Difference
Expanding from $145.7 million in 2021 to $658.9 million in 2025

Source=UBI Research

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The future prospects of ultra-thin glass (UTG) and transparent polyimide (PI) in the cover window material market, a core component of premium smartphones, have sharply diverged. While demand for UTG materials has increased with the rise of foldable phones, transparent PI is losing ground as a component for entry-level smartphone models, tablet PCs, and laptops.

According to a report by UBI Research on the 30th, the market size difference between UTG and transparent PI was $145.7 million (approximately 165 billion KRW) in 2021, but it is expected to widen to $658.9 million (approximately 746 billion KRW) by 2025. Market share is expected to consistently maintain a ratio of about 80 to 20.

UBI Research stated, "In the future, the cover window market for foldables is expected to have UTG occupy about 80% of the market share," adding, "Transparent PI is expected to be applied to entry-level models, tablets, and laptops due to its low price and ease of application to products larger than 10 inches."

Major display companies have already increased supply and investment in UTG-related equipment. Samsung Display plans to supply foldable organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays using UTG only to Samsung Electronics and other Chinese smartphone companies this year. It is expected that UTG will continue to be adopted as the main cover window material in the future. Chinese companies BOE and CSOT (China Star) currently use transparent PI as their main material but are continuously collaborating with UTG-related glass processing companies to enhance their technology.

The report noted, "In terms of price competitiveness, various transparent PI suppliers have an advantage, but ultimately, the future cover window market will be determined by which material Samsung Electronics and Apple choose."