Although the desktop monitor market is mature, panel makers and brands are working together to develop new features such as slimness and lower power consumption to rejuvenate the sector. Panel makers are using LED backlights in mainstream monitor sizes such as 18.5-inch, 19-inch, 22-inch, and 23-inch and 24-inchW. Although LED backlight penetration in monitor panels was only 1.4% in the third quarter of 2009 (Q3’09), current panel maker plans indicate that the penetration could reach 22% in Q3’10, assuming adoption by brands.

“LEDs have significant advantages over traditional backlights, such as power consumption, slim form factor, and product differentiation,” says Brian Chen, DisplaySearch Research Director for TFT LCD & Materials and the author of the report. “While there are still some technical concerns such as brightness performance, the LED backlight premium in the LCD monitor is much smaller than LCD TV. Meanwhile, the awareness of green technology and energy savings factors in LEDs has generated consumer demand. We are seeing panel makers and also monitor brands promoting LED backlights -- resulting in panel makers’ aggressive target for 22% penetration in Q3’10.