MSI aims to become top curved gaming LCD maker in 2019

DigiTimes reports MSI has a shot at becoming world's largest shipper of curved gaming displays. The number one spot is currently held by Samsung, while MSI ranks second in this specific segment of the gaming display market.

Sales of curved displays are rapidly increasing. Accounting for just 35 percent of the gaming display market in 2017, their number has jumped to nearly 60 percent in 2018 and may hit 66.7 percent this year.

Gaming display sales are increasing, despite an overall shrinkage of the PC display market. However, gaming displays make up just 2 percent of the PC display market, so it's still a tiny market segment. The main allure for players like MSI is the high profit margin, gaming displays reportedly bring in three times higher profitability than regular LCD displays.

Shipments of gaming monitors (with a refresh rate of 100Hz or above) went up from over 1.3 million units in 2016 to around 2.5-2.6 million units in 2017 and rose further to 6-6.2 million units in 2018. The market watchers expect the volumes to pick up to 8.2 million units in 2019 with panel maker AU Optronics (AUO) to benefit the most. In terms of curved panels, Samsung Display is currently the largest supplier worldwide.

Asustek was the largest gaming monitor vendor in 2018, shipping 760,000-780,000 units, up around 200,000 units from 2017. But Acer is catching up quickly with volumes of 730,000-750,000 units in 2018 and may surpass Asustek in 2019, the market watchers noted.