Rugged Display Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Size (Less than 10 Inches, 10-15 Inches, and More than 15 Inches), By Level of Ruggedness (Semi Rugged, Fully Rugged and Ultra Rugged), By Vertical (Consumer Electronics, Aerospace, Defense, and Others), By Product (Smart Phone & Handheld Computer, Tablet, Laptop, Mission Critical Display, Avionic Display, Vehicle Mounted, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

The global rugged display market size was valued at USD 3.75 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow from USD 4.13 billion in 2024 to USD 7.21 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.21% during the forecast period. North America dominated the rugged display market with a market share of 37.6% in 2023.

A rugged display is specifically designed to operate efficiently in harsh environments and conditions such as high vibration, extreme temperatures, and humid or dusty operating conditions. Different types of displays include five-wire resistive touch screens, Glass-Film-Glass (GFG) resistive touch screens, Gorilla Glass, and so on. These displays are manufactured to meet the needs of multiple industries, including industrial, commercial, and defense to withstand harsh conditions and deliver high performance at low cost.

The rugged display provides crystal clear image quality even under the harshest conditions. These internal display assemblies are optically integrated to optimize readability in direct sunlight and allow operation in shock and vibration environments. In addition, the robust display supports flexible night vision operation, allowing one to operate even in extremely low light. The rapid adoption of ruggedized displays in consumer electronics and military mission-critical displays has steadily increased over the past decade.

The global display market was badly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Due to the pandemic, supply chains and display manufacturers experienced major shortages. In addition, the global spread of the COVID-19 virus restricted the production of various devices and hindered the growth of the market.

Rugged Display Market Trends

Human Machine Interface and IoT-based Technologies to Drive Market Growth

Increasing demand for Human Machine Interface (HMI) devices is the main driver of market growth. The rugged display offers high performance, versatility, increased brightness and contrast, direct sunlight visibility, extremely wide viewing angles with uniform brightness, and wide color gamut and robustness for harsh applications. It offers a variety of benefits, including passive cooling, multiple input devices, and so on.

User interfaces used in various industries are mostly screens or touch screens that connect users to machines, systems, or equipment. End users or operators use the user interface to control and automate machines and production lines. The user interface can be a simple screen attached to manufacturing machines, advanced touch screens, multi-touch control panels, computers with keyboards, buttons, mobile devices, and tablets.

HMI improves the overall system performance of the manufacturing plant. Therefore, the demand for HMI is increasing as companies need factory automation to work more efficiently and gain a competitive advantage. Moreover, HMI works wonders in healthcare, industrial automation, military and defense industries as its design and integration know-how meets all industry needs. Hence, rising demand and long-term low total cost of ownership with Internet of Things (IoT)-based technologies and higher screen resistivity in the electronic paper display will boost the market growth.

Rugged Display Market Growth Factors

Increased Adoption of Ruggedized Displays in Military and Aerospace Missions around the World is Driving the Market

The robust display also supports flexible night vision operation, allowing one to operate even in the darkest conditions. The last decade has witnessed a rapid increase in the use of ruggedized displays in consumer electronics, military, defense and industrial sectors. Increasing fleet size and vehicle mounted displays propels the growth of the market. Increasing demand for smart devices such as military wearables is one of the key factors driving the market growth in the defense sector.

With cross-border tensions and increasing terrorist activity, defense organizations are increasingly deploying advanced mobility solutions to digitize operations and access real-time information. Besides defense, technological advancements in aircraft cockpits have also led to an increased product demand from the aviation sector. Hence, rising fleet size in the defense & aerospace sector will drive the market.

• In October 2022, Honeywell launched the ‘Honeywell 360 Display’ as a military wearable for pilots and military ground vehicle operators. The display has a high resolution of 720 pixels.

Besides military applications, consumer electronics also witnessed a rise in demand for rugged display in smart phones and smartwatches. For example, in September 2022, Apple launched a rugged smartwatch called the Apple watch ultra. Similarly, many other OEMs have launched rugged devices to cater to end-users' different requirements.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Rising Raw Material Costs for Ruggedized Display Will Limit the Market Growth

Several display producers worldwide are focusing on expanding production due to the increasing adoption of displays in the manufacturing sector. On the other hand, rising raw material costs for displays and high acquisition costs for display devices will limit the growth of the market in the coming years. When it comes to price, there is a distinct difference between consumer-grade and ruggedized tablet or touchscreen displays. Consumer tablets tend to be cheaper. Depending on the brand, it ranges from USD 200 to USD 300 and above. A good rugged small form factor tablet or LCD monitor with a touchscreen typically costs over USD 500. Hence, the higher price of the ruggedized display device will hinder market growth.

Rugged Display Market Segmentation Analysis

By Size Analysis

Increased Demand for 10-15 Inch Displays is Driving the Market Growth

Based on size, the market is divided into less than 10 inches, 10-15 inches, and more than 15 inches. Due to increased demand for vehicle-mounted displays for its rugged applications, the 10-15 inches’ segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment. Smart phone & handheld computers fall less than10 inches, tablet and laptop fall under 10-15 inches, mission-critical displays, avionic displays, and vehicle-mounted fall under the more than 15 inches segment.

By Level of Ruggedness Analysis

Increased Demand for Ultra Rugged Display is Driving the Market Growth

Based on the level of ruggedness, the market is segmented into semi rugged, fully rugged, and ultra rugged. Robustness levels are used based on different applications. Superior performance and flexibility of industrial computers with ultra-rugged features used in OEM devices are driving the market growth. The ultra-rugged display is designed to withstand the world's toughest conditions. Somewhat rugged displays usually come with a few parts that have been stress tested or certified to comply with military and industry standards. For example, a somewhat rugged device might have a hard drive that resists mechanical shocks or a shell that can withstand rain. The fully ruggedized display is MIL-STD-810H (formerly MIL-STD-810G) compliant and can withstand a wide range of stresses and temperatures.

By Vertical Analysis 

Consumer Electronics Segment Will Grow at an Impressive CAGR over the Forecast Period

The consumer electronics segment is projected to gain the most attention during the forecast period. Robust displays enable paperless assembly plants to more quickly and continuously communicate information, plan part movements, and track quality. Robust display devices, such as versatile PCs, tablets, and workstations, can continuously support warehouses and entire moving consumer electronics plants.

Increasing consumer demand for smart phones with a rugged screen is boosting the market growth. For example, the Hotwav W10 Rugged smart phone was launched on the market with price and features. This military-grade rugged smart phone is out now. The Hotwav W 10 rugged smart phone specs come with a 6.53-inch HD+ display. Plus, the selfie camera fits perfectly in the waterdrop notch. Amazfit launched a new rugged smartwatch called T-Rex 2 in India and in China in May 2022. In the future, new varieties and versions will increase the demand in the market. Therefore, developing innovative new displays is a key factor in gaining popularity. Moreover, the display market witnessed positive growth during the forecast period due to increased adoption of rugged devices in the manufacturing and transportation industry.

By Product Analysis

Smart Phone & Handheld Computers Segment to Lead the Rugged Display Market

Based on product, the market is divided into smart phone & handheld computer, tablet, laptop, mission-critical display, avionic display, vehicle mounted, and others. The smart phones & handheld computers segment holds the major share of the market. Most administration, security, transportation and modern applications require a robust and compact show gadget. Smart phone & handheld computers are productive options for such applications as opposed to custom display devices. Rugged gadgets based on the Windows operating system are expected to lead the display market during speculation period. Windows CE, Windows Enclosed Handheld, and Windows 10 are commonly used in display gadgets.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

In terms of regional, the market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world.

North America held the largest rugged display market share. Modern manufacturers in North America place a high value on groundbreaking innovation to enhance their creative processes and drive results. Additionally, government, security, aviation, automotive, and transportation companies are recognized as notable buyers for display in the region.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. The rising number of display board manufacturing plants and rapid penetration of OLED Screen shows are several different variables that are important for the development of the market in this region. Shopper hardware, retail, BFSI, medical, transportation, sports and media stores are expected to contribute significantly to the demand for rugged display in the Asia Pacific region. The COVID-19 pandemic has also increased interest in mobile phones and PCs in light of work-from-home norms. In addition, financial institutions and educational institutions rely on advanced teaching methods. These variables have contributed to the growing interest in small and large shows for business and corporate purposes.

The Europe market is expected to grow moderately due to increasing demand. Industrial manufacturers in Europe focus on using advanced technology to improve production processes and optimize performance. With rapid Industrialization in Europe, the increase of automation, Internet of Things and the increase of digital data for interaction in the fields of medicine, manufacturing, military and defense require screens that are better suited to the harsh environments of each sector, thus acting as a driver of Rugged Display industry in European region.

The Middle East & Africa and South America have a moderate market share. Moreover, the increasing acceptance of rugged gadgets by industries and armed forces, especially in countries, such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel, is the key factor supporting the market development. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased interest in mobile phones and PCs in light of work-from-home standards. These variables have contributed to the growing interest in small and large displays for several commercial and non-commercial purposes. In addition, significant growth in the automotive, transportation, and manufacturing industries in recent years is driving the rugged display market growth.

List of Key Companies in Rugged Display Market

Major Companies Concentrate on Innovative Solutions for Ruggedized Display to Strengthen their Product Portfolio

The global market is highly competitive and consists of several major players. In terms of market share, some of these players dominate the market significantly. In recent years, the market has become highly competitive due to the rapid development of display technology and several companies focusing on research and development aimed at developing innovative solutions in the market. Corporate giants are also creating curved displays with higher resistivity, which will catalyze the demand from diverse fields.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED

• Corning Incorporated (U.S.)


• AGC Inc. (Japan)


• Schott AG (Germany)


• Innolux Corporation (Taiwan)


• LG Display (South Korea)


• Nippon Electric Glass (Japan)


• Japan Display (Japan)


• SCHURTER Group (Switzerland)


• Sparton Corp (U.S.)


• Zebra Technologies Corp (U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

• In December 2022 - Concurrent Technologies entered into a partnership agreement with EIZO Rugged Solutions to resell their line of display and accelerator cards. Concurrent Technology is a global specialist in designing and manufacturing high-end embedded computer boards for critical applications. Selling these cards individually or as part of a suite of system solutions opens new revenue streams for Concurrent Technologies and expands the markets it serves.


• In December 2022 - The U.S. gave Lockheed Martin a defense contract worth more than USD 1 billion. This contract is intended to ensure the timely production and delivery of 118 F-35 Type 18 aircraft for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, and non-U.S. participating Departments of Defense and foreign militaries. They will procure the materials, parts and components needed for their long-term lead efforts to sell to their customers.


• In October 2022 – Brelyon, an MIT spin-off pioneering a new group of ultra-immersive display technology, and ZMicro announced a strategic partnership to co-develop Brelyon's rugged Ultra RealityTM display for military use. ZMicro will be the sole supplier of his Brelyon technology in the harsh market.


• In December 2021 – Durabook announced a new distribution agreement with APC Technology Group. The distribution partnership complements APC's existing offering of rugged, mil-STD computing solutions, including displays, laptops, tablets, networking solutions and embedded boards.

REPORT COVERAGE

The research report offers a thorough analysis of the market. It focuses on important factors such as top manufacturers, product categories, competitive landscape, and popular uses for the service. The report also identifies significant developments in the market and provides insights into market trends. The report includes a number of additional factors in addition to those mentioned above that have influenced the market's growth prospects in recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation