The TFT display business is booming according to iSuppli. The researcher says that, with smartphone and tablet demand surging, the global market for small and medium-sized Thin Film Transistor panels will expand at its quickest rate in years. Sales are expected to total some 2.3 billion units, increasing by 28.1% year-over-year in 2010 – the fastest since 2007, when shipments soared by 49.8%.

TFT manufacturers won't enjoy such growth next year, the report notes. "Growth in TFT LCD shipments will slow in 2011 and beyond as the expansion of the smarphone and tablet market cools to more normal levels." This year, smartphone sales will increase by 35.5% while tablets will explode by 787.3% – and that's largely iPads.

Additionally, the firm expects more manufacturers to adopt In-Plane Switching technology. IPS displays offer wider viewing angles and a superior image quality at a cost premium. Most if not all of Apple's recent products feature IPS panels, including the iPhone 4 and iPad, and iSuppli believes that will force competitors to follow up with similar offerings.