Sharp to produce new Ultra-HD laptop displays

Sharp's IGZO panels offer amazingly high pixel counts

Craig Munro, Published 05/17/2013

It's hard to find a laptop or tablet that doesn't have an HD screen these days. Every company seems to be pushing the pixel density on their devices at least as much as they do processor speed. Even budget models are creeping up in the pixel counts and giving us better and better image quality like Google's Nexus 7 and its 7-inch 1280x800 (216ppi) screen.

Apple's Retina screens on their Ipads and Macbooks are the most widespread to offer resolutions beyond HD. Newer Retina displays top out at around 2048x1536 (264ppi) for the Ipad 4th generation. More recently, we've seen Google's Chromebook Pixel join this group with a 2560x1700 (239ppi) display, and even Toshiba with the Kirabook 2560×1440 (221ppi).

Today, Sharp announced that they are bringing out a whole line of new IGZO laptop displays with incredible pixel counts that not only outdo any of those we've seen on laptops before, but rival any Ultra-HD displays we've seen on any device: An 11.6-inch 2,560x1,440 (253ppi), a 14-inch 3,200x1,800 (262ppi), and a 15.6-inch 3,200x1,800 (235ppi).

Sharp also said that they will be expanding the IGZO line to include screens for smartphones and tablets. They will be showing off their new LCD panels at "Display Week 2013," in Vancouver, Canada from May 21 to 23.

+ Show Press Release

Press Release

Sharp to Produce 3 Types of IGZO^*1 LCD Panels for Notebook PCs

Highest Pixel Density in the Industry^*2

Sharp Corporation will begin production of three types of IGZO^*1 LCD panels that boast pixel densities among the highest in the industry^*2. These LCD panels are intended for use in notebook PCs and will come in three sizes: 11.6 inches, 14 inches, and 15.6 inches. Production is scheduled to begin in June 2013 at Sharp's Kameyama Plant No. 2. This new production allows Sharp to expand its lineup of IGZO LCD panels for notebook PCs, with the company having already started production of 13.3-inch IGZO panels.

IGZO technology enables smaller thin-film transistors and increased light transmittance. As a result, fine text can be rendered crisply and clearly, and images can be displayed with impressive realism. For example, the 14-inch panel boasts a pixel density of 262 ppi, which represents 1.67 times the number of pixels of full high definition^*3. Increased light transmittance also means lower rates of energy consumption, with IGZO technology reducing the amount of power required to drive liquid crystals during the display of still images. These factors lead to greater energy efficiency and longer battery life on notebook PCs. IGZO technology is also compatible with stylus-input touchscreen functionality.

Sharp will work to further expand the range of applications using its IGZO LCD panels in products such as smartphones, tablet PCs, notebook PCs, and 4K displays that make the most of the super high resolution and energy efficiency of these panels.

Specifications of IGZO LCD Panels for Notebook PCs

Display size	11.6 inches	14 inches	15.6 inches	13.3 inches
Number of pixels	2,560 x 1,440 (WQHD)	3,200 x 1,800 (WQHD+)	3,200 x 1,800 (WQHD+)	2,560 x 1,440 (WQHD)
Pixel density	253 ppi	262 ppi	235 ppi	221 ppi
Application	Notebook PCs			Notebook PCs

Currently mass-produced
panel (for reference)

These LCD panels (with certain exceptions) will be on show from May 21 to 23 in the Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas (SMA) booth at the Society for Information Display's "Display Week 2013," held in Vancouver, Canada.

*1 Developed jointly for mass production by Sharp and Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
*2 As of May 14, 2013; for LCD panels used in notebook PCs (based on Sharp research).
*3 Pixel density in a 14.0-inch panel at full HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080) is 157 ppi. Pixel densities for other panel sizes are as follows: 190 ppi (11.6-inch), 166 ppi (13.3-inch), and 141 ppi (15.6-inch).