Apple - microLED status

Last updated on Tue 05/03/2024 - 14:11
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Apple, one of the world's largest companies, develops consumer electronics and computer software, and the company also develops a wide range of next generation technologies.

In 2014 Apple acquired LuxVue Technology, a startup company that developed Micro-LED based displays. LuxVue raised $43 million in funding prior to the Apple purchase. Since the LuxVue acquisition, Apple accelerated its MicroLED R&D project and is developing solutions for smartwatches, AR and other display types. Apple established a dedicated microLED research and production facility in Taoyuan, Taiwan. According to reports, Apple invested over $1 billion on microLED R&D.

 

Apple microLED Watch

Apple developed MicroLED technologies for many years , and its first goal was to adopt microLED displays in smart watch devices. The latest Watch devices use LTPO OLED displays, but a microLED display will enable Apple to extend the Watch battery life and increase its brightness. In early 2024, Apple decided to cancel this project, and it's current microLED plans are unknown.

Company Address

1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014
United States

Kulicke & Soffa cancels its microLED Project W, expects $110 million in charges

Following Apple's cancellation of its microLED Watch project, Singapore-based electronics assembly solutions provider Kulicke & Soffa announced that its own so-called Project W (probably referring to the Watch) is cancelled, following a project cancellation by a strategic customer, likely to be Apple. 

Kulicke & Soffa Luminex system photo

K&S says it expects charges, including impairments, in the range of $110-$130 million, most of it due to inventory write-downs and impairment charges relating to long-lived assets.

Read the full story Posted: Mar 13,2024

Tianma and Konka to continue their microLED project despite Apple's withdrawal

A few days ago, Apple decided to cancel its microLED project with ams-Osram, a development that took the display industry by surprise (or at least parts of the industry). MicroLED developers are now looking to understand how Apple's decision will shape the industry, and a couple of days ago two China-based developers, Tianma Microelectronics and Konka, said that they are continuing their own microLED developments projects, as the companies are still optimistic about the future of microLEDs.

Konka has vertically integrated its supply chain and is producing its own microLED chips using Aixtron's MOCVD systems. Back in 2019, Konka announced it is building a $365 million micro-LED R&D center in Chongqing, as the company believes that Micro-LED will become the leading technology for ultra-high quality consumer TVs. Earlier that year, Konka launched tiled large micro-LED displays called APHAEA brand. Konka demonstrated several possible configurations - including 118" 4K and 236" 8K. The price of a 118" 4K display was around $240,000 while the 236" 8K TV had a price tag of $1.25 million. Click here for more information on Konka's APHAEA micro-LED TVs

Read the full story Posted: Mar 08,2024

How will Apple's withdrawal impact the MicroLED industry? 

A few days ago, Apple decided to cancel its microLED project with ams-Osram, a development that took the display industry by surprise. It certainly surprised ams-Osram, which announced it will have to re-assess its microLED strategy and incur $650-900 million in impairment charges. It is currently unclear whether Apple's decision was to completely abandon microLED technologies, or if it still in the microLED race, perhaps with different technologies and suppliers. It is likely that Apple does not have any immediate plans to introduce microLED displays, though. In this article, we'll try to analyze the reasons which led to Apple's decision and the probable implications for the microLED industry. 

Apple Watch Series 9 photo

Summary:

  • Apple cancels its microLED project with ams-Osram
  • We estimate that the main reasons are Apple's technology choice and strategy
  • MicroLED production will require next-gen technologies to succeed
  • MicroLEDs still pose the best route for the future display technology, but companies will need to realign their strategies

Apple worked on microLED R&D since 2014, with a first target of producing microLED smart watch displays to replace the currently-used AMOLED displays. The Company had several partners, and decided to handle some of the process in-house. It seems as if even after almost 10 years of development and intensive R&D (estimates of Apple's total investment in microLED technology so far range between $1-3 billion USD), the technology was not ready for mass production - at least not at a price that Apple can accept.

Read the full story Posted: Mar 04,2024

Apple cancels its microLED wearable display project, how will this affect the microLED industry?

Apple started developing microLED displays for wearable devices years ago, first aiming to launch the first product in 2023. The project was delayed several times, as the cost of production for microLED displays was too high for Apple, to the point where it was suggested Apple's goal is to launch the first microLED watch in 2027.

Apple Watch

One of Apple's main microLED partners is ams-Osram, that is building a $850 Million 8-inch microLED epiwafer factory in Malaysia. Yesterday ams-Osram announced that its "cornerstone project" (it did not name Apple specifically) got unexpectedly cancelled. This triggered ams-Osram to re-assess its microLED strategy. As a first estimate ams-Osram believes it will have impairment charges of $650-$900 million and it will also likely to cancel or delay some of its investments in Malaysia (which may actually improve the company's cashflow in the next two years).

Read the full story Posted: Mar 01,2024

Reports from Korea suggest that Apple may further delay its first microLED watch to 2027

Apple started developing microLED displays for wearable devices years ago, first aiming to launch the first product in 2023. The project was delayed several times, as the cost of production for microLED displays is still too high for Apple.

Last year TrendForce estimated that Apple will not be able to introduce its first microLED watch until 2026 - and now we hear some new reports that suggest that this won't happen until 2027 at the earliest. 

Read the full story Posted: Feb 07,2024

TrendForce: Apple delays the launch of its microLED smartwatch further to 2026

Apple has been developing microLED displays for wearable devices for many years, but the company and its production partners are not yet ready to initiate mass production. It was reported before that the company planned to launch the first microLED-powered watch in 2023, but this was delayed several times.

According to a new report by TrendForce, Apple delayed its microLED plans again, now hoping to introduce the first device in 2026. The main problem, as always, is the high production costs.

Read the full story Posted: Jul 06,2023

A new report by Nikkei Asia details Apple's microLED production plans

Apple's microLED projects and goals have been reported and rumored many times in the past, and now the respected Nikkei Asia newspaper posted an interesting article with new details of Apple's microLED plans. Some parts of this plan were already published by other reporters, note.

Apple Watch Series 8 photo

According to the new report, Apple is aiming to get more involved in display manufacturing, to increase its control over its supply chain, and reduce its reliance on Samsung Display specifically. Apple has decided, therefore, to handle the LED transfer (pick-and-place) process by itself, at its R&D facilities in Longtan, Taoyuan, Taiwan. 

Read the full story Posted: May 19,2023

DSCC: LGD to build a microLED backplane production line for Apple, will be ready by the end of 2024

Apple's involvement in the microLED display market is not a secret, and rumors over the years suggested that the company's first microLED display will be adopted in a smartwatch project.A couple of weeks ago we heard estimates that Apple is working to produce a 2.1" microLED display, to be adopted in the next Watch Ultra device, due in late 2023 or (more likely in 2024).
 

Apple Watch Series 8 photo

DSCC's Ross Young gives an update today, saying that according to his information, LG Display is building a small production line that will make microLED backplanes for Apple. The line will begin operation in the second half of 2024, which means that the watch device itself will be released in 2025. This timeline makes more sense than an early launch in 2023.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 15,2023

Samsung Display looks to commercialize smartwatch microLED displays by the end of 2023

ETNews says that Samsung Display has launched a new project to develop microLED displays for smart watch applications. The company setup a new development team, with a goal to commercialize this technology and move it beyond its current R&D stage.

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 photo

Samsung's plan, it seems, is to complete the development by the end of 2023, and then look into mass production, aiming to supply such displays to Tier-1 wearable makers such as Apple and Samsung Electronics.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 14,2023

Apple to release a microLED display powered Watch in 2024, according to rumors

There are some new rumors (or analyst estimates, really) that Apple is working to adopt a microLED display in its next Watch Ultra smartwatch, to replace the currently-used OLED display. The new display, according to what we hear, will have a 2.1" display. Apple aims, it seems to release its first microLED display powered device in 2024, or even possibly 2023.

Apple Watch Series 8 photo

The current (Gen-1) Watch Ultra has an advanced 1.92" (49 mm) 2000 nits 502 x 410 pixels LTPO AMOLED display.

Read the full story Posted: Jan 03,2023