January 2026

Wearable device maker Amazfit is developing its 2nd Gen T-Rex Ultra smartwatch, and according to a leaked image, it will be using a microLED display, offering over 3,000 nits brightness. The display will be 1.5-inch in size. 

If this is true, the display will likely be produced by AUO (which is the only commercial wearable microLED display producer), and this will be excellent news for the microLED, the 2nd wearable product following the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED. 

MicroLED Connect + AR/VR Connect 2026 returns for its 3rd year on 16–17 September 2026 at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, The Netherlands – the “smartest square kilometer in Europe” and a rapidly growing deep-tech hub. After a sold-out exhibition and packed auditoriums in 2025, the 2026 edition will be even bigger, bringing together the global microLED and immersive-display community under one roof.

MicroLED Connect + AR/VR Connect is a co-located conference and exhibition dedicated to next‑generation displays, spanning: microLEDs and miniLEDs, quantum dots and color conversion, AR/VR/MR/XR light engines, microdisplays, optics and waveguides, automotive and wearables, production processes, equipment, and market analysis. The event is powered by TechBlick, the MicroLED Industry Association, and MicroLED‑Info, and is designed as a high‑impact forum where innovators, suppliers, manufacturers, investors, and end users can meet, learn, and do business.

Researchers from Huazhong University of Science and Technology have reported a self-aligned laser transfer (SALT) based on directional photothermal regulation strategies that enables high-precision, programmable transfer of microchips or microLEDs without the need of precise laser-to-die alignment.

The researchers demonstrated multiple transfer printings of RGB MicroLED chips from different donor wafers highlight SALT’s self-aligned and batch-selective capabilities, which are crucial for efficient full-color MicroLED display assembly.

Researchers from Korea's KAIST, Inha University, QSI and Raontech have jointly developed a high-density high-efficiency red microLED microdisplay, achieving a pixel density of 1700 PPI.

The researchers used Aluminum Indium Phosphide/Gallium Indium Phosphide (AlInP/GaInP) quantum-well microLEDs, and applied a monolithic 3D integration process to stack the microLED array directly on top of the backplane.

The MicroLED Industry Association (MIA) welcomes its newest member companies - Raysolve Optoelectronics and ETRI. The MIA aims to accelerate the adoption of microLED display technologies, bringing together companies, researchers and organizations active in the MicroLED industry and providing an ideal forum for solving common technology issues, fostering cooperation and sharing relevant information, resources and tools.

Raysolve Optoelectronics (Suzhou) is committed to developing and manufacturing high-performance full-color Micro-LED micro-displays, targeting emerging display technologies, particularly for AR glasses. The core team stemmed from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) with decades of experience in the design and manufacturing of cutting-edge microchips. Raysolve’s proprietary QDs-based full-color technology enables full-color display on a single chip, while also setting a new world record for both its tiny size and high pixel density, achieving a revolutionary breakthrough.

"Raysolve has joined the MicroLED Industry Association to engage with the global Micro-LED ecosystem and collaborate with industry partners on Micro-LED technologies for emerging applications.”

IC designer Sapien Semiconductors announced that it has signed a strategic agreement with SEMFIVE, a provider of customer AI ASIC designs, to jointly advance the design and technical evaluation of CMOS microLED backplane technology.

The partnership covers both technology and business aspects, including design verification and simulation to enhance technical maturity, technical guidance on microLED display driver IC (DDI) implementation, and joint strategies for global market expansion.

Pyramidical GaN microLED developer Polar Light Technologies announced that it has produced a series of nano-scale InGaN LEDs, measuring 500 nanometers and smaller. The company says these are the smallest LEDs ever demonstrated.

The microLED devices have been produced using the company' monolithic bottom-up mask-based process, that has been now demonstrated to scale to significantly smaller dimensions without compromising performance or efficiency.

IC designer Sapien Semiconductors announced that it has successfully completed the development of its first microLED driver IC. The S25LM81 IC utilizes Sapien's Memory-inside-Pixel (MiP) that stores image data inside each pixel and a partial update technique that refreshes only portions of the screen, and can be used to drive microLED chips ranging in size from 15 to 30 μm.

The Sapien S25LM81 can drive a 10x10 RGB microLED module (300 microLED chips), where each pixel can be controlled individually. The company presented a 2.9-inch tile, branded as Micro-Tile, that supports resolutions ranging from 100 to 500 PPI. Multiple tiles can be seamlessly connected, allowing to scale the screen size and resolution.

CEA-Leti has developed a new optical sensing architecture that combines a microLED and an organic photodetector (OPD). This system-level approach,  that combines device design, electronics, and modeling allows for multifunctional display applications, without compromising display performance.

The researchers have optimized both devices to a green wavelength, that is relevant to photoplethysmography (PPG) signal extraction.

Germany-based Singulus Technologies announced that it has received a new order for its Timaris microLED deposition system. Following the commissioning of a first system of this type by the customer, the company is now expanding its existing US production capacities.

In April 2024, Singulus announced that it has adapted its modular high-vacuum sputtering TIMARIS STM system for microLED production, with the first TIMARIS STM microLED system already been sold and delivered.The TIMARIS platform has a modular structure and can be equipped with various process and add-on modules for a wide range of requirements.