MicroLED Microdisplays
MicroLED technology is a next-generation emissive display technology that promises highly efficient and bright displays that offer superior image quality with infinite contrast and a wide color gamut. MicroLEDs are an excellent fit for microdisplays - as it can offer extremely bright and efficient displays with very fine pixel pitches.
Microdisplays are very small displays (usually under 1-inch) used in near-eye applications such as AR glasses, camera view finders and rifle sights. Most microdisplays on the market are either LCoS or OLED displays.
MicroLED Microdisplays
Many companies are developing high-end MicroLED microdisplays, and some are introducing initial products on the market. Jade Bird Display) is the only ompany that commercially produces microLED microdisplays, mainly 0.3" VGA (640x480) monochrome (red, green and blue) displays. In 2023 JBD started shipping engineering samples of single-panel full-color microLED microdisplays.
Microdisplays use a high-end silicon backplane, and microLED microdisplays can be produced using a monolithic process - which means that the LEDs can be fabricated directly on the silicon wafer, or transferred to it in a process that is simpler compared to a TFT-glass transfer process.
Our guide to MicroLED and OLED Microdisplays
Our MicroLED and OLED Microdisplays guide provides a great introduction to both MicroLED and OLED microdisplays, and covers everything you need to know about next-generation microdisplays. This will be very useful if you're considering to adopt microdisplays in your product and if you want to understand this industry better, see all the latest panels and companies, and understand the future of microLEDs. Read more here!
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LLVision launches microLED powered AI translation AR glasses
LLVision launched new AI translation AR glasses, called Leion Hey2. This is a relatively lightweight (49 grams) device, that comes with four microphones to enable 360-degree spatial voice detection.
The Lieon Hey2 are powered by a monocular monochrome green microLED light engine. LLVision does not detail the microLED supplier, but it is likely to be JBD. The glasses are now available for preorder for $499.
XGIMI launches microLED-powered Memo One and Memo Air AR glasses
XGIMI announced two new AR smart glasses products, both powered by microLED displays. First up is the Memo One, its flagship model, with dual-eye microLED displays.
The second model is the Memo Air, which has the same display engine, but just for a single eye (monocular). The Memo Air weighs just 28.9 grams. The company did not yet provide any microLED specifications.
Syntec Optics to develop microLED optical components for the US army
US-based Syntec Optics Holdings announced that it received a new order from the US army to manufacture advanced optical components that will enable AR displays based on microLED imaging.
The company says that it will develop lightweight, high-clarity optics to support XR prototypes designed for modern warfare. The optics will enable microLED imaging through a visor.
Yole sees the microLED market grow to $5 billion in revenue by 2032, driven by AR, automotive and TV applications
Yole Group has updated its microLED market forecasts, saying that the industry is now at a critical phase, as both wearable and automotive microLED displays are entering low-level production (at AUO's 4.5-Gen line), it has to be seen whether producers can achieve high yields and manufacturability, and reduce costs going forward.
As you can see above, Yole believes that actual meaningful volumes will begin only in 2027-2028, and the market will grow to reach almost $5 billion in revenue (at the panel level) by 2032. Most of the revenue will come from microdisplays (for AR/VR), luxury TVs, and automotive displays.
Sapien Semiconductors to provide backplane designs for a global microdisplay solutions company
Korea-based microLED backplane developer Sapien Semiconductors announced that it has signed a $3.7 million contract with a global microdisplay solutions company for the development and supply of CMOS microLED backplane products. It appears as if this contract is just a first step in a strategic collaboration agreement that was decided with this company.
As you can see above, Sapien shared their supply chain view, where Sapien provides the microLED CMOS backplane, and then its partner provides the frontplane (microLED) deposition and finally an OEM integrates the display engine in an AR product.
JBD introduces a new full-color microLED projector module, the Roadrunner I, with increased performance and reduced size
China-based microLED microdisplay developer JBD launched a new color projector module, branded as Roadrunner I. The company says that this new product achieves smaller pixel size and increased optical efficiency compared to its earlier generation products, translating into a substantial advantage in overall form factor and image performance for full-color AR smart glasses.
The Roadrunner I projector utilizes JBD's latest 10,160 PPI (2.5 um pitch) Hummingbird monochrome microLED microdisplay, that JBD announced two months ago. The display module offers a 25-degrees field of view (FOV) and achieves an angular resolution of up to 32 pixels per degree (PPD), delivering an increase of over 20% relative to previous products from JBD. The Roadrunner I can operate at 480 Hz, an ultra-high refresh rate.
Google to launch monocular microLED-powered AI AR glasses in 2026
According to reports, Google is planning to release two new AI AR glasses in 2026, one model without a display, and the second one offering a monocular microLED-powered display.
Magic-Leap AI AR glasses prototype, developed with Raxium/Google
According to the information available, Google is aiming at a simple, minimalistic device, that will be able to provide notifications, small information displays, and provide functionality similar to a smart watch. The company plans to later (perhaps in 2027) release a binocular version.
ITRI and PlayNitride collaborate to design new high-performance full-color AR smart glasses
Taiwan's ITRI announced that together with PlayNitride and ChaseWind, it has developed Taiwan's first full-color high-res microLED AI smart glasses.
The smart glasses utilize PlayNitride's 0.49-inch FHD (1920x1080, 4536 PPI) 3,000 nits single-chip full color MicroLED microdisplay. According to ITRI, these glasses offer "six times the image detail and five to ten times the brightness" of current commercial products which are based on LCoS or OLED displays.
Meta reportedly aims to release a microLED AR glasses device by end of 2027
Reports from Korea suggests that Meta is in designing a new AR glasses product, that will be based on microLED panels, replacing the currently-used LCoS displays in the first-generation Meta Ray-Ban Display.
Meta's First-Gen Ray Ban Display, LCoS based
Meta is aiming to release the microLED based AR headset towards the end of 2027. The reports suggest that Meta will utilize microLED backplanes produced at GlobalFoundries.
Cellid introduces two new microLED-powered AR glasses reference designs
AR waveguide developer Cellid announced two new AR headset reference designs (verification models), to promote the company's latest waveguide and full display modules.
Both reference designs are based on microLED displays. The first is an entry-level model, that uses a monochrome (green) 640x480 60Hz 3000 nits microLED display, an Alif E7 chipset, and the company's own latest plastic waveguide.
