MicroLED TVs
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.
MicroLED can be applied to displays of many kinds - from small displays for smartwatches and AR devices to large-area TV displays.
Tiled MicroLED TV displays
One unique feature of microLED technology is the ability to create seamless large-area displays made from small display tiles. This unique feature is interesting because it can creates extremely large displays in which the cost grows linearly with display size, unlike standard LCD and OLED TV displays which grows exponentially more expensive as display grows.
The Wall by Samsung
Several companies developed such tiled display technology, including Sony, Samsung, Konka, LG and others. Tiled large-area microLED TVs are available on the market today, but prices are very expensive and these are highly premium devices. Are you looking to buy such a TV? Check out our 2021 MicroLED TV buying guide. Not much has changed from 2021, as microLED TVs are still extremely expensive ($100,000 and over).
One interesting thing to note is that while most so-called microLED TVs are indeed emissive displays, the actual LED chips inside these TVs are not always miicroLEDs, but sometimes actually mini-LEDs (this is true for example in Samsung's TVs, at least for the first-gen models).
Consumer MicroLED TVs
Companies are also developing consumer-grade MicroLED TVs. The main challenge is bringing the cost down by a factor of around 100X, even if targeting the premium consumer TV market. Producing such consumer MicroLED displays at competitive prices is a huge challenge due to the extreme number of microLED chips - a 4K TV requires almost 25 million individual microLED chips - and these need to be produced on a wafer and transferred to the final TV substrate.
It will likely take many years before consumer MicroLED TVs at affordable prices can be produced.
AUO to show new microLED displays at Touch Taiwan, including the world's largest single module at 42-inch
AUO announced that it will showcase new microLED display prototypes and technologies at Touch Taiwan next week. First up, the company has demonstrated a 42-inch single module microLED, which is said to be the world's largest (beating AUO's own record at 31-inch from 2024). The module offers a brightness of up to 1,000 nits, and AUO is showing a 127-inch tiled TV made up from these new modules. AUO will also show a full range of microLED TVs, developed in collaboration with Samsung Electronics. These TVs are based on AUO's MicroLED backplane technology.
Another new display will be the world's thinnest 17.3-inch dual-sided transparent Micro LED display. AUO did not detail any more information on that display - or just how thin is it. Among its use cases are interactive, first-class cabin interfaces that facilitate seamless communication between passengers and flight attendants via real-time translation on a transparent screen. The display also has use in commercial advertising, home decoration, points of sales and many other fields where the display can increase tech and style while also transmitting information.
Samsung to launch its RGB microLED-backlit LCD TVs by the end of 2025
During CES 2025, Samsung Electronics demonstrated a 98-inch 8K microLED-backlit LCD TV, branding it as RGB MicroLED TV. This is not a true microLED TV, as it is not emissive, but unlike other LED- and miniLED- backlit LCDs, this one uses smaller red, green and blue microLEDs.
Samsung now says that it plans to launch this new TV, at a size of 115-inch, later in 2025. This will be Samsung's most premium LCD TV. One of the main advantages over its current miniLED-backlit LCDs, is the use of red, green, and blue microLEDs, rather than blue miniLEDs and color-conversion (QD and phophors) technology to create white-emitting LEDs. This should enable a larger image gamut. The microLEDs may also contribute to a higher contrast compared to the bigger miniLEDs, as there will be better dimming zone control.
BOE HC Semitek starts mass producing microLED wafers, updates on its latest products and technologies
In August 2023, China-based BOE HC Semitek started building its $700 million microLED epiwafer production line in Jinwan District, Zhuhai, China. In October 2024, the company announced that it started producing sample wafers.
A few days ago the company held a ceremony as it is starting to mass produce 6-inch microLED wafers, as the project enters its commercial stage. BOE now has a full microLED industry chain, from epiwafers to modules and applications.
Hisense launches a 163-inch microLED TV in China for $110,000
Hisense launched its first microLED TV, the 163" UX MicroLED TV, available in China only. The TV costs $110,000 (799,999 Yuan) and offers brightness of up to 10,000 nits, VRR, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Dolby Vision IQ, HDR10+ and a color gamut of 98% DCI-P3.
It is reported that the refresh rate is 3,840Hz "at the pixel level", but likely the real refresh rate is closer to 120Hz.
San'an increases its production capacity as demand for its microLED chips is strong
China-based San'an Optoelectronics is experiencing increased demand for its microLED wafers, and the company is expanding its production capacity. San'an currently has the capacity to produce 250 6" microLED wafers per month, and by the end of the quarter, it will be increase its capacity to 1,400 monthly wafers.
San'an also has passed Samsung's audit and microLED validation tests for its latest chips, and the company is now entering into Samsung's supply chain for the company's large-area tiled Wall microLED TVs.
Hisense shows a 136-inch microLED TV, says it is 'consumer ready'
Hisense has unveiled the 136MX MicroLED TV, a 136-inch tiled microLED TV that it said to be "consumer ready". This is a 4K 120Hz TV that offers high brightness (up to 10,000 nits) and is powered by Hisense's flagship Hi-View AI Engine X. Other features include Variable Refresh Rate, Auto Low Latency Mode, and support for FreeSync Premium Pro. The 136MX runs on Hisense's own VIDAA smart OS platform.
Hisense did not yet reveal whether it plans to release this TV anytime soon, and at what price. But we can expect this to be an ultra-premium product, like all other microLED TVs.
Samsung demonstrates a microLED-backlit 98" 8K LCD display prototype
Samsung is showing an interesting new TV prototype at CES 2025, a 98-inch 8K microLED-backlit LCD TV. Moving forward from miniLED backlighting to microLED backlighting enables even more dimming zones (at least 3X as many LEDs as its miniLED TVs) - and so increase energy efficiency and contrast.
Samsung calls the new TV an "RGB MicroLED", which continues the company tradition of unfortunate LED TV naming, although what samsung tries to say is that it uses RGB microLEDs as opposed to its miniLED platform which uses blue LEDs with QD color conversion. These new native RGB microLEDs are also supposed to be brighter than Samsung's miniLEDs, another advantage.
LG installs seven MAGNIT microLED displays at the Dallas Cowboy stadium
LG Business Solutions, the “Official Display Partner of the Dallas Cowboys”, announced that it has completed the installation of seven MAGNIT microLED displays at the Dallas Cowboy's AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The microLED displays have been installed in the newly renovated Bank of America Founders Club. There's a single 4.88 x 2.44 meters display, two 1.22 x 1.22 meters displays (these are LG's 1.2 mm LSAB012 displays), and two 1.83 x 1.83 meters displays (these are LG's 0.9 mm LSAB009 displays). The premium suites at the stadium also installed LG's OLED TVs.
LG Electronics announces strategic B2B plan, microLEDs to take center stage
LG Electronics announced a strategic plan to focus on its Business Solutions division, with an aim to double its sales to $7.5 billion by 2030. The division is in charge of businss-to-business (B2B) and signage displays, commercial TVs, IT devices such as laptops and monitors, robots and EV chargers.
LG says that for its commercial and signage displays, it will focus on premium fine-pitch LED displays, which include its microLED Magnit models. Indeed LG says that "MAGNIT Micro LED display will be at the forefront of this expansion". The company reveals that its annual MAGNIT sales grew almost 2X since introducing them in 2020 (though sales are still likely very low). LG plans to launch its next-generaiton AI-powered microLED TVs by the end of 2024.
Samsung demonstrates a 65-inch MicroLED TV at IFA 2024
During the IFA 2024 tradeshow, Samsung demonstrated a 65-inch microLED TV. We do not have any technical detail, but it's likely this is a 4K display.
Samsung currently offers a range of microLED TVs, from 89-inch to 114-inch. It will be interesting to know whether Samsung aims to soon launch a 65-inch model, although it seems unlikely this will happen soon as the cost will be very high for such a size.
