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. MicroLED displays are often compared to OLED displays - the main display technology that it is rivaling.
What is an OLED?
OLED is the current premium emissive display technology, already adopted in many mobile devices, wearables and even TVs. In 2023 over 800 million OLED displays shipped to companies such as Samsung, Apple, LG, Sony and others. OLEDs can be made flexible, foldable and even rollable and the displays offer the best image quality currently in production.
MicroLEDs vs OLEDs
OLEDs use tiny sub-pixels made from organic emissive materials. Micro-LEDs are somewhat similar - but with an inorganic LED structure. Compared to OLEDs, Micro-LEDs promise to be much more efficient and bright, more durable (higher lifetime) and with a higher color gamut, mostly due to the superior performance of LEDs over their organic counterparts.
The following table shows a comparison between OLEDs and MicroLEDs (it also details mini-LEDs and regular LCDs):
As can be seen, microLEDs has the potential to beat OLEDs in most metrics, including power consumption, lifetime, brightness, temperature range and response time.
The main drawback of MicroLED technology is that it is not mature yet, and there are still challenges on the way towards commercialization, as current production costs are extremely high. It is believed that within 3-5 years microLEDs will be able to compete with OLEDs in some early markets (mostly wearables, near-eye microdisplays and ultra large-area TVs), and in the long term microLEDs represent the future of the display industry.
A new version of our Transparent MicroLED and OLED Market report released
Today we published a new edition of our Transparent MicroLED and OLED Market Report, with all the latest information and updates from this interesting upcoming industry and market.
Reading this report, you'll learn all about:
- Transparent OLED and MicroLED properties and advantages
- The transparent OLED and MicroLED industry
- What kind of transparent OLEDs are currently on the market
- The transparent OLED lighting market
The report package also provides:
- Transparent OLED display product listing
- A guide into buying transparent OLEDs
- The main challenges towards transparent displays
- Free updates for a year
This transparent displays market report provides a great introduction to transparent OLED and MicroLED technologies and covers everything you need to know about the market and industry now and in the future. This is a great guide for anyone who's thinking about adopting transparent displays in their products or that wants to understand this industry and market throughout.
The US-China trade war may have implications on the display industry, and microLEDs in particular
In a new and interesting analysis, the Korea Times suggests that the US is considering adding display technologies, mostly next-gen displays OLEDs, to the list of restricted technologies and may ask Japan and Korea to stop selling materials and equipment to Chinese display makers.
Apparently the US government is still debating over this decision. OLED displays are used in defense applications, but OLED displays, unlike semiconductors, can be replaced with LCDs without effecting performance much, which means that hurting China's OLED industry will not have a strategic effect on China outside of the display industry. China today is the world's leading display maker by volume, but Korea is still leading in OLED display production. This decision, if happens will have more economic implications than strategic ones.
A spotlight on InZiv: a MicroLED Industry Association member
We're happy to interview InZiv, as part of our series of interviews with MicroLED Industry Association members. InZiv develops testing and inspection equipment for display makers focusing mostly on MicroLED displays (but also QLED and OLED).
Q: Can you introduce your company and technology?
InZiv is a leader in display testing and inspection, providing high-resolution testing and inspection equipment to today’s foremost advanced display developers and manufacturers. InZiv’s proprietary nano-optical technology specializes in microLED displays, but also extends to QLED and OLED. With the size of pixels now reaching the single-micron scale, our testing equipment provides comprehensive data and nanometric resolution, empowering display manufacturers to improve their manufacturing processes, lower production costs, and enable greater access to the use of these displays by all consumers. Based in Israel, the company was founded in 2018, and counts a number of the world’s leading display manufacturers among its customers.
Omdia says that 30,900 microLED microdisplays shipped in 2022
Market analysts from Omdia say that the XR market (which they define as a combination of AR, VR and MR) will grow from 24 million units in 2023 to almost 90 million units in 2028, a CAGR of 67%. In terms of revenues, the market (XR displays) will reach $1.15 billion in 2023.
Looking at 2022, Omdia's Senior display analyst, Kimi Lin, says that for the AR market the leading technology is OLED microdisplays, with a market share of 70% and shipments of 670,000 units. Omdia says that 30,900 MicroLED displays were shipped (these are all JBD's 0.13" VGA ones, as this is the only commercial microLED). In addition - Laser-beam systems (188,700 shipments), LCoS (69,300) and DLP (3,200).
The OLED Handbook, 2023 edition
We are happy to announce the new edition of The OLED Handbook, the most comprehensive resource on OLED technology, industry and market - now updated for 2023. OLED technologies have successfully been adopted in smartphones, wearables, TVs, AR/VR and more - and our new handbook covers all the information that you'll need to fully understand where the OLED industry (and the display industry in general) is going next.
Reading this book, you'll learn all about:
- OLED technology and materials and production processes
- How OLEDs compare to LCD displays
- OLED TVs, foldable, rollable and transparent OLEDs
- The OLED lighting industry
- The future of OLED displays and the challenges ahead
The book also provides:
- A history of OLED development
- A guide to OLED investment
- A comprehensive list of OLED companies
- A list of existing and planned AMOLED fabs
- An introduction to quantum dots, micro-LEDs and e-paper displays
The OLED handbook has been read by hundreds of display engineers, business developers, researchers, equipment vendors, OLED material companies, private investors and others who wished to learn more about OLEDs today and in the future. I truly believe that it is the best introduction to OLED displays and lighting!
Korea may designate microLED display technology as a national strategic technology
There are reports from Korea that say that the Korean Government is considering designating microLED display technology as a "national strategic technology", which means that companies will be given tax benefits, to encourage further investments and R&D.
According to the reports, next week the government will unveil a new draft tax law next week that will also include OLEDs and quantum dot displays as strategic technologies.
Toray Research Center to host a MicroLED, OLED and QD technology webinar
In the next two weeks, Toray Research Center (TRC) is hosting online webinars focused on display technologies. TRC, who supplies technical analysis and support for R&D and manufacturing, invites you to attend the online lectures at no cost, to learn more about microLED, OLED and QD technologies.
The webinars include recorded presentations, which will be available online up until to November 22. You can register for the webinars here.
A new version of our Transparent MicroLED and OLED Market report released
Today we published a new edition of our Transparent MicroLED and OLED Market Report, with all the latest information. The new edition includes news from LG Display, BOE, LUMINEQ and OTI.
Reading this report, you'll learn all about:
- Transparent OLED and MicroLED properties and advantages
- The transparent OLED and MicroLED industry
- What kind of transparent OLEDs are currently on the market
- The transparent OLED lighting market
The report package also provides:
- Transparent OLED display product listing
- A guide into buying transparent OLEDs
- The main challenges towards transparent displays
- Free updates for a year
This transparent displays market report provides a great introduction to transparent OLED and MicroLED technologies and covers everything you need to know about the market and industry now and in the future. This is a great guide for anyone who's thinking about adopting transparent displays in their products or that wants to understand this industry and market throughout.
A new version of our Transparent OLED and MicroLED Market report released
Today we published a new edition of our Transparent MicroLED and OLED Market Report, with all the latest information. The new edition includes news from LGD, BOE, new microLED display prototypes and two new datasheets.
Reading this report, you'll learn all about:
- Transparent OLED and MicroLED properties and advantages
- The transparent OLED and MicroLED industry
- What kind of transparent OLEDs are currently on the market
- The transparent OLED lighting market
The report package also provides:
- Transparent OLED display product listing
- A guide into buying transparent OLEDs
- The main challenges towards transparent displays
- Free updates for a year
This transparent displays market report provides a great introduction to transparent OLED and MicroLED technologies and covers everything you need to know about the market and industry now and in the future. This is a great guide for anyone who's thinking about adopting transparent displays in their products or that wants to understand this industry and market throughout.
A new edition of our MicroLED and OLED Microdisplay Market Report released today
Today we published a new edition of our MicroLED and OLED Microdisplays Market Report, with all the latest information. The new edition includes more than 10 new updates, new companies, new datasheets and revamped sections on APS, Mojo vision, Porotech, PlayNitride and more.
Reading this report, you'll learn all about:
- The advantages of OLED and MicroLED microdisplays
- The microdisplays that are available on the market today
- Information on all companies involved in this market
- Future technologies and roadmaps
The report package also provides:
- A list of all OLED microdisplays on the market
- A list of all OLED and MicroLED microdisplays makers
- Microdisplays spreadsheet (premium edition)
- Over 25 datasheets, presentations (premium edition)
- Free updates for a year
This microdisplays market report provides a great introduction to MicroLED and OLED microdisplays, and covers everything you need to know about the current status of the market and industry. This is a great guide if you're considering to adopt OLED microdisplays in your product, if you're looking to learn more about next-generation micro-LEDs and if you want to understand this industry better.
