VR / AR

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 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.

China-based San’an Optoelectronics announced that it is progressing with its microLED products for AR applications, and is moving from the technology verification state, tot he small-batch verification stage. 

San'an further says that it is working with both domestic and global device makers to optimize its microLED products.

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 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.