Apple considering micro LED display for 2020 Apple Watch

Following years of development with different suppliers, Apple is reportedly close to switching Apple Watch display from OLED to micro LED, and production is expected to begin in time for a fall 2020 launch.

According to sources in the supply chain, Apple is close to signing a deal with two Taiwanese manufacturers for Apple Watch micro LED displays in 2020. If correct, the move is the culmination of several years of Apple attempting to replace the current OLED displays.

The two manufacturers are believed to be Yu Chuang, which develops micro LED processors, and Sui Bao, which assembles displays. These two companies recently collaborated on microLED products for Samsung which are also expected to be released in 2020.

Yu Chuang would not comment, but Sui Bao told Economic Daily News that its production line is ready and that it is in discussions with what is described as the US smart watch industry.

Despite that, Economic Daily News says that it will take nine months to have that line mass-produce items, and that Sui Bao is not likely to start preparations until later this year. That would see micro LED Apple Watch displays being released around the fall of 2020.

If correct, that would make it six years since Apple was first revealed to be looking into micro LED displays for Apple Watch.

Apple acquired micro LED specialist LuxVue for this back in 2014. Then in 2017, the company was reported to be doing this in order to benefit from the lower power consumption of micro LED, but it quickly appeared to abandon its discussions with Taiwanese firms due to a lack of progress.

While apparently then doing more research in the US, Apple did reach back out to Taiwanese firms with it reportedly being close to signing a deal with PlayNitride in April 2018 and then meeting with other firms in August of that year too.

17 Comments

caladanian 380 comments · 10 Years

About 5 years ago

6 years because of “lack of progress”... things take time. :/ But better to wait than to have buggy technology in your devices.

MplsP 4020 comments · 8 Years

caladanian said:

6 years because of “lack of progress”... things take time. :/ But better to wait than to have buggy technology in your devices.

Agreed. How long did it take OLEDs to come to market? How about Color LCDs? We have a great looking Apple Watch screen right now, and as the saying goes, the enemy of good is better. I’d rather they take the time to make it great rather than rush it to market just because it’s new.

1STnTENDERBITS 460 comments · 8 Years

2016- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2017 https://appleinsider.com/articles/16/06/24/rumor-apple-developing-power-efficient-micro-led-panels-for-2017-apple-watch

2017- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2018 https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/07/apple-watch-track-micro-led-2018/

2018- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2019 https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/04/03/apple-and-tsmc-could-start-apple-watch-microled-display-mass-production-later-this-year

2019- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2020 - this article.

Erbody just guessin'. Eventually someone will be right... unless mLED turns out to be not viable like AirPower or mass production of sapphire glass screens. My personal guess is this will be true mid 2022-2023 for the Apple Watch. Late 2021-Early 2022 for Oppo, Xiaomi, or another of the Chinese brands. Early 2022-2023 for Samsung. Look at that... I am an analyst.

blastdoor 3565 comments · 15 Years

1STnTENDERBITS said:

2016- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2017 https://appleinsider.com/articles/16/06/24/rumor-apple-developing-power-efficient-micro-led-panels-for-2017-apple-watch

2017- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2018 https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/07/apple-watch-track-micro-led-2018/

2018- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2019 https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/04/03/apple-and-tsmc-could-start-apple-watch-microled-display-mass-production-later-this-year

2019- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2020 - this article.

Erbody just guessin'. Eventually someone will be right... unless mLED turns out to be not viable like AirPower or mass production of sapphire glass screens. My personal guess is this will be true mid 2022-2023 for the Apple Watch. Late 2021-Early 2022 for Oppo, Xiaomi, or another of the Chinese brands. Early 2022-2023 for Samsung. Look at that... I am an analyst.

Excellent post!

Somewhat relatedly.... if the stories about the AR glasses being delayed are true, I wonder if it's because of delays with mLED. I'm guessing the critical enabling technologies of AR Glasses are (1) SOC fabrication technology, (2) mLED, and (3?) solid state battery.

TSMC is doing their part -- sounds like 5nm is on target. So it's the other two that represent the big unknowns.

it makes sense, though, that the watch would be the proving ground for mLED and solid state battery. The year we see an Apple watch with those technologies is possibly the year before we see AR glasses.

blastdoor said:

1STnTENDERBITS said:

2016- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2017 https://appleinsider.com/articles/16/06/24/rumor-apple-developing-power-efficient-micro-led-panels-for-2017-apple-watch

2017- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2018 https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/07/apple-watch-track-micro-led-2018/

2018- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2019 https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/04/03/apple-and-tsmc-could-start-apple-watch-microled-display-mass-production-later-this-year

2019- mLED possibly coming to Apple Watch in 2020 - this article.

Erbody just guessin'. Eventually someone will be right... unless mLED turns out to be not viable like AirPower or mass production of sapphire glass screens. My personal guess is this will be true mid 2022-2023 for the Apple Watch. Late 2021-Early 2022 for Oppo, Xiaomi, or another of the Chinese brands. Early 2022-2023 for Samsung. Look at that... I am an analyst.

Excellent post!

Somewhat relatedly.... if the stories about the AR glasses being delayed are true, I wonder if it's because of delays with mLED. I'm guessing the critical enabling technologies of AR Glasses are (1) SOC fabrication technology, (2) mLED, and (3?) solid state battery.

TSMC is doing their part -- sounds like 5nm is on target. So it's the other two that represent the big unknowns.

it makes sense, though, that the watch would be the proving ground for mLED and solid state battery. The year we see an Apple watch with those technologies is possibly the year before we see AR glasses.

SOC and battery may be hindrances for the AR glasses but I don't think mLED is a hindrance. AR glasses will require transparency to see the 'R' in AR - augmented reality. Afaik, an mLED panel wouldn't be transparent or even translucent. Ironically, OLED is just starting to demonstrate viable commercial applications for transparent screens. VR though, is a field that could definitely benefit from the attributes of mLED screen tech. AR, not so much.