Apple plans $330 million investment in Taiwanese Mini LED and micro LED factory

Future Apple Watches are expected to use new the new screens

A new report from China says that Apple intends to help fund the opening of a new factory at Taiwan's Hsinchu Science Park. No date has yet been reported, but it's believed that the factory will be used to produce both Mini LED and micro LED displays for future devices.

Following reports that Apple's first device using a Mini LED display may not launch until 2021, a new report says the company is partnering with firms to open a new Taiwanese factory expressly for both Mini and Micro LED screens.

According to the Economic Daily News, Apple is investing around $334 million in the factory, which is believed to be on a 30.83 hectare site owned by Hsinchu Science Park in northern Taiwan. The factory will be built in conjunction with Taiwan's LED lighting manufacturer Epistar and flat panel maker AU Optronics.

The report is backed up by Focus Taiwan, which cites investment application information that points to the science park administration having approved Apple's plans on February 18.

The new plant would be an expansion of Apple's operations in the area, and the company has reportedly sent a development team to Taiwan to work on the project.

The Economic Daily News is a mostly accurate monitor of general supply chain moves. It has a poor track record of predicting Apple product timing, or features. Monday's report is more the former, than the latter.

Apple has long been expected to use of Mini LED and Micro LED across a range of products, including at times the 2020 Apple Watch, and now a future refresh of the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

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7 Comments

MustSeeUHDTV

said about 3 years ago

I'm just hoping with Apple's investment that it will drive down the price and size of Mini LED and Micro LED that are used in TVs. Samsung and other companies cannot get MicroLED TVs below 146in.

SpamSandwich

said about 3 years ago

How about working with this Taiwanese concern to build a factory in the US? Doesn’t matter if most of it is automated.

Rayz2016

said about 3 years ago

SpamSandwich said:

How about working with this Taiwanese concern to build a factory in the US? Doesn’t matter if most of it is automated.

Maybe they’re waiting for a stable government.

dan321

said about 3 years ago

Rayz2016 said:

SpamSandwich said:

How about working with this Taiwanese concern to build a factory in the US? Doesn’t matter if most of it is automated.

"Maybe they’re waiting for a stable government."

Yea like all the past "stable" governments that held the door open while 80% of all US manufacturing jobs left for China and did nothing to stop it. This administration is the only one that's lifted a finger to bring jobs BACK to America. All the last administration did was get in front of a camera and sob and say how sorry he was when something went wrong.

Also Apple and other U.S. companies loves China because they have no workers rights, little too no regulations, no lawyers and no free media. All that equates to extremely low wages Apple and others have to pay Chinese workers. Why would they want to come to America where every state and local government has their own regulations and hoops to jump through and all the potential legal problems/costs. No to mention every greedy local politician trying to line their own pockets.

I fully expect Appleinsider mods to delete this post. They usually do when they don't agree with someone's point of view.

fastasleep

said about 3 years ago

SpamSandwich said:

How about working with this Taiwanese concern to build a factory in the US? Doesn’t matter if most of it is automated.

So they can manufacture screens in the US and send them back to Asia for integration into the products being assembled over there? That doesn't seem efficient.

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