What Display Daily thinks: Multi-trillion dollar companies are notoriously bad at driving markets. They have to be cautious and conservative. Apple got to where it is today because it was led by a guy, may he rest in peace, who was neither cautious or conservative.
So, the display industry can hope for Apple to light up MicroLED technology or even LED on Silicon, but that’s great for your next investor deck but not really a business strategy.
The bad news is that Apple isn’t going to lead the way in the development of MicroLED technology and that’s the good news, too. Maybe the industry will stop hoping for a knight in shining armor to come save it, and get busy trying to find a way to dazzle the market with real product ideas.
The MicroLED market may end up being a non-market because the powers that be can’t figure out a path forward. That will be the only reason. Not the tech or the potential or even the manufacturing challenges. It could be that MicroLED is the Betamax of the display world. You can look that one up on Wikipedia or get AI to help you, better yet. LEDoS could then be VHS, and the analogy would be complete. Probably worth remembering that the push for Betamax came from Sony, a sort of Apple of its time, and that the rest of the world just moved on with more practical tech, quality of output be damned.
Apple’s MicroLED Watch Development Faces Delays Amid Strategic Shift to AI
According to The Elec, Apple’s ambitious plans to launch a MicroLED version of its popular Apple Watch have encountered significant delays, with industry insiders now casting doubt on the project’s feasibility before 2027. This development follows Osram’s recent announcement to cancel a major MicroLED project, a move that has led to a reassessment of Apple’s strategy in the wearable technology market.
According to The Elec’s sources, the high costs associated with MicroLED technology, estimated at $150 for a 2-inch display—four times the cost of the current OLED displays used in the Apple Watch—have raised concerns over the product’s market viability. This cost challenge, coupled with the uncertain supply chain for MicroLED components, has prompted Apple to reconsider its timeline and focus on other technological ventures.
Apple is now prioritizing investments in artificial intelligence (AI), a sector where it is perceived to lag behind other tech giants. The shift in focus is seen as a strategic move to bolster Apple’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. Consequently, the development of the MicroLED Apple Watch, initially expected to target the high-end smartwatch market with a price range of $800-$1,200, is on hold.
The tech giant is reportedly exploring LED on Silicon (LEDoS) technology for augmented reality (AR) devices, indicating a potential pivot from wearable technology to AR as a future growth area. This move aligns with the broader industry trend towards extended reality (XR) devices, which require lighter and more functional displays, according to the report.
Despite previous reports by Bloomberg and market research firm Trend Force projecting the MicroLED Apple Watch’s release as early as late 2024, the latest developments suggest a more cautious approach. Apple’s foray into next-generation display technology for its wearable devices appears to be on pause.
