A future Apple Watch Extremely may very well be among the many first merchandise to get microLED show expertise.
Regardless of claims on the contrary, Apple is alleged to be nonetheless planning the usage of microLED in future merchandise such because the Apple Watch Extremely and a rumored follow-on to the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional.
The report means that Apple’s alleged AR glasses utilizing microLED screens will enter mass manufacturing someday in 2026. It additionally says {that a} plan to make use of microLED in a future Apple Watch Extremely may even occur in 2026.
Provided that the common Apple Watch was up to date to Sequence 10 in September 2024, it could appear extra seemingly that an Apple Watch Extremely Sequence 3 might arrive sooner or later in late 2025.
Apple launched the unique Apple Watch Extremely in September of 2022, and the Apple Watch Extremely 2 in September of 2023. For September 2024, the corporate opted to supply a brand new black shade choice to the present mannequin.
Apple has not given up on Micro LED expertise.
1. They’re getting ready Micro LED for AR glasses, with mass manufacturing anticipated in 2026.
2. The plan to incorporate Micro LED within the Apple Watch Extremely can be nonetheless in place, with a goal launch in 2026.
— Jukanlosreve (@Jukanlosreve) October 5, 2024
Apple and microLED expertise
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported in March of 2024 that Apple had deserted the concept of utilizing a microLED show for a 3rd collection of Apple Watch Extremely, resulting from value. One of many suppliers who Apple organized for microLED manufacturing, LG Show, requested for compensation after the venture was shelved.
MicroLED expertise is just like common LEDs, however on the micron degree. The benefit of microLED is that it might supply OLED-like distinction and brightness, however with out requiring a backlight panel.
As an alternative, the microLEDs are used on to make the image. They’re deposited in a sample, with every capable of show pink, inexperienced, or blue mild. This additionally eliminates the necessity for a shade filtering layer.
Earlier reviews quoting dependable sources like Ross Younger supported the notion that the Apple Watch Extremely would acquire a microLED-based show in 2025. This contradicted a declare from analyst Jeff Pu that the expertise would arrive in 2024, which turned out to be incorrect.
The brand new declare stems from a current account on X.com below the title “Jukanlosreve,” who seems to be the identical one that previously posted leaks below the names “Revegnus” and “Tech_reve.” Beneath the earlier names, they’ve mentioned {that a} second-generation Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional would possibly launch in 2026 at half its present worth, which is throughout the realm of believable.
That mentioned, they’ve additionally supported claims that Apple had deserted its efforts to create an in-house 5G modem. The brand new modem is now anticipated to debut within the subsequent version of the iPhone SE.
As well as, their preliminary prediction for the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional was that Apple would promote one million models of the AR/VR headset in 2024. Presently, the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional is estimated to have offered round half that variety of models.