Thats the main takeaway reading between the lines of comments made by the chairman of Epistar, Taiwans top LED manufacturer, which is apparently dealing with a factory to manufacture MicroLED screens
particularly for future Apple products.
This years Apple Watch Series 6 is anticipated to feature an OLED screen like previous designs, however a future model is likely to be the very first Apple product to embrace MicroLED display screen innovation, albeit not for another 3 to four years.
From a DigiTimes report submitted on Monday:
Owing to the difficulties associated with developing MicroLED technology, early designs are anticipated to count on mini-LEDs that are somewhere in between conventional LED and MicroLED innovation. Nevertheless, Apple still thinks about MicroLED innovation to be the “top concern,” according to a previous report.
There are numerous benefits of MicroLED screens over LCD and OLED display screens, including being thinner and more energy effective. The power intake of MicroLED screens is only one-tenth that of LCD screens, and the color saturation is close to OLED.
Smartwatches will be the first significant applications for micro LED with volume adoption likely to take location 3-4 years from now, according to Epistar chairman Lee Biing-jye.
Epistar has overcome numerous micro LED technological difficulties, such as mass transfer, and anticipates to attain dependable production ability in 2-3 years, and introduce end-market applications in 3-4 years, Lee kept in mind.
Apple is apparently investing $330 million in the Taiwanese MicroLED factory to produce display screens for future iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and other gadgets. MicroLEDs sized 20-50 microns are too little for PCB substrates that support minimum sizes of 50-100 microns, and therefore glass substrates are utilized.
Taiwanese LCD panel maker AU Optronics is comprehended to be supplying the glass substrates for the screens, while Epistar is stated to be now focusing on enhancing yield rates for micro LED epitaxy and decreasing expense for mass transfer.
Apple has reportedly been testing prototype Apple Watch designs with MicroLED displays considering that 2017. While early rumors suggested an Apple Watch with a microLED screen might launch as early as 2020, one leaker poured cold water on that prediction in May by declaring that this years Apple Watch Series 6 will utilize the same OLED display screen as previous models.
There is precedent for new screen technologies revealing up in the Apple Watch initially. When it was presented in 2014, the Apple Watch had an OLED screen. The innovation then migrated to the iPhone X 3 years later on.
In addition, MicroLED can support a higher brightness, higher dynamic range, and wider color range, while likewise accomplishing a faster update rate, broader seeing angle, and lower power intake.
Apple has 6 mini-LED products in the works that are set to debut in 2020 and 2021, according to expert Ming-Chi Kuo. Apple is stated to be debuting the technology in a 12.9-inch iPad Pro for launch later this year, followed by a 27-inch iMac Pro, a 14.1-inch MacBook Pro, a 16-inch MacBook Pro, a 10.2.-inch iPad, and a 7.9-inch iPad mini.
