Apple Developing Its Own MicroLED Displays for Future Devices

[69Mustang]

That's historically been true, but Asian car companies are now making cars in America more than not. Today's automation and tax changes in the U.S. now make that something to lookin into at least. Doesn't mean Apple won't ultimately subcontract the technology out to Asia, but it doesn't mean they won't start here.

But with many Apple rumored advances, I cannot help but remember the Sapphire Glass debacle. That sure didn't work out well for anybody.

Yeah, you can't legitimately make the comparison between automotive manufacturing and electronics manufacturing. Although they are both forms of manufacturing, there are fundamental differences that yield untenable results when trying to compare the two.

 

[Sevanw]

First Apple plays catch up with adopting OLED, now they copy Samsung with MicroLED. Good grief, just damn embarrassing. When Samsung doesn't bother making an OLED TV, you gotta ask why. Instead they reveal the world's first MicroLED TV. OLED is great for mobile devices that don't have the same lifespan as a TV, hence Sammy's genius modular MicroLED TV. Apple developing their own MicroLED display obviously really means, Apple buying out companies that have already done all the hard work.

 

[MICHAELSD]

First Apple plays catch up with adopting OLED, now they copy Samsung with MicroLED. Good grief, just damn embarrassing. When Samsung doesn't bother making an OLED TV, you gotta ask why. Instead they reveal the works first MicroLED TV. OLED is great for mobile devices that don't have the same lifespan as a TV, hence Sammy's genius modular MicroLED TV. Apple developing their own MicroLED display obviously really means, Apple buying out companies that have already done all the hard work.

What’s wrong with that?

 

[69Mustang]

Thats fine, but that's all they do, is profit profit profit... Yeah, I realize its what the shareholders want, but Apple should aspire to have a little independence from its suppliers.

I still wonder why Samsung didn't cut off Apple's supply of ARM chips they were producing for them, when Apple sued them. That would have crippled Apple bigtime, even though they would have sued Samsung for it... But it would have taught them a lesson, don't bite the hand that feeds you, even though they are your biggest rival.

I'm not making any moral judgement regarding Apple's manufacturing choices. As for Samsung, cutting off Apple would have been the proverbial "cutting off the nose to spite the face". What you're suggesting is provenance of fan sites, not boardrooms.
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It wasn't really microled, why? because it was 146 fracking inches. Got that. Samsung was blowing smoke.
a microled display would have been 14 inch with the same resolution.
Yeah, Samsung are bS artists.

They weren't blowing smoke. The panel was 146 inches because it was modular. Curiosity. Where are you getting this mLED information? Got any sources?

 

[Michael Goff]

First Apple plays catch up with adopting OLED, now they copy Samsung with MicroLED. Good grief, just damn embarrassing. When Samsung doesn't bother making an OLED TV, you gotta ask why. Instead they reveal the world's first MicroLED TV. OLED is great for mobile devices that don't have the same lifespan as a TV, hence Sammy's genius modular MicroLED TV. Apple developing their own MicroLED display obviously really means, Apple buying out companies that have already done all the hard work.

How are they copying with microLED? There is literally no phone on the market with mLED. And Samsung wasn’t even the first wth an OLED phone. You seem to have some real roses tinted glasses toward Samsung and a real hatred for Apple. And that’s weird considering this isn’t exactly a Samsung fan website.

Edit: Also, making a TV screen is different from making a phone screen. Just ask LG.

 

[69Mustang]

Apple developing their own MicroLED display obviously really means, Apple buying out companies that have already done all the hard work.

Samsung is doing the exact same thing. They have either acquired or are still in the process of acquiring PlayNitride.
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/05/01/samsung-playnitride-micro-led-apple/

There's nothing wrong with acquisitions. You still have to "separate the wheat from the chaff" and further the development of the product.

 

[iGeek2014]

Out of interest with mLED does this also mean there’s less risk of screen burn in?

 

[dazz87]

Apple didn't start working on it yesterday you know?

crazy when the subject turns to that "S" company the hate that comes out.................

 

[unobtainium]

Could micro LED displays get rid of PWM dimming?

 

[MICHAELSD]

Could micro LED displays get rid of PWM dimming?

Nice to see somebody else bring this up. Technically you can dim any display with PWM, it’s just far from ideal. If Apple does Micro LED right there should no PWM. Continue to send them your feedback on PWM so they can stop implementing it on future devices.
[doublepost=1521429018][/doublepost]
I did some research and since there is no risk of burn-in I don’t think Apple will have to implement PWM. Considering the other benefits like near-perfect off-axis viewing, perfect blacks, and higher PPI I think Apple would avoid the tech. Again, it’s highly recommended to send your feedback to Apple on PWM.

 

[citysnaps]

Excellent news. That probably accounts for a chunk of Apple's increased R&D spending over the last few years.

I'm not all that happy with the OLED display in my X and would much rather have the LCD panel from my 6+.

Hopefully MicroLED will reap the advantages of both technologies with no (or few) disadvantages.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Excellent news. That probably explains a small chunk of Apple's increased R&D spending over the last few years.

I'm not all that happy with the OLED display in my X and would much rather have the LCD panel on my 6+.

Hopefully MicroLED will reap the advantages of both technologies.

OLED is still not quite good enough for iPhone. PWM flicker is terrible for the eyes and the off-axis blue tint is off-putting. Apple should expedite the manufacture of MicroLED displays. Previous rumors suggested as early as 2019 for the iPhone.

 

[_Refurbished_]

Always great to see advancements in screen tech. Does anyone know if Micro LED smartphone screens share the infamous "color shift" that we see on the iPhone X? My old LCD screens do a better job than OLEDs in this department and it's something that bothered me while owning my iPhone X for the month I had it. I hope this becomes a thing of the past with Micro LED.

It's also nice to see a reduction in battery usage. Even if the screen gets brighter, I'll still use the same brightness setting I've been using for the past few years to achieve better battery life.

 

[citysnaps]

OLED is still not quite good enough for iPhone. PWM flicker is terrible for the eyes and the off-axis blue tint is off-putting. Apple should expedite the manufacture of MicroLED displays. Previous rumors suggested as early as 2019 for the iPhone.

Totally agree. I was pretty close to returning my X within the 14 day period, but the advantages outweighed that particular con.

 

[mozumder]

Micro-LED's will be an incredible breakthrough if they get it in mass production, as they have the potential to display the full Rec 2020 color space.

 

[MICHAELSD]

Always great to see advancements in screen tech. Does anyone know if Micro LED smartphone screens share the infamous "color shift" that we see on the iPhone X? My old LCD screens do a better job than OLEDs in this department and it's something that bothered me while owning my iPhone X for the month I had it. I hope this becomes a thing of the past with Micro LED.

It's also nice to see a reduction in battery usage. Even if the screen gets brighter, I'll still use the same brightness setting I've been using for the past few years to achieve better battery life.

There should be practically no color shift with MicroLED.

I’m okay with paying a more premium price for an iPhone if it means we get tech advancements like MicroLED without compromise.
[doublepost=1521429554][/doublepost]

Totally agree. I was pretty close to returning my X within the 14 day period, but the advantages outweighed that particular con.

Unfortunately I can’t use the X without eye pain and headaches from the PWM flicker of the OLED panel so for my health I have to get rid of it. The blue shift was also annoying. (Though I would have put up with it like you did.) OLED is far from the perfect display tech it’s believed to be.

 

[deanthedev]

Nice to see somebody else bring this up. Technically you can dim any display with PWM, it’s just far from ideal. If Apple does Micro LED right there should no PWM. Continue to send them your feedback on PWM so they can stop implementing it on future devices.

I did some research and since there is no risk of burn-in I don’t think Apple will have to implement PWM. Considering the other benefits like near-perfect off-axis viewing, perfect blacks, and higher PPI I think Apple would avoid the tech. Again, it’s highly recommended to send your feedback to Apple on PWM.

How are they going to get rid of PWM? It’s still an LED, just made of different, non-organic compounds.

 

[MICHAELSD]

How are they going to get rid of PWM? It’s still an LED, just made of different, non-organic compounds.

There are other methods of dimming a display. Apple only uses PWM on the iPhone X and Apple Watch.

 

[EightyTwenty]

There should be practically no color shift with MicroLED.

I’m okay with paying a more premium price for an iPhone if it means we get tech advancements like MicroLED without compromise.
[doublepost=1521429554][/doublepost]

Unfortunately I can’t use the X without eye pain and headaches from the PWM flicker of the OLED panel so for my health I have to get rid of it. The blue shift was also annoying. (Though I would have put up with it like you did.) OLED is far from the perfect display tech it’s believed to be.

Seeing the Galaxy S7 display models turned me off OLED forever. Holy burn-in, Batman!

Just knowing that atrocious level of burn-in is possible is enough to make me avoid OLED like the plague.

 

[stiligFox]

Man - I’ve been looking forward so much to OLED displays because they have much less of the high intensity invisible blue light that’s damaging to our eyes; I wonder if MicroLED are like OLED or LEDs in that manner.

At least I’ll be able to get and iPhone X, I may just have to baby it as long as I can...

 

[deanthedev]

I still wonder why Samsung didn't cut off Apple's supply of ARM chips they were producing for them, when Apple sued them. That would have crippled Apple bigtime, even though they would have sued Samsung for it... But it would have taught them a lesson, don't bite the hand that feeds you, even though they are your biggest rival.

Many reasons.

First off, Samsung is a business and make decisions that help their business. They don’t run it like 12 year olds (like cutting off the supply to Apple).

Second, Samsung Mobile is the division Apple has issues with. Samsung Semiconductor, who Apple buys components from, is a separate division and might as well be a different company.

I think the real question for Samsung would be: Why in the hell is Samsung Mobile copying & suing Apple and jeopardizing the billions of dollars we make selling them components?

 

[AdonisSMU]

That's historically been true, but Asian car companies are now making cars in America more than not. Today's automation and tax changes in the U.S. now make that something to lookin into at least. Doesn't mean Apple won't ultimately subcontract the technology out to Asia, but it doesn't mean they won't start here.

But with many Apple rumored advances, I cannot help but remember the Sapphire Glass debacle. That sure didn't work out well for anybody.

They have to try. You win some you lose some. The important thing is you try it and learn from it. Next time they'll do better hopefully.

 

[AppleScruff1]

If Apple can pull this off, it should mean better quality at a lower end cost (at least I hope so).

Better low end cost to increase Apple’s profit margin, not better price for the consumer.

 

[springsup]

Thats fine, but that's all they do, is profit profit profit... Yeah, I realize its what the shareholders want, but Apple should aspire to have a little independence from its suppliers.

I still wonder why Samsung didn't cut off Apple's supply of ARM chips they were producing for them, when Apple sued them. That would have crippled Apple bigtime, even though they would have sued Samsung for it... But it would have taught them a lesson, don't bite the hand that feeds you, even though they are your biggest rival.

Outsourcing the manufacturing is one of the main reasons Apple is able to generate such enormous profits. There are a lot of commitments when you build factories and hire thousands of additional workers. What happens when capacity needs change? You can't easily scale up or down. It's more reasonable to centralise the factory, and allow them to take contracts from whoever needs their capacity.

And the reason Samsung didn't cut off Apple's supply of ARM chips? Because then they would have certainly breached some contract with Apple; just like if Apple decided to troll Samsung and reserve all their manufacturing capacity just to pull the order at the last minute. Designing a new SoC core takes years (anywhere up to 4 years), and silicon partners are typically involved throughout the process, certainly in the latter 1/2 years. They will have long-term project contracts, and there will be non-disclosure agreements and sharp penalties for unilateral termination.

Also: Samsung are a conglomerate, they operate in many industries. If they stopped doing business with _any_ of their competitors, that'd be half their business gone. Should their freight services also stop shipping Apple laptops and LG fridges and washing machines?

Anyway, Apple should be able to do most of the work on this in-house, so it isn't an issue. They've learned (and grown fat):

"We put a lot of money into the facility," this person says. "It's big enough to get through the engineering builds [and] lets us keep everything in-house during the development stages."

 

[ipponrg]

Many reasons.

First off, Samsung is a business and make decisions that help their business. They don’t run it like 12 year olds (like cutting off the supply to Apple).

Second, Samsung Mobile is the division Apple has issues with. Samsung Semiconductor, who Apple buys components from, is a separate division and might as well be a different company.

I think the real question for Samsung would be: Why in the hell is Samsung Mobile copying & suing Apple and jeopardizing the billions of dollars we make selling them components?

You said it yourself that Samsung Semiconductor and Samsung Mobile might as well be a different company.

I had worked on a Samsung partner project in Korea, and their organizations are huge and often times silo'd.