Apple's Custom MicroLED Displays Likely Heading to iPhone, iPad, and Mac After Apple Watch Ultra

[MacRumors]

Apple is likely planning to bring custom microLED displays to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac after the technology debuts in a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra currently scheduled to launch by the end of 2024, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman said that Apple has spent about six years developing microLED technology for what will become the first display custom-designed by the company itself, mirroring its work on Apple silicon. Earlier this week, Gurman said that Apple is planning to introduce the display technology with a new Apple Watch Ultra in 2024.

Apple reportedly kicked off its microLED project, codenamed T159, around 2017. The display is intended to offer improved brightness, color reproduction, and viewing angles, making images look more like they are "painted" atop the display glass, and replace parts currently supplied by companies like Samsung and LG.

After debuting in 2024's Apple Watch Ultra, Gurman expects Apple's custom microLED displays to expand to the iPhone, potentially followed by the iPad and the Mac at an even later date. He believes Apple's long-term plan is to bring microLED displays to all of its key products, but it could be a decade before it emerges in the Mac owing to the complexity of the technology at this early stage. For comparison, Gurman noted that the iPhone will have had OLED displays for over six years by the time they are expected to come to the iPad.

Article Link: Apple's Custom MicroLED Displays Likely Heading to iPhone, iPad, and Mac After Apple Watch Ultra

 

[mystery hill]

Who would’ve guessed?

 

[MayaUser]

hopefully Apple will push this forward to the whole industry
micro-Led is just next gen level and it will be with us for decades to come

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I think we all knew this since the news came out about Apple Watch five 🖐️ days ago. But thank you for the confirmation, Mr. Mark Gurman.

 

[enterthemerdaverse]

Loving mini LED and micro LED because OLED has left burn-in on my iPhone 😩

 

[surfzen21]

Good news.

After seeing how good the blacks are on my AWU compared to my iPhone 11, I cant look at my iPhone the same anymore 🥲

And yes I know that all the new iPhone 14s have OLED with the same black levels. I'm just saying maintaining the black levels and better battery will be welcome.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I just wish Apple would prioritize this microLED display for the 📱 iPhone Pro lineup first since that is the blockbuster product. But I get Apple wants to test it out on ⌚️ Apple Watch first (smaller display).

 

[surfzen21]

Loving mini LED and micro LED because OLED has left burn-in on my iPhone 😩

Really? Could you elaborate on what the burn in is. I've never heard that on an iPhone before.

 

[the future]

As I look at the Watch way more often during the day than at the iPhone, I‘m happy that the microLED transition will start there. 😊

 

[enterthemerdaverse]

Really? Could you elaborate on what the burn in is. I've never heard that on an iPhone before.

The icons from the apps I use regularly have burned-in near the bottom of the display. It's visible on white backgrounds and also any white text above the burn-in area has a pink hue.

 

[Rychiar]

Loving mini LED and micro LED because OLED has left burn-in on my iPhone 😩

Why would your screen be on and on the Home Screen enough to burn in? I only ever saw burn in on a friends old android phone where she’ll fell asleep with it touching her skin and the phone screen stayed on all night long. Burn in doesn’t happen in normal use cases

 

[surfzen21]

The icons from the apps I use regularly have burned-in near the bottom of the display. It's visible on white backgrounds and also any white text above the burn-in area has a pink hue.

That sucks. I wonder if thats considered part of the OLED characteristics or its covered under a warranty.

I guess Ill be waiting to upgrade till its microLED since I usually keep my phone for at least 3 years.

 

[Rychiar]

I remember thinking micro LED would be in the Apple Watch 3 when they announced the patents in 2017😂 at this point I thought they gave up entirely

 

[enterthemerdaverse]

Why would your screen be on and on the Home Screen enough to burn in? I only ever saw burn in on a friends old android phone where she’ll fell asleep with it touching her skin and the phone screen stayed on all night long. Burn in doesn’t happen in normal use cases

This is what burn-in looks like when I show it on top of a full screen white background.

Some apps have burned their icons into the display. The iOS menu bar items and task switcher also are burned in.

This isn't Apple's fault. It's just what OLED does if your display is on a lot after more than 2 years.

 

[ericwn]

Who would’ve guessed?

I just asked myself the same question. Apple using custom parts in a product? Certainly one needs to be a heck of an analyst to predict that.

 

[surfzen21]

This is what burn-in looks like when I show it on top of a full screen white background.

Some apps have burned their icons into the display. The iOS menu bar items and task switcher also are burned in.

This isn't Apple's fault. It's just what OLED does if your display is on a lot after more than 2 years.

Damn. That's not subtle at all.

 

[enterthemerdaverse]

Damn. That's not subtle at all.

With dark mode it isn't noticeable. Normally I upgrade after 2 years but I want to see a much more substantial upgrade with mini/micro LED.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

Can’t wait for this to become the standard/norm. This wil have major benefits for all devices.

 

[now i see it]

at this point, micro LED is all hype. Nobody is currently using it in anything. It’s all just dubious promises currently

 

[litmag01]

Loving mini LED and micro LED because OLED has left burn-in on my iPhone 😩

Out of curiosity, do you also use always on? I'd like to avoid this on my phone but like the always on feature.

 

[enterthemerdaverse]

Out of curiosity, do you also use always on?

No the 11 Pro doesn't have that. I just use the phone quite a bit while watching TV, surfing socials or reading news. During work hours only at lunch time.

 

[t0rqx]

Seeing how they release every iPhone with one hardware improvement per year, this probably gonna happen in 2032.

 

[Shirasaki]

Assuming my eyes Are ok to see the screen, it will be a very welcome change to the color accuracy and maybe pixel density to a lesser extent. The price hike though…

 

[siksik6]

Hopeful it won't use PWM for dimming, so I can finally upgrade from the iPhone 11

 

[Choco Taco]

I think we all knew this since the news came out about Apple Watch five 🖐️ days ago. But thank you for the confirmation, Mr. Mark Gurman.

I don’t think you can consider anything Gurman says as a confirmation. 🙃