Custom MicroLED Displays Could Be Heading to the iPhone, Vision Pro, and Apple Car

[MacRumors]

Early production operations for Apple's custom microLED displays indicate that the technology is headed to a broad range of products, including headsets, iPhones, and automotive applications, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce reports.

TrendForce also repeated their claim from last month that Apple's first microLED display will launch on a new Apple Watch Ultra model in 2026, rather than 2025, due to supply chain adjustments. The microLED display is expected to be 2.12-inches in size, a 10% increase over the display of the current Apple Watch Ultra.

In January, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported 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. 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. Other reports from DigiTimes, Nikkei Asia, and The Information have indicated similar plans for Apple to transition to custom microLED displays across multiple product lines in an effort to become less reliant on Samsung.

Apple is believed to have spent more than six years developing microLED technology for what will become the first display custom-designed by the company itself, mirroring its work on Apple silicon. Apple reportedly kicked off the current form of its microLED project, codenamed T159, around 2017. At an earlier stage, it even wanted to introduce the technology with the iPhone X. The advanced display offers 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.

Article Link: Custom MicroLED Displays Could Be Heading to the iPhone, Vision Pro, and Apple Car

 

[krspkbl]

got a fright there, thought it was MiniLED (which is trash).

looking forward to MicroLED because it should be better than OLED.

 

[Appleandy]

There's no chance this is going to Apple Car 😂

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I would love a microLED Display in iPhone Ultra.

 

[JapanApple]

good happening

 

[AdamHarbour]

What’s the apple car ! Is it like AirPower 🤷‍♂️

 

[bobmans]

Heard it was coming to the Apple Spaceship as well

 

[Lcgiv]

Apple Car mentioned? Rumor ignored

 

[Populus]

An iPhone or iPad with microLED screen would be an insta-buy for me, but it’s a bit disappointing that it’s still too far away in time.

If the first device to come with micro-LED is the Apple Watch Ultra in 2026, then I guess we could estimate that the first iPhone (pro, of course) with micro-LED could come in 2027 at the earliest, and in 2029 as a reasonable timeframe. Give it four more years at least to reach the iPad, and we could have those devices with micro-LED in ten years from now. I’m not sure my M2 iPad Pro will last so long 😆

I wish this could go faster, I’m not a fan of OLED.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

MicroLED coming to the watch would be a welcome addition! I spend a lot of time outside and anything that makes the watch easier to read in full sun is good in my book. The current line isn't bad, but aren't nearly as good as the Garmin watches I've owned.

This article, however, would have just fine without the mention of Apple Car. That rumor has been run into the ground, and that is where it needs to stay.

 

[appleguy123]

I really could not care less about the display quality on my watch. Will be excited when it comes to iPhone.

 

[Wildkraut]

Heh, looking forward to the day the Apple Car becomes vintage without any repair possibilities. Replacing the Display with a third party one shuts off the car. But this won’t be an Apple only issue.

Babying my current combustion car, and hope it lasts till i drop dead.

 

[Mr. Dee]

I wish I could get a better understanding of what does ‘painted on’ mean?

 

[klasma]

I wish I could get a better understanding of what does ‘painted on’ mean?

It means that it supposedly will less look like it’s under glass than current displays.

Though it’s unclear if touch sensors have been taken into account in that expectation.

 

[Wildkraut]

I wish I could get a better understanding of what does ‘painted on’ mean?

Well, when you look on your phone, the image feels like it somewhat behind the glass surface(gap). I think with painted on, they mean it looks more like an image painted on a paper, display(paper) and image at same view level.

 

[timmodugdale]

Did I miss something here? The article says nothing about Apple Car, other than the headline.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

2026 LOL… that’s a long way to go still. Let’s focus on the September keynote first shall we?

 

[arkitect]

Did I miss something here? The article says nothing about Apple Car, other than the headline.

Same here.
I read the headline, read the article and… no mention of Apple Car. I even did a CMD-F just to be sure…

Tsk, MacRumours, that's just click-baity.

 

[Tagbert]

I really could not care less about the display quality on my watch. Will be excited when it comes to iPhone.

The benefit for the Watch would be efficiency of the display for longer battery life.

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

That’s because adding “Apple Car” to any headline invites clicks, baiting them… so to speak.

There is no Apple Car. They’re trying but insiders have noted that Apple wanted to pay too little for parts from suppliers for the terribly low volumes Apple requested. I guess they may also not want to take anything “off the shelf” which would likely save money. Even changing a label to say Apple instead of, say… Bosch, costs too much. Can pretend Apple didn’t design everything even if it’s the tires or hidden modules.

Apple could buy Lucid in 12 months when it goes bankrupt, rebadge the Air, then lose billions trying to sell it. They’re not dumb enough to get into that sink-hole.

Apple could coordinate with Magna or Foxconn to build the car, but build what? There is no design because there is no chassis, no platform, no drivetrain, no battery supplier. No Chinese car company is working on it.

it takes $10B to launch a car. It takes $15B to make it profitable.

 

[ignatius345]

What’s the apple car ! Is it like AirPower 🤷‍♂️

AirPower was something Apple announced and then never was able to produce.

There are rumors of an Apple Car, but they've never announced a thing. People whinging about a rumor not coming to fruition "on schedule" is just absurd.

 

[howywood]

I've got good word that Nano LED is coming in 2029 ... I'm holding out until then.

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Apple Car is the new AirPower under the BEV’s.

 

[Gengar]

They're talking 2026 rumors now? 😂

Let us enjoy the iPhone 15 and USB-C for now.

 

[xxray]

Exciting. OLED is already so good though it’s hard to imagine anything better.