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MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra Now Rumored to Launch in 2026, Not 2025

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Apple is known to be working on an updated version of the Apple Watch Ultra that uses a next-generation microLED display, but the device has again been postponed due to manufacturing issues, according to market research firm TrendForce (via The Elec).

apple-watch-ultra-adventures.jpg

Information shared in April by display analyst Ross Young suggested that an Apple Watch Ultra with microLED display would launch in the second half of 2025 at the earliest, rather than late 2024 as was originally rumored.

Now, TrendForce believes it has been postponed for a second time and is unlikely to emerge before the first quarter of 2026, because of problems relating to high manufacturing costs which need to be solved before Apple can proceed to mass production.

Apple has reportedly invested more than $1 billion on in-house microLED development over the past decade to reduce its dependence on Samsung Display and tighten control over the supply of key components in the display panel sector.

The ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ is expected to be the first Apple device to adopt a microLED display. The current ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ uses standard OLED technology, whereas MicroLED offers many of the benefits of OLED along with some improvements.

Compared to LED displays, microLED is much more energy efficient and it would likely notably increase battery life on the ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ and other devices that adopt the technology in the future. Unlike OLED, there's much less risk of screen burn-in, and microLEDs have a longer potential lifetime.

MicroLED displays also provide contrast improvements and faster response times because of the pixel-level individual lights, plus the color is better and brighter. In a nutshell, it's a next-generation technology superior to OLED and miniLED.

Apple is already testing microLED displays for the Apple Watch, and the displays are said to feature brighter, more vibrant colors and a look like content is "painted on top of the glass." Apple is planning to bring the technology to the iPhone and other devices in the future.

As with all early rumors about devices that are a year or two or more out, they can be unreliable in terms of launch timing, as Apple often has to push back its release dates due to delays in design, component sourcing, manufacturing, and more.

Article Link: MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra Now Rumored to Launch in 2026, Not 2025
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/07/04/apple-watch-ultra-microled-delayed-early-2026/
Last edited:
The Apple Watch ultra has a fantastically bright screen and contrast ratio is good. Battery life is excellent. Not sure I need a faster refresh rate on a watch either, or a faster processor - it’s a watch after all. Given what it cost and how much I love it, I won’t be upgrading for some years it’s great at it is. Unless of course as an earlier poster has said there is a killer new feature/sensor.
 
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" Apple has reportedly invested more than $1 billion on in-house microLED development over the past decade to reduce its dependence on Samsung Display and tighten control over the supply of key components in the display panel sector. "

So the winner here is Samsung Display! Happy days for Samsung then... if rumour is true.
 
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On an Apple S3 and I’m due for an upgrade, which is likely gonna be next year when I upgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Considering how long I keep an accessory like the Apple Watch, I probably won’t do my next upgrade until 2031.

If Apple does add micro-LED for the iPhone 20th anniversary I might break my upgrade cycle.

What does painted on the screen actually mean? I would consider that more of a downgrade.
 
MacRumors said:


Apple is known to be working on an updated version of the Apple Watch Ultra that uses a next-generation microLED display, but the device has again been postponed due to manufacturing issues, according to market research firm Trendforce (via The Elec).

apple-watch-ultra-adventures.jpg

Information shared in April by display analyst Ross Young suggested that an Apple Watch Ultra with microLED display would launch in the second half of 2025 at the earliest, rather than late 2024 as was originally rumored.

Now, Trendforce believes it has been postponed for a second time and is unlikely to emerge before the first quarter of 2026, because of problems relating to high manufacturing costs which need to be solved before Apple can proceed to mass production.

Apple has reportedly invested more than $1 billion on in-house microLED development over the past decade to reduce its dependence on Samsung Display and tighten control over the supply of key components in the display panel sector.

The ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ is expected to be the first Apple device to adopt a microLED display. The current ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ uses standard OLED technology, whereas MicroLED offers many of the benefits of OLED along with some improvements.

Compared to LED displays, microLED is much more energy efficient and it would likely notably increase battery life on the ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ and other devices that adopt the technology in the future. Unlike OLED, there's much less risk of screen burn-in, and microLEDs have a longer potential lifetime.

MicroLED displays also provide contrast improvements and faster response times because of the pixel-level individual lights, plus the color is better and brighter. In a nutshell, it's a next-generation technology superior to OLED and miniLED.

Apple is already testing microLED displays for the Apple Watch, and the displays are said to feature brighter, more vibrant colors and a look like content is "painted on top of the glass." Apple is planning to bring the technology to the iPhone and other devices in the future.

As with all early rumors about devices that are a year or two or more out, they can be unreliable in terms of launch timing, as Apple often has to push back its release dates due to delays in design, component sourcing, manufacturing, and more.

Article Link: MicroLED Apple Watch Ultra Now Rumored to Launch in 2026, Not 2025
Click to expand...
They'll just go with the newer brighter Oled panels, until as and when, not a big deal from my point of view, very happy with my S8 SS for a few years
 
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uczcret said:
I thought that was the Vision Pro? And it’s microOLED, not microLED.
Click to expand...

The Vision Pro has an OLED display that just happens to have a very high PPI. It's no distinct tech.

Apple Watch will get micro-LED, which is distinct from OLED. It's more of an evolution of mini-LED, where the backlight's LEDs become small enough that each RGB LED is its own pixel, omitting the need for an LCD in front of it at all. (Which is also the case for OLED; it, too, has no distinct panel vs. backlight.)
 
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jmgregory1 said:
I’ll keep waiting and hoping that Apple will offer a round Watch…and with a battery that lasts a week. Until then, I’ll stick with my Garmin Epix2. Though I may upgrade to the Epix2 Pro for the 30 days of battery life.
Click to expand...
Round would lose a lot of its functionality, waste screen real estate and cut battery space. No thanks
 
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