Hold onto your iPhones, folks! Apple recently announced a shift in its smartwatch display development plans. The tech giant has shelved its ambitious project to design and manufacture microLED displays in-house, marking the end of another high-profile research and development (R&D) endeavor.
What’s the Story?
Apple reportedly halted its in-house effort to create microLED screens for the Apple Watch. These futuristic displays boasted superior brightness, vibrant visuals, and were intended for future Apple Watch iterations, with potential applications in other devices down the line.
Why the Halt?
While microLEDs promised a dazzling display experience, the project ultimately succumbed to the twin challenges of cost and complexity. The technology proved expensive to develop and manufacture, forcing Apple to reorganize its display engineering teams and eliminate several dozen positions across the US and Asia.
Deja Vu: Echoes of the Self-Driving Car Project
The microLED display project’s demise bears a resemblance to Apple’s earlier decision to scrap its self-driving car initiative. In both instances, Apple offered affected employees the chance to find new roles within the company. Those unsuccessful in securing new positions will receive severance packages.
Beyond Customization: Apple’s In-House Display Dream
This move reflects Apple’s broader strategy to gain greater control over core technologies. While Apple already customizes displays for its products, they rely heavily on designs from partners like LG and Samsung. In-house development would have granted Apple greater control and potentially a competitive edge.
The MicroLED Allure: Power-Efficient Brilliance
MicroLED technology, composed of millions of microscopic LEDs, held immense promise. These displays boast advantages like lower power consumption, superior color accuracy, and the potential for thinner, sleeker devices.
A Long Road: The MicroLED Journey at Apple
The microLED project reportedly began seven years ago within Apple’s hardware engineering division. Later shifted to the display group under Wei Chen’s leadership, the project (codenamed T159) eventually found a home in Apple’s hardware technologies division.
Investing in the Future: Apple’s MicroLED Manufacturing Facility
Apple’s commitment to microLEDs was evident in their dedicated manufacturing facility in Santa Clara, California, near their Cupertino headquarters. This facility, housing hundreds of employees, was designed to test microLED screen production. Recent reports suggest ongoing activity at the facility, hinting at a potential future for the technology.
From Hopeful to Held Back: The Shifting Timeline of MicroLEDs
When Apple first envisioned microLEDs, they were seen as the successor to the current standard OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) displays. The initial plan was to integrate microLEDs across the entire product spectrum, from Apple Watches to iPhones and Macs.
2018 marked a pivotal year with projections of microLED displays on Apple Watches as early as 2020. However, this timeline faced repeated delays, pushing the expected arrival to 2024 and beyond – a pattern similar to Apple’s experience with the electric car project.
The MicroLED Challenge: Scaling Up Production
Despite their undeniable benefits, microLED displays presented significant challenges in mass production. The intricate manufacturing process, including a complex LED transfer operation, required cutting-edge technology. While Apple owned the design and manufacturing processes, they partnered with several companies to handle mass production and specific tasks like LED transfers.
First Signs of Trouble: Supplier Shuffle
The recent shift in the microLED project became apparent when suppliers announced losses in microLED-related contracts. AMS-Osram AG, a key partner, faced job cuts, a potential plant sale, and a potential writedown of nearly $1 billion due to the project’s cancellation.
The Future of MicroLEDs at Apple
While Apple seems content with OLED technology for its current smartwatch lineup, microLEDs haven’t been entirely ruled out for future endeavors. The company is actively exploring new suppliers and processes to make microLED technology a reality in its devices, though this might take some time.
The Takeaway: Innovation on Pause, Not Abandoned
Apple’s decision to pause the in-house microLED display project shouldn’t be misconstrued as a complete abandonment of the technology. It’s more of a strategic shift, prioritizing cost-effective solutions for the present while continuing to explore the long-term potential of microLEDs.
