Apple Planning to Switch to microLED Displays for New iPhones: Report

Apple is reportedly working on transitioning to microLED displays for its iPhones. The company is expected to first test the microLED technology on the Apple Watch Ultra, and later on the iPhone and iPad.

When Will the iPhone Get microLED Displays?

According to a report by DigiTimes, the first Apple device to get a microLED display will be the Apple Watch Ultra. This will be followed by the iPhone and iPad. The new display will be a big upgrade over the current OLED panels and will enable increased brightness and higher power efficiency.

Considering that the Apple Watch Ultra will likely get microLED tech by 2025, it may take years for the iPhone to feature the same display. As for this year's upcoming iPhone 15 lineup, all four models are expected to come with the usual OLED panels.

The report states, "Starting with Apple Watch, Apple plans to further introduce microLED display to iPhone and iPad. Some sources from IT industry forecast that Apple Watch Ultra will no longer use existing OLED display by end-2024 or 2025 as it will be replaced by Apple's self-developed microLED display."

The report, citing South Korea's Information & Communication Technology Promotion (IITP), adds that as Apple develops its display tech in-house, major display manufacturers such as Samsung Display and LG will be adversely impacted.

Apple is reportedly developing its own displays to reduce its dependence on outside suppliers. While the iPhone maker is making steady progress, the report states that it will take a while for Apple to commence manufacture of its own microLED panels on a large scale.

In fact, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said in a recent newsletter that it may take a decade for Apple to bring microLED displays for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Meanwhile, its rival Samsung had already debuted its own microLED technology with the gigantic The Wall back in 2019.

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