According to Bloomberg, older models of the Apple Watch will start making the switch to self-developed microLED-type displays by the end of next year, although they currently rely on third-party OLED displays. In the future, our own developed displays will be used on other Apple devices, including the iPhone.

For the first time, information about Apple’s intention to implement self-developed displays in a smartwatch surfaced in 2018. So far, the display suppliers for the Apple Watch have been South Korean giants Samsung Display and LG Display. In-house microLED displays will reportedly be tested on the Apple Watch Ultra for the first time.

The new manufacturing technology will make it possible to increase the brightness of the smartwatch display and improve color rendering, especially at an angle. Subjectively, the image on such a screen looks like paint has been applied to the glass.

Whose screens does Apple use?

It buys various types of displays from Apple, LG, and Samsung in general, as well as Japan Display, Sharp, and BOE Technology. Initially, Apple was expected to start using microLED displays in diagonal widescreen devices as early as 2020, but it ran into technical difficulties and decided to experiment with compact-sized displays like those used in smartwatches.

It is possible that deliveries of the new type of display Apple Watch will not begin before 2025. Mass production of microLED displays must be done by a third-party contractor, although Apple has developed it independently.

Apple’s new device

Apple’s mixed reality device, which is expected to hit the market in the fall of this year, will also use a new type of display similar to microLED in terms of manufacturing technology. It will take a few more years to hand over the iPhone line to them, but the iPad Pro tablets will already feature OLED displays next year. The foundation for profile improvements was laid in 2014, when Apple acquired microLED display developer LuxVue.