While Apple has not yet completed the transition from LCD to OLED displays across its product line, the firm already has its eye on microLED technology. Foxconn, Apple’s preferred assembler, has announced plans to begin mass production of microLED displays by the end of next year. To drive the point home, the Taiwanese company has formalized a collaboration with Porotech, focused on microLED technology for future AR headsets.
The transition at Apple
Apple’s transition to display technologies has been gradual. After a long period exclusively dominated by LCD, Apple has gradually adopted new display technologies since 2015:
- Indeed, OLED landed on the Apple Watch in 2015, the iPhone in 2017, then the iPad in 2024. The MacBooks should follow in 2026.
- Mini-LED backlighting for its LCD screens was introduced on the Pro Display XDR screen in 2019, then on its iPad Pro M1 and MacBook Pro M1 in 2021
For a while, Apple has been working on micro-LED, which promises brighter displays, superior color accuracy, longevity and energy efficiency, without the burn-in issues associated with OLED. Although there were plans to introduce microLED technology with an Apple Watch, this was delayed due to difficulty in production. It is the Ultra model which is supposed to inaugurate it.
Foxconn’s microLED production plans
Foxconn, a key partner of Apple, revealed plans to begin mass production of microLED displays by the end of 2025, specifically targeting AR headset applications. In partnership with Porotech, the company will leverage the latter’s advanced gallium nitride (GaN) technology as well as Foxconn’s comprehensive manufacturing capabilities, from wafer processing to optical module assembly. This collaboration is expected to meet the growing demand for microdisplays in AR glasses, with the aim of providing high-performance, dynamic and lightweight solutions.
If watches and phones are not explicitly mentioned, there is no doubt that they will be affected in the coming years.
Regardless, the production line is planned for Taichung, with mass production expected to begin in Q4 2025, suggesting the first products could be available in Q1 2026. Enough to launch an Apple Vision Pro 2 or even more advanced Apple Vision Pro 3?
