Apple Invests $330 Million into Micro-LED Factory

[AleksandarK]

The information has been circulating the industry about Apple and its plans to integrate Micro-LED technology into its products for some time now. Micro-LED is a new display technology that allows for much better characteristics of panels like higher brightness, fuller color gamut, and higher dynamic range. The technology also offers a higher refreshing rate, wider viewing angles, and lower power consumption. Being that Micro-LED display is physically thinner, it will allow for more portable devices and it will leave more room for other components.

According to the report from CENS, a Taiwanese media, Apple is investing $330 million into a new Micro-LED factory for Apple devices. A future factory located in Taiwan is seeing major investments from the company. Being that Apple plans to use Micro-LED displays in its future products like iPad Pro and MacBook Pro, it is expected to see this move from them. However, Apple isn't doing it alone. They have partnered with Epistar, Taiwan's biggest LED producer and Taiwanese LCD panel maker, AU Optronics. These two are experienced makers of panels so they should help Apple successfully launch and operate manufacturing facilities.


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[londiste]

MicroLED at this stage (and especially for Apple) is more likely to replace the backlight technology rather than for an actual emissive MicroLED panel. It is a simple question of pixel density where MicroLED is far too big for pixels, even more so when we are talking about mobile stuff like iPads or MacBooks. At the same time MicroLED can be used to create a lot more FALD zones for a panel that definitely helps with HDR and haloing.

 

[Vayra86]

Shit, Apple added rounded corners on a diode.

Now we're going to have patented microleds in 2 years, just you wait.

 

[Caring1]

What brilliant name will Apple come up with.
My guess is Retina display with iLEDs.

 

[Space Lynx]

What brilliant name will Apple come up with.
My guess is Retina display with iLEDs.

Probably spot on with the name to be honest lol

 

[laszlo]

What brilliant name will Apple come up with.
My guess is Retina display with iLEDs.

maybe but "i" was initially meaning internet and later was added to products; will be odd to see this at led as is not a final product; another option will be Appled ...

 

[watzupken]

Till we see the final product being released, it is pointless to know what Apple have invested in. There are quite a number of supposed Apple investments that went up in smokes before. Sadly, the current Apple is not one that pushes the envelop much. At the slightest feeling that its not going to work, they will bail out.

 

[HugsNotDrugs]

I write about display tech. Micro LED technology is an incredible leap forward in display performance. Zero ghosting, instant response times, extreme durability and life-like HDR, to name a few. You have never seen displays like what are coming down the pipe. In many ways the initial implementations will be limited by controllers and soon thereafter the interface with the host system like DP / HDMI cabling. While prices will start high they will eventually hit a much lower floor than what is possible through OLED and traditional LCD variations.

This wipes the floor with all previous display technologies.

Very exciting times.

 

[Vayra86]

I write about display tech. Micro LED technology is an incredible leap forward in display performance. Zero ghosting, instant response times, extreme durability and life-like HDR, to name a few. You have never seen displays like what are coming down the pipe. In many ways the initial implementations will be limited by controllers and soon thereafter the interface with the host system like DP / HDMI cabling. While prices will start high they will eventually hit a much lower floor than what is possible through OLED and traditional LCD variations.

This wipes the floor with all previous display technologies.

Very exciting times.

So far Samsung can't go small enough with it. I'm not holding my breath that Apple will manage that. But who knows.

MicroLED isn't new and neither are its challenges. The only reason it is suddenly feasible in some companies' minds is because OLED is taking over the market eventually if they don't. And they don't own the OLED license. Plus the fact OLED is not (yet) quite as versatile as LCD, its still subpar for any frozen image really and also not suitable for advertising and other bright-lit environments (not bright enough).

maybe but "i" was initially meaning internet and later was added to products; will be odd to see this at led as is not a final product; another option will be Appled ...

iCroLed!

 

[HugsNotDrugs]

So far Samsung can't go small enough with it. I'm not holding my breath that Apple will manage that. But who knows.

MicroLED isn't new and neither are its challenges. The only reason it is suddenly feasible in some companies' minds is because OLED is taking over the market eventually if they don't. And they don't own the OLED license. Plus the fact OLED is not (yet) quite as versatile as LCD, its still subpar for any frozen image really and also not suitable for advertising and other bright-lit environments (not bright enough).

MicroLED is really a manufacturing challenge. The move to MicroLED is not because OLED is taking over the market. The move to MicroLED is because it's far superior to OLED.

 

[Space Lynx]

MicroLED is really a manufacturing challenge. The move to MicroLED is not because OLED is taking over the market. The move to MicroLED is because it's far superior to OLED.

nom nom

I can't wait, well we have like 7 years to wait, the 5 grand models, then the 3 grand, then the 2 grand, and so on... lol