According to a new supply chain analysis, the first Apple Watch with a microLED display will not launch in 2025 as originally planned, but in 2026 due to technological constraints with the manufacturing process. According to the report, LG is Apple’s main supplier (and probably the only one for now) and the Korean tech giant is looking for a way to make the production of microLED panels viable.
As it stands, manufacturing microLEDs is extremely expensive due to a couple of reasons, including significantly low yields. Manufacturing these panels is very complicated and many of the units are not up to standard. The nature of the microscopic light-emitting diodes makes the entire process problematic.
LG has reportedly found a solution to fix faulty microLED panels, but this process alone is also quite expensive right now. That’s why LG is now buying patents, including 14 US patents filed by Taiwanese company Ultra Display Technology. These patents relate to more reliable and accurate chip placement, resulting in higher yields.
The first Apple Watch to offer microLED panels will be the Ultra, and the technology will transition to regular models later.
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