Foxconn, Apple’s primary assembly and production partner, plans to begin mass production of microLED displays for AR applications by late 2025, the company announced in a press release.
Foxconn will produce the microLED displays in collaboration with Porotech using the latter’s gallium nitride (GaN) technology. Foxconn will design microLED wafers in-house, which will later be cut and processed to small displays suitable for AR headsets. The company plans to erect a dedicated microLED manufacturing facility in Taichung, with mass production to commence as soon as Q4 2025.
While it’s unlikely that Foxconn is preparing these displays for any imminent Apple products, the Cupertino company nevertheless remains vested in the novel display technology, which would be perfect for true AR glasses from Apple. The company also has recent history with developing microLED displays, particularly for small products like the Apple Watch.
Discover new horizons, always connected with eSIM
Travel the world stress and hassle-free with the best eSIM service available. Enjoy unlimited data, 5G speeds, and global coverage for affordable prices with Holafly. And, enjoy an exclusive 5% discount.
However, engineering and manufacturing challenges forced Apple to shutter down its microLED Apple Watch display project that was set for a public release between 2025 and 2026. The cancelation of Apple’s microLED efforts forced to company to lay off hundreds of engineers in a sign that it no longer plans to pursue the display technology over the next few years.
MicroLED is seen as the next big step in display technology and a true successor to OLED. Despite similarities in names, the displays are distinct from one another. MicroLED utilizes microscopic LEDs as individual pixels, providing advantages such as superior contrast, higher brightness, improved efficiency, and a longer lifespan. However, the complex and costly manufacturing process of microLED makes it challenging for Apple to mass-produce the technology at scale for its devices.
In contrast, OLED displays are organic, which makes them susceptible to degradation over time and prone to burn-in issues. This is not observed in microLED displays as they use inorganic materials.
