Apple Hits the Brakes on MicroLED Dreams for Apple Watch
Just weeks after waving goodbye to the Apple Car project, Apple has slammed the brakes on its in-house microLED display development for the Apple Watch. This ambitious initiative, unearthed in 2023, aimed to break free from display giants like Samsung and LG. Apple even built a dedicated screen production facility in Santa Clara, California, a stone’s throw from its headquarters.
The plan was to swap the current Samsung-made OLED display for a dazzling microLED one, eventually gracing not just the Apple Watch but potentially iPhones. However, according to Bloomberg sources, the dream turned sour due to the project’s sheer cost and complexity. Producing these microscopic LED screens in mass quantities proved a significant hurdle. Apple still required external partners for crucial manufacturing tasks.
The fallout is real. Bloomberg reports Apple has eliminated dozens of positions and is restructuring display engineering teams. The Santa Clara facility also felt the axe, with job cuts rippling its workforce. Rumors of a delay or outright cancellation for the microLED Apple Watch project had swelled since early February. This news comes hot on the heels of long-time supplier Osram informing investors about a significant customer canceling microLED orders for a wearable device – a not-so-subtle hint at Apple’s troubles.
Here’s where the numbers get interesting. Current Apple Watch screens cost the company roughly $38 per unit. Apple’s internal simulations and production yield estimates painted a grim picture for the microLED upgrade: a staggering $150 per screen for the Apple Watch Ultra 3.
While the Apple Watch’s microLED dream fades, other microLED projects within Apple reportedly remain on track. However, timelines for these endeavors are shrouded in uncertainty.
This news underscores Apple’s recent strategy shift. After a decade-long and reportedly tumultuous journey, Apple finally abandoned Project Titan, the code name for its electric vehicle ambitions. Many insiders called the project a “titanic disaster,” highlighting a sense of inevitability surrounding its demise.