Apple's Custom MicroLED Displays Likely Heading to iPhone, iPad, and Mac After Apple Watch Ultra

Apple is likely planning to bring custom microLED displays to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac after the technology debuts in a new version of the Apple Watch Ultra currently scheduled to launch by the end of 2024, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

iphone 13 pro display shot
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman said that Apple has spent about six years developing microLED technology for what will become the first display custom-designed by the company itself, mirroring its work on Apple silicon. Earlier this week, Gurman said that Apple is planning to introduce the display technology with a new Apple Watch Ultra in 2024.

Apple reportedly kicked off its microLED project, codenamed T159, around 2017. The display is intended to offer improved brightness, color reproduction, and viewing angles, making images look more like they are "painted" atop the display glass, and replace parts currently supplied by companies like Samsung and LG.

After debuting in 2024's Apple Watch Ultra, Gurman expects Apple's custom microLED displays to expand to the ‌iPhone‌, potentially followed by the ‌iPad‌ and the Mac at an even later date. He believes Apple's long-term plan is to bring microLED displays to all of its key products, but it could be a decade before it emerges in the Mac owing to the complexity of the technology at this early stage. For comparison, Gurman noted that the ‌iPhone‌ will have had OLED displays for over six years by the time they are expected to come to the iPad.

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Top Rated Comments

enterthemerdaverse Avatar
33 months ago

Why would your screen be on and on the Home Screen enough to burn in? I only ever saw burn in on a friends old android phone where she’ll fell asleep with it touching her skin and the phone screen stayed on all night long. Burn in doesn’t happen in normal use cases
This is what burn-in looks like when I show it on top of a full screen white background.

Some apps have burned their icons into the display. The iOS menu bar items and task switcher also are burned in.

This isn't Apple's fault. It's just what OLED does if your display is on a lot after more than 2 years.



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Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
33 months ago
I just wish Apple would prioritize this microLED display for the ? iPhone Pro lineup first since that is the blockbuster product. But I get Apple wants to test it out on ⌚️ Apple Watch first (smaller display).
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rychiar Avatar
33 months ago

Loving mini LED and micro LED because OLED has left burn-in on my iPhone ?
Why would your screen be on and on the Home Screen enough to burn in? I only ever saw burn in on a friends old android phone where she’ll fell asleep with it touching her skin and the phone screen stayed on all night long. Burn in doesn’t happen in normal use cases
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mystery hill Avatar
33 months ago
Who would’ve guessed?
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
t0rqx Avatar
33 months ago
Seeing how they release every iPhone with one hardware improvement per year, this probably gonna happen in 2032.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Choco Taco Avatar
33 months ago

I think we all knew this since the news came out about Apple Watch five ?️ days ago. But thank you for the confirmation, Mr. Mark Gurman.
I don’t think you can consider anything Gurman says as a confirmation. ?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)