For some years now, Apple has invested heavily in the research and development of micro LED screens for its equipment.
It seems that the Cupertino company will be ready to move forward with this technology, but only in the next Watch Ultra. The reason for doing it only in this wearable is imperative: the production cost doubles.
Micro LED screen production costs Apple twice as much
The Apple Watch Ultra is available in Portugal for a price starting at €1,009 [email protected]
For some years, Apple has been researching and developing micro LED technology for screens. The Cupertino company’s desire to stop being so dependent on its suppliers is well known. In the specific case of screens, Samsung and some other companies are the ones who supply OLED panels to the apple brand.
Now a new report from the MicroLED Industry Association sheds some light on Apple’s decision to embrace micro LED displays and how it will go about doing so. Apparently, Cupertino will start by introducing micro LED screens in its line of wearables, more specifically in the next Apple Watch Ultra, which will be launched in September of this year.
And the reason for this strategy is simple, but also imperative: the costs associated with the production of panels with this technology. Apple currently pays LG around $20 for an OLED screen with a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits for the Watch Ultra.
Now a micro LED screen, with exactly the same maximum brightness, will cost Apple 40 dollars. The calculations are not difficult to do, the production cost doubles. Consequently, Apple will have to increase the final retail price of equipment that integrates a micro LED screen.
Introduction of micro LED screens increase the final retail price
And even if we are talking about Apple, known for its high prices, a substantial increase in costs could lead to users not buying Apple equipment. Therefore, the integration of a micro LED panel should only happen on the Apple Watch Ultra which, for all its top specifications, can justify the increase in price.
Add to that Apple’s strategy of differentiating its more advanced models from base models and it all makes even more sense.
Of course, a micro LED screen has a great advantage for the brand and, above all, for the user. In theory, they are capable of providing higher brightness while consuming less power. Especially in the case of wearables and smartphones, which are often used in sunlight, this is a huge advantage.
For all these reasons, for now, it will only be the Watch Ultra 2 to present this new technology. This wearable will also work as an experiment, for Apple to see if the component is well received (or not) by its users.
If successful, we can expect to see the technology in other Apple products, but not in the near future. As has already happened with OLED screens, the Cupertino company can wait for the reduction in production costs of micro LED panels to start using them in all its products.
And the waiting time can be long, after all, Apple knows how to wait, as we have come to realize from the delay in the arrival of the foldable smartphone with the seal of Cupertino.
Aroged editors recommend:
