Oliver Haslam on January 11, 2023, 4:04 pm

Apple Is Working On Its Own Custom MicroLED Apple Watch Displays

Apple is reportedly working on its own display technology that would not only bring microLED to the Apple Watch but also the iPhone in the future.

While Apple uses a number of companies for its Apple Watch and iPhone displays, a new report claims that it wants to bring the components in-house.

The move would be similar to the one that saw Apple ditch Intel for its Mac chips, designing its own silicon and having TSMC build it instead.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple has been working on the project since 2018, but it’s the Apple Watch that will be used as the test device. The technology will also see a move to microLED, too.

The company aims to begin by swapping out the display in the highest-end Apple Watches by the end of next year, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The screens upgrade the current OLED — organic light-emitting diode — standard to a technology called microLED, and Apple plans to eventually bring the displays to other devices, including the iPhone.

The microLED technology should allow for improved colors and brightness, it’s reported. But Apple’s main aim is undoubtedly to reduce its reliance on Samsung and LG Display. It’s also working to cut Qualcomm out of its products, using its own 5G modems instead.

None of this is going to happen this year, however. The first Apple Watch with Apple’s display inside is expected next year, while the iPhone will make the switch at some point after that.