Foxconn would have developed micro-LED technology for future Apple iPhones

According to a report by Economic Daily News, the iPhone assembly giant is expanding its investment in manufacturing micro-LED displays in order to capture future iPhones' orders.

micro-LED is generally considered a superior display panel to OLED displays, the latter is what Apple currently uses in the Apple Watch, the iPhone X and the iPhone XS. Micro-LED displays do not need backlighting because the pixels themselves emit their own light just like OLED displays. This means that you can get the same rich colors and a contrasting appearance.

For micro-LEDs, the balance tilts in favor of the fact that it does not rely on any organic substance, which means that it must not degrade. This is a problem for OLED displays that suffer from break-in problems and progressive dimming over time.

The reason why OLED is now used in consumer products is simply a question of cost and performance; companies are currently unable to manufacture micro-LED panels in large quantities. Apple would have its own R & D center working on micro-LED displays with the intention of launching micro-LEDs on the Apple Watch "in a few years".

Naturally, we expect Apple to also want to incorporate this technology into its flagship iPhone product line. This latest report on Foxconn's interests corroborates this intention. Nevertheless, this technology is still firmly in the medium term. Do not expect micro-LED displays on mass-volume products anytime soon.

This year, Apple will unveil a 31.6-inch external display alongside the new Mac Pro. This display will use a mini LED backlight. The mini LED is a less ambitious version of the micro-LED (literally, the density is of a different order of magnitude) and we are starting to see larger screens shipped using the mini-LEDs. LED. backlight, not even the micro-LED panels, in the last two months.

Ming-Chi Kuo said he expects iPads and mini-LED MacBooks to be ready by 2021. An ornate micro-LED device would come at least a few years later.