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Apple has abandoned plans to use microLED displays in its smartwatches, but LG Display is not about to give up on the technology. The Korean manufacturer is still working on it, although for now it is holding off on major investments in mass production. The company wants to be prepared for the moment when microLED begins to play a greater role in the display market.
LG Display continues to develop microLED
According to DigiTimes, citing Korean industry sources, LG Display is currently using external pilot production lines because it does not have the full facilities required for in-house manufacturing. This allows it to limit R&D expenditure while preserving its technological capabilities.
The decision is linked to Apple's withdrawal from its microLED display project for the Apple Watch in 2024. LG Display was expected to be part of the supply chain, but high costs and technical problems led to the project's termination.
MicroLED has potential, but production remains a problem
The microLED technology uses microscopic LEDs that emit light independently. Compared with OLED it can offer higher brightness and a longer lifespan. The biggest challenge, however, remains the precise transfer of millions of tiny LEDs onto a substrate and maintaining a low production defect rate.
Despite these difficulties, competition is not standing still. AUO and PlayNitride are developing their own solutions, and in September 2025 Garmin introduced the fēnix 8 Pro smartwatch with a microLED display. Chinese companies are also investing heavily in the development of the technology.
LG Display therefore does not want to drop out of the race entirely. For now it is focusing on OLED development and on cutting the costs of microLED research. It is unclear when the company will decide to start mass production. Nor should one expect the technology to quickly become an affordable alternative to OLED TVs.
Source: DigiTimes
