Apple is said to switch to a Micro LED display for its next-generation Watch Ultra, according to a new report. The display size is also set to get around 10 percent bigger. The current-generation Watch Ultra lineup features an OLED panel. However, Apple could replace it with Micro LED, which is said to be of superior quality, providing higher brightness levels and colour accuracy.
A report by Taiwanese research firm TrendForce suggests the new Apple Watch with Micro LED is expected to be launched in 2026. However, this is not the first time we have heard about Apple replacing the OLED panel in the Watch Ultra. This has been reiterated by several industry analysts in the past as well, though there has been confusion about the launch timeline.
Next-Gen Apple Watch Ultra To Get A Bigger Micro LED Display
As per the report, the next-generation Watch Ultra will have a 2.12-inch display. This is bigger than the 1.93-inch screen on the Watch Ultra 2. The report adds that the upcoming Watch Ultra will use a Micro LED panel, the cost of which is estimated to be 2.5-3 times higher than an OLED panel.
Apple is said to be relying on German LED company ams OSRAM as well as LG Display for Micro LED panels for Watch Ultra.
The first Watch Ultra was launched in September 2022, followed by the Watch Ultra 2 in 2023. The Watch Ultra lineup has been designed to be more rugged and tougher, and is aimed at fitness enthusiasts. Both models feature an LTPO OLED panel, which the company is said to replace with a Micro LED panel in the upcoming model.
Apple Watch Ultra With Micro LED Panel To Launch In 2026
TrendForce predicts that the Micro LED Watch Ultra could launch in 2026. In January, Haitong Intl Tech Research analyst Jeff Pu (via 9to5Mac) and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggested that a Micro LED display on Apple Watches could launch in 2024.
“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 Bloomberg report read.
Meanwhile, analyst Ross Young said in a post on X that the launch could happen in the second half of 2025.
Apple has been using OLED panels for its smartwatches since 2015 when it launched the first Apple Watch. However, it looks like the Cupertino giant could make a switch for its future generation of Watch models. It is unclear at this point when we will see the first Apple Watch with a Micro LED panel.
What is a Micro LED Display?
Micro LED is a flat-panel display technology, where arrays of microscopic LEDs form individual pixel elements. This means that millions of small microscopic pixels emit light independently, which leads to higher brightness levels.
