Skip to main content

Is Apple developing its own display tech for watches?

Apple is developing new displays that would make its mobile devices “slimmer, brighter, and less power-hungry,” marking the first time for the company to design and develop the component in-house, according to a report from Bloomberg on Sunday, March 18.

Recommended Videos

Unnamed sources with knowledge of the project said the tech giant has been conducting small-scale tests with next-generation MicroLED screens at a secret facility in Santa Clara, California. If the reports are accurate, it will be Apple’s most determined effort yet to take display design and development away from its partners.

Sunday’s news appears to confirm reports last year that Apple is experimenting with MicroLED displays, and suggests the company is making full use of its 2014 LuxVue acquisition. LuxVue developed a high-quality display that requires far less power than current OLED technology, a design that could provide a significant boost to the battery life of Apple’s gadgets.

The sources told Bloomberg that the technological challenges faced by the team in building the displays are so significant that Apple almost ditched the plan last year. But its ongoing efforts have now brought the displays to an “advanced stage” that have included the successful creation of an Apple Watch MicroLED prototype that could launch within “a few years.”

The project is reported to be code-named T159 and is being led by Lynn Youngs, a long-time Apple engineer who worked on displays for the original iPhone and iPad, and who over the years has submitted a slew of display-based patents. Youngs is believed to be in charge of a team of around 300 engineers working on the development of the MicroLED screens.

The 62,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Santa Clara is “the first of its kind” for Apple, but is too small for any kind of mass production effort. Bloomberg speculates that the tech company could ultimately turn to other suppliers to produce the displays, but wants to keep its work out of the hands of partners until it’s completely ready.

With Samsung reportedly set to make more than $20 billion from the sale of OLED displays used in the recently launched iPhone X, it’s little surprise that Apple is looking to develop its own displays for future versions of the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, as well as any new display-equipped devices it’s yet to create.

Samsung is also developing the MicroLED technology, and this summer is aiming to launch The Wall television incorporating the system.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Apple Watch SE 3: Everything you need to know
Apple Watch SE 2 with protective case and generic Alpine Loop-style strap.

The Apple Watch is one of the most sought-after wearables on the market, but it can cost a pretty penny. Just as the now-defunct iPhone SE lineup offered an affordable alternative to iPhones, the Apple Watch SE is a more budget-friendly alternative to the main Apple Watch. The Apple Watch SE 3 is on its way, and it's poised to shake up the wearable market in some exciting ways.

Of course, all of this information is gathered through rumors and leaks. Apple isn't one to spill details ahead of time, so what we're presenting here could change before launch. That said, if the Apple Watch SE 3 is anything like the Apple Watch SE 2, we're excited to get our hands on it.

Read more
Apple just dropped a new watch band and wallpapers for Pride 2025
Apple Pride 2025 collection.

Apple just announced its "2025 Pride Collection," which includes a new Sport Band for Apple Watch, a dynamic watch face, and a dynamic wallpaper that will be available for iOS and iPadOS. The watch band is available to order from today and the watch face/wallpapers will drop in upcoming software updates.

Apple has been releasing special edition watch bands for Pride Month for almost a decade now, each with a different take on the rainbow/multicolored design. This year's is pretty straightforward, making use of bold stripes of color just like actual pride flags.

Read more
Revisit the Apple Watch’s launch ads from exactly 10 years ago
The first Apple Watch

Following years of speculation, Apple finally announced its intention to enter the smartwatch sector in September 2014, releasing the first Apple Watch the following year on April 24. 

Exactly a decade on, now is as good a time as any to revisit the ads that gave everyone their very first look at Apple's debut smartwatch.

Read more