Apple, Samsung, Sony actively deploy MicroLED display technology

As a new generation of display technology, MicroLED outperforms traditional LCDs and OLEDs in terms of technology lifetime, contrast, power consumption, response time and viewing angle. The industry pointed out that the MicroLED business opportunity will detonate in 2019 and enter the industry sweet spot in 2020. International manufacturers Apple, Samsung, and Sony have already actively deployed MicroLED technology.

Earlier this year, Yole's "MicroLED Display Patent Panorama Analysis - 2018 Edition" report showed that Apple has been working hard in the field of microLED display technology and applied for a large number of related patents. Apple's patent portfolio covers a number of key technology areas related to microLED display and is intended to address all major technical bottlenecks affecting the commercialization of the technology. From the perspective of patent analysis, Apple's R&D investment is mainly focused on transfer, assembly and interconnection technologies, and more than 40 patents have been applied for these technologies.

Among these international companies, Samsung has the fastest pace. At the beginning of the year at CES, Samsung unveiled the first modular spliced ​​MicroLED TV The Wall. Recently, at the media conference, Samsung announced that it will release a higher-end MicroLED TV next year, only 30mm thick, and the 146-inch "The Wall" is 80mm thick, the news shocked the industry.

Although LG is still working on the production of OLED TVs, MicroLED display technology is gradually beginning to replace OLED technology. Previously, LG has applied for the 'XμLED', 'SμLED' and 'XLμLED' trademarks. Recently, LG applied for the “TrueμLED”, “QμLED” and “MμLED” trademarks to EUIPO (European Intellectual Property Office). It is reported that LG plans to launch its first Micro LED TV at the Consumer Electronics Show (IFA 2018) in Berlin, Germany in 2018.

The latest report from the research institute n-tech Research pointed out that the global MicroLED market will reach $2.7 billion in 2019 and double to $10.7 billion in 2022.