Apple Inc. has decided to end its long-running project to create its own smartwatch displays, according to sources familiar with the matter. The company had been working on screens with microLED technology, which would have offered brighter and more vibrant visuals for future versions of the Apple Watch and potentially other products.
However, the cost and complexity of the project proved to be too much, leading Apple to reorganize its display engineering teams and eliminate several roles in the US and Asia. This decision coincided with Apple’s choice to cancel its self-driving car project. Affected employees will have the opportunity to find other positions within the company, but those unable to do so will be laid off with severance.
The display project was part of Apple’s larger effort to design more of its technology in-house. While Apple already customizes its displays, it relies heavily on designs from partners like LG Display Co. and Samsung SDI Co. By bringing more of the process in-house, Apple aimed to gain a competitive advantage.
MicroLED technology, which utilizes millions of microscopic light-emitting diodes, offered benefits such as lower power consumption, more accurate color reproduction, and thinner devices. The project, codenamed T159, began within Apple’s hardware engineering organization about seven years ago before being transferred to Apple’s hardware technologies division.
Apple initially planned to replace OLED screens with microLED technology in all its products, from Apple Watches to iPhones to Macs. However, due to production challenges, the timeline for implementing microLED screens has been repeatedly delayed. Despite this setback, Apple is still exploring ways to incorporate microLED technology into its devices in the future.
