The Apple Watch Ultra has been rumored to feature an upgraded microLED display for over a year, but production issues have reportedly extended the time frame to 2027. Apple has reportedly canceled an important microLED order with Austrian company ams. Osram is expected to be used in the upcoming Apple Watch Ultra 3.
Osram did not confirm that Apple was a customer that had withdrawn from its major microLED deal, but it said in a dedicated press release that “the unexpected cancellation of a cornerstone project supporting its microLED strategy prompted the company to reassess its microLED strategy.”
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo chimed in and confirmed that Apple has canceled its microLED Apple Watch project with Osram. Kuo also said that Apple has canceled all projects involving microLED displays because the display technology does not bring significant value to its products. Apple also reportedly believes that microLED production costs are too high and are not economically feasible.
But there are skeptics, like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claim ams Osram is only one of Apple’s microLED suppliers, and he said that the upcoming Apple Watch Ultra is still expected to receive updated display technology. There are rumors that Apple will slowly move to microLED displays across its device lineup, with the Apple Watch being the first to adopt it, followed by the iPad, iPhone, and finally the MacBook.
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