At present, several companies across the world continue their pursuit of developing affordable and energy-efficient microLEDs. 

As a result, the market is expected to grow at a staggering CAGR of 73.33% between 2024 to 2033, with the market size projected to touch the $149.97 billion mark by the end of 2033. 

The global pioneer in MicroSolid Printing, VueReal and the Taiwanese company RiTdisplay have recently come together to form a strategic alliance to accelerate the adoption of microLED displays in consumer markets. 

This article explores the contours of the partnership and explores other similar partnerships between companies that are fueling the growth of the microLED segment. 

VueReal and RiTdisplay: A Much-Needed Partnership in the Development of MicroLED Displays

Canadian firm VueReal’s partnership with RiTdisplay Corporate aims to boost the adoption of microLED displays in consumer markets. To note, this isn’t the first time both companies have collaborated as they share years of history of developing interior/exterior lighting systems and automotive displays.  

So, what do both companies bring to the table? 

• Technological Synergy: The project will harness RiTdisplay’s cutting-edge backplane process technology and utilize VueReal’s micro solid printing platform to make microLED display solutions accessible to broader applications.
• Cost-Efficient Production: It is also worth noting that VueReal’s MicroSolid Printing(TM) process will play a major role in not only helping microLED manufacturers scale their production capabilities but also doing it cost-efficiently.
• Setting New Standards: This partnership aims to define new standards in display production, offering solutions that are widely recognized for their clarity, energy efficiency, and brightness.
• Expanding Application Scope: It will also open the floodgates to a new era of display manufacturing, predominantly aimed toward transforming user experiences across industrial displays and consumer electronics.

Major Market Players Coming Together to Promote MicoLED Displays

The MicroLED Industry Association (MIA) states that microLED technology primarily aims to replace incumbent and energy-intensive alternatives including OLED and LCD. The consortium also suggests that despite the presence of various manufacturing technologies and architectures, we are still a few years away from seeing the mass production of microLED displays. 

The MIA whitepaper bifurcates the microLED roadmap into three stages:

• Short-term (2023-2025): Entry of simple monochrome and pmULED displays. Pilot-level production of amULED for wearable tech. 
• Medium-term (2026-2029): Adoption of full color displays for niche applications to continue. 
• Long-term (2030-2033): Mass production and large-scale adoption of full color microLED displays expected.   

While the partnership between RiTdisplay and VueReal offers significant promise, it is worth looking at other noteworthy alliances. 

1. Foxconn and Porotech 

Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), one of the biggest technology service providers and electronics manufacturers in the world, and Poro Technologies Ltd announced have come together to commercialize microLED displays for AR applications. 

• The objective is to develop and establish the first-of-its-kind visible supply chain to develop microLEDs by leveraging Foxconn’s expertise and proprietary solutions in CMOS backplanes, system assembly and semiconductor wafer manufacturing. 

• Additionally, the success of the partnership also hinges on Porotech’s state-of-the-art technologies including Dynamic Pixel Tuning® (DPT®), PoroGaN® microLEDon-Silicon (uLEDoS), and  GaN-on-Silicon platform.
  
• The end products are intended to find widespread applications in the development of AR, smart, and wearable devices. 

2. LG Display and Apple

The two giants in the consumer electronics world, Apple and LG Display sealed a partnership in 2023 to help Apple gradually phase out OLED displays with MircoLED displays in the Apple Watch. 

• The move is driven by Apple’s decision to use microLED displays in the Apple Watch and produce all the parts in-house instead of relying on third parties, including Samsung and LG. 

• The transition to microLEDs will pave the way for better color representation, brighter and crystal-clear displays, and improved contrast in Apple Watch. 

• While we could expect microLEDs to take over Apple’s wearable product line soon, Samsung is still exploring the tech for its wearable products. 

Are MicroLED Displays the Future of AR/VR?

As major tech powerhouses including Meta and Apple intensify their interest in the AR market, the demand for microLEDs is on the rise. 

Recent studies suggest that despite a 44% drop in the shipment volumes of AR/VR headsets, the market is staring at a positive growth rate for the next five years up to 2029. 

Current projections state that AR/VR display shipment will be higher than headsets due to the increasing focus on multiple display use in these products. Every device will come with two displays (one per eye). 

Industry experts say that while AR/VR is expected to gain immense traction in the upcoming years, it is unlikely that it will replace smartphones. 

It is also worth noting that the display requirements for VR and AR headsets vary. While VR and pass-through AR displays require higher refresh rates and shorter duty cycles to minimize motion sickness, see-through AR displays require power-efficient, high-resolution, and light displays with glass-like designs. 

Undoubtedly, the adoption of microLED displays in AR/VR applications will grow thanks to their exceptional clarity, brightness levels, and energy efficiency. 

Parting Notes

Despite Apple’s decision to pull the plug on its microLED efforts, the sector is poised to witness steady growth in the next few years. However, the road ahead is rife with hurdles that could hinder and impede its adoption. 

At present, market players are largely focused on addressing these challenges including high-volume manufacturing, minimizing manufacturing costs, and quality-related problems. 

Additionally, the increasing collaborations between established tech companies, startups, and other market players will set the stepping stones for the commercialization of microLED technology. The projected rise in the demand for AR/VR devices will also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of microLED displays.