Samsung Display is found to be building a facility dedicated to Micro Light Emitting Diode (LED) displays for smartwatches. It is expected that the company will first build a test line at a pilot level and then explore the possibility of mass production. Attention is focused on whether Micro LED, which is considered a next-generation display, will reach mass production.
According to the industry on the 27th, Samsung Display is building a facility dedicated to Micro LED displays for smartwatches on the 5.5-generation quarter-cut (four-split) line at the A2 Campus in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do.
A source familiar with the matter said, “Transfer, bonding, inspection, and repair are considered processing equipment related to Micro LED, and Samsung Display selected equipment companies from the end of last year to the beginning of this year, and it is projected to bring them in within this year.” The source added, “After building the pilot facility this year, the possibility of investment in mass production is also being discussed after the second half of next year.”
Samsung Display launched a Micro LED development project for smartwatches in 2023. Based on the technology accumulated through the development process carried out so far, it is analyzed that the company intends to speed up commercialization by directly testing the Micro LED process at its own factory.
Micro LED refers to an ultra-small LED of 10 micrometers (㎛) or less. A Micro LED display is what shows pictures or videos by using these chips as pixels. Because it uses inorganic materials, the product lifespan is long, and theoretically, luminance (brightness) and power consumption are also superior to Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED).
However, because tens of thousands of chips must be handled, Micro LED is very difficult to manufacture and expensive. Due to the high level of technical difficulty, commercialization is not easy.
Apple also pursued a Micro LED project for the Apple Watch for more than 10 years before giving it up in 2024. It is known that various technical challenges held it back. Although Apple withdrew from the project where it directly selected the supply chain and developed it, the domestic and international display industries continue development, believing that Apple will adopt Micro LED displays for the Apple Watch in the long term.
Last year, Taiwan's AUO succeeded in commercialization by supplying Micro LED displays for Garmin smartwatches. However, it is evaluated that it is still in the early stages of commercialization, and tasks such as improving power consumption and enhancing process efficiency remain.
Attention is drawn to whether Samsung Display will overcome various technical challenges and commercialize Micro LED for watches. In particular, whether it will become a variable in the competition in the premium smartwatch market between Apple and Samsung Electronics is also a matter of interest. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, in the smartwatch market last year, Apple ranked first with a 23% share, and Samsung Electronics ranked fourth with a 7% share.
