Throughout history, the process of a new technology going from 0 to 1 and maturing has always been full of challenges. The same is true for Micro LED technology. The ten-year development path has not been smooth, but it has now achieved a quantitative change from nothing to something, and is gradually realizing a leap from quantitative change to qualitative change. The growth of the Micro LED related market and the upgrading of products in recent years are strong evidence of this.
With accumulated strength, the trend and development potential of Micro LED technology are gradually becoming clear . According to the latest research, the output value of Micro LED chips reached approximately US$27.9 million in 2024 and is projected to grow to US$740 million by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate of 93% from 2024 to 2029. Although the current growth momentum of Micro LED chip output value mainly comes from large-scale displays, the development potential of Micro LED in small and medium-sized applications such as wearable devices, near-eye displays, and automotive displays is being rapidly released. Small and medium-sized applications are considered an important growth engine for the future growth of the Micro LED market.
Taking small-sized applications as an example, with the rise of AI, wearable devices such as watches are expected to monitor human health. In other words, the combination of display and sensing has vast potential, and Micro LED is currently the only display technology, besides mainstream LCD and OLED, that can combine display and sensing elements. Samsung Display, a major player in OLED displays, showcased a 2.1-inch Micro LED smartwatch prototype at this year's CES, demonstrating its confidence in the field's future prospects. As for near-eye displays, Micro LED, due to its unique advantages in brightness and size, has become an ideal choice for AR glasses, and the number of AR glasses products equipped with Micro LED technology is increasing year by year.
Whether it's large or small-sized, the penetration speed of Micro LED technology in different application scenarios and the speed of product updates are obvious. Judging from this year's major display exhibitions such as CES, ISLE, and Infocomm, major exhibitors are sending a signal through new technologies and products—Micro LED is an inevitable trend, and there are still many surprises to look forward to.
In the Micro LED camp, pioneer Leyard unveiled its new generation Hi-Micro Black Diamond technology at this year's Infocomm Beijing exhibition, launching several new Micro LED products including Micro LED microdisplays and the new generation MG Micro quantum dot cold screen series. The biggest highlight of the new generation Hi-Micro Black Diamond technology is its true use of substrate-free Micro LED chips, with a short-side dimension of less than 30μm, showcasing Leyard's real Micro LED capabilities and representing a significant breakthrough in the Micro display field.
Image source: Leyard
In addition, Leyard also launched its Micro LED AR glasses at the concurrent Ecosystem Partner Conference. This product is equipped with a microprocessor and can connect to large AI models to achieve functions such as AI interaction, teleprompter functionality, and multilingual translation. Leyard plans to release an early access version after the product launch to reward users before a full market rollout, generating considerable anticipation.
Image source: Leyard
From Deep Cultivation to Leadership: Leyard Continuously Pushes the Boundaries of the Ultra-High-Definition Display Industry Driven by innovation, Leyard has consistently pursued a forward-looking strategy and diligently cultivated the Micro LED market. Since pioneering the mass production of Micro LED technology in 2020, Leyard has been strategically developing its industry chain through various means. On one hand, it has partnered with Fuchai Investment Holdings to integrate a complete industry chain encompassing chips, packaging, and applications. On the other hand, through equity investment and technological cooperation, it has improved essential auxiliary products along the industry chain, such as power supplies, video processors, control systems, and ASIC driver chips.
Based on a comprehensive strategy, Leyard has been driving technological innovation in the Micro LED industry and defining the future of the display industry in recent years by relying on technological, product and application innovation.
Technologically, Leyard pioneered cutting-edge technologies such as quantum display and next-generation Micro LED. Among them, Leyard launched the world's first 4K 162-inch QLED direct-display screen in 2023, which uses nanopore quantum dot (NPQD) technology to miniaturize Micro LED chips, improve screen performance, and reduce mass production costs.
Thanks to its substrate-free design and precision packaging, Hi-Micro boasts a contrast ratio of up to 20,000:1, significantly enhancing image depth and detail. Furthermore, its extremely thin Micro LED chip solves the color shift problem at wide viewing angles, maintaining consistency across all viewing angles. Hi-Micro is better suited for manufacturing products with smaller pixel pitches, creating more possibilities for end-user applications. In addition, Hi-Micro utilizes Leyard's proprietary laser mass transfer technology, improving transfer efficiency while offering higher stability and reliability, better meeting the needs of high-end displays and other applications.
In terms of products and applications, Leyard's P0.4-P1.8 series products have achieved full coverage of multi-scenario solutions. Regarding Micro LED, Leyard launched its P0.6 Micro LED transparent screen in July 2023, employing a fully flip-chip substrate-free Micro LED chip (20*40μm), high-efficiency AM active driving, and COG technology, achieving 60% high transparency, a peak brightness of 1500 nits, and a wide viewing angle of 160-176°. Leyard is also a leader in emerging application areas such as all-in-one machines and cinema screens: Leyard was the first company in the industry to introduce Micro LED technology into smart LED all-in-one machines; in September 2023, Leyard's P0.9 pitch Micro LED cinema screen officially passed DCI authoritative certification, becoming the world's first cinema-grade Micro LED product. In the field of micro-displays, Leyard has also taken the lead in launching Micro LED AR glasses connected to AI…
It is evident that Leyard demonstrates its determination to cultivate the Micro LED industry through continuous technological breakthroughs, product updates, and application expansion, showcasing its strength in breaking through the boundaries of the ultra-high-definition display industry and promoting the commercialization of Micro LED.
With an exploratory and open mindset, Leyard envisions the future of the Micro LED industry . Guided by the ideal of "becoming a century-old enterprise worthy of global trust and respect," Leyard has maintained a spirit of active exploration for thirty years, persisting in innovative development with an open mind. It is within this "gene" and "foundation" that Leyard has clear goals and comprehensive plans in the field of Micro LED.
Based on its own development, Leyard is diligently improving its internal capabilities.
Vertical Breakthroughs. Leyard has continuously achieved breakthroughs in Micro LED technology iteration, process optimization, and cost control. Taking yield as an example, it has increased the Micro LED pass-through test yield from 94% to 95.5%. In addition, Leyard has deepened its laser transfer and welding technologies, improving welding accuracy to 99.999%, thus enhancing product reliability.
Horizontal expansion. In the era of AI, the saying "opportunity knocks but once" will become even more pronounced. Against this backdrop, Leyard announced that it will embrace AI over the next three years, leading the way in visual effects and achieving a second growth curve. In addition to its virtual motion point business, it is exploring the future interactive experience brought about by the deep integration of AI and Micro LED displays. The newly released AR glasses are Leyard's initial successful exploration.
From an industry perspective, Leyard promotes win-win cooperation.
The healthy and sustainable development of the entire industry is Leyard's vision for the future. In recent years, Leyard has actively promoted the coordinated development of the entire Micro LED industry chain through technology sharing, participation in industry standard setting, and close cooperation with upstream and downstream partners. In releasing its three-year strategic blueprint, Leyard reiterated that its goal is to work with global partners to overcome technical challenges, lower application barriers, and accelerate the popularization of Micro LED display technology. (Text: Janice)
