New generation display technologies are constantly evolving, with MicroLED being regarded as the ultimate display technology. It is highly promising in the field of transparent displays and also shows great potential in semiconductor manufacturing processes and advanced packaging. However, it still faces challenges such as high cost and mass transfer technology difficulties.
Today (9th), Nichuang Technology held the "2025 MicroLED Future Trends and Application Technology Forum". Many speakers mentioned the importance of industry-academia cooperation in promoting MicroLED technology from the laboratory to large-scale production. They hoped that the forum would promote exchange and innovation and jointly meet the market opportunities of MicroLED.
Emerging in the fields of wearable devices and automotive displays
The core of MicroLED technology lies in its miniaturized and self-emissive characteristics, which give it many advantages over traditional display technologies. Compared with LCD and OLED, MicroLED can provide higher brightness and higher contrast under strong ambient light (such as outdoors), with a strong sense of three-dimensionality. It is also more reliable and resistant to strong light than OLED, making it particularly suitable for automotive, space/military environments, such as transparent starry sky roofs and head-up displays (HUDs) for automobiles.
According to Lee Yun-li, Chairman of Nextech, although there are still many challenges, MicroLED technology is converging and its potential application areas are expanding infinitely. It has an absolute advantage in the field of wearable devices and is easily distinguishable from OLED and LCD. In particular, the MicroLED smartwatch developed by AU Optronics in collaboration with Garmin has been launched, and its brightness and picture quality are significantly better than traditional OLED or LCD watches.
AU Optronics Director Hsu Ming-chi stated that Micro LED watches have extremely high brightness, allowing all surface indicators to be seen from the side, demonstrating a clear advantage over OLED. Although the first-generation products are more expensive, they are already considered "affordable" products in the consumer market, and partners are optimistic about sales volume. With technological advancements, the second and third-generation products will also become better, and market commentary is expected to turn positive.
Smart Glasses (AR/VR/XR) Market <br /> Wu Chung-chi, Director of Research and Development at National Taiwan University, pointed out that many academic teams are also actively engaged in forward-looking smart display R&D projects with the support of the National Science Council, focusing on MicroLED technology for augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR)/extended reality (XR), including high PPI resolution, full-color technology, driver ICs, and backplane assembly yield.
Among them, MicroLED is considered the most promising display technology for AR glasses. Due to its small size and high brightness, MicroLED can be combined with optical components to achieve more fashionable and personalized glasses designs, rather than the traditional bulky "Frankenstein's monster" glasses.
However, unlike mature applications such as televisions, the smart glasses market is still in a highly uncertain stage. It needs to find other niche markets that mobile phones and watches cannot satisfy. For consumers, fashion and aesthetics are key factors for the widespread acceptance of smart glasses. Therefore, it is expected to mature in 2027-2028. Xie Zhongli, Senior Research Manager of Omdia, introduced the challenges and opportunities of display technology (especially Micro LED) and optical components in the development of smart glasses, and emphasized that AI is the key driving force for the maturity of the smart glasses market.
AU Optronics Director Hsu Ming-chi also pointed out the promising future of Micro LED. He jokingly noted that because AU Optronics' core business is display technology, customers always hold AU Optronics' Micro LED to a higher standard. To solve the mass production challenges of Micro LED, AU Optronics has invested in building a G4.5 generation fully automated Micro LED mass production line, aiming to overcome existing bottlenecks by increasing production capacity and reducing costs. The ultimate goal is to successfully move Micro LED from proof-of-concept to commercial mass production.
Wu Yongxun, General Manager of Innolux Corporation, pointed out that the compound annual growth rate of Micro LED will reach 46.5% from 2025 to 2029. He emphasized that transparent displays have gradually permeated our lives and Micro LED will be the next generation of mainstream display technology, expected to become widespread within the next 5 years.
(Image source: Provided by Neptunus Technology)
