Following the report on Thursday by AppleInsider regarding the likely cancellation of the microLED Apple Watch Ultra, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple has given up on almost all of its plans to use microLED displays.
Ming-Chi Kuo reports on why he thinks the microLED Apple Watch Ultra 3 may have died in response to reports that it may have. Additionally, he identifies ams Osram as the supplier, which neither party had previously verified and was only suspected.
Kuo posted on Twitter/X, “My most recent research suggests that Apple has canceled the development plan for the Micro LED Apple Watch.” Apple argues that micro-LEDs cannot appreciably raise the product’s added value and that their high production costs make it unprofitable to invest in them.
Kuo adds that many of Apple’s micro-LED development team members have been let go. He continues, “There is no indication that any additional microLED devices are being worked on.” This team was working on projects other than the Apple Watch Ultra.
Kuo’s reporting seems to contain certain anomalies, beginning with his assertion that ams Osram terminated its agreement with Apple. If Kuo’s assessment of the supplier in question is accurate, then it seems the opposite was true—and brutal.
Although he only disclosed that an undisclosed client had canceled, ams Osram’s CEO told reporters that “the shock is still deep.”
Kuo says that the cancellation is “undoubtedly a major setback for Apple.” For ams Osram, which constructed a $1.41 billion factory specifically to service Apple, it’s just a setback.
According to Kuo, this is a setback for Apple since the company intends to use better displays to boost the competitiveness of the Apple Watch Ultra. However, this comes right after he stated that Apple does not believe microLED can improve the Apple Watch Ultra to the point where it is worth the money.
Apple was expanding the range of its microLED devices.
Micro LED has many advantages over other display technologies, like OLED, including being much thinner, using less power, and having brighter outdoor visibility. They can also be applied to foldable or curved surfaces.
Therefore, it was initially thought that the Apple Watch Ultra would be the first Apple product to use micro-LED technology; however, earlier reports suggested that the iPhone, iPad, and Mac would receive micro LED technology first.
This cancellation is a scaled-down version of Apple’s decision to discontinue the Apple Car project. Although Apple hasn’t worked on the Watch’s microLED display for ten years, it has invested time and experienced several delays.
