Reality Remix
Apple’s unveiling of Vision Pro, a mixed reality (MR) device, has put microdisplays in the limelight. Microdisplays are a key component for headsets. Moreover, the luxury headset’s display accounts for about half of the total cost of US$3,499 (about 4.5 million won), so interest is growing in whether it can create a new growth driver for the slumping Korean display industry.
According to industry sources on June 8, a 1.41-inch-sized 4K micro-organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display was adopted as the internal display of Apple’s Vision Pro. It consists of two panels with a combined 23 million pixels. Production was done by Sony of Japan. The exterior is a plastic OLED panel from LG Display.
The micro OLED panel used in the Vision Pro costs about US$350 (about 455,900 won) per piece. Lee Kyu-ha, a researcher at NH Investment & Securities, said, “The overall manufacturing cost is estimated to be around US$1,519, of which internal and external displays account for the largest share at 48.1 percent. The price was driven up by the high cost of the micro OLED panels.”
Micro OLED panels are built on silicon substrates, as the nickname “OLEDoS” (OLED on Silicon) suggests. They are primarily used in virtual reality (VR) and extended reality (XR) headsets. Since the display is placed in front of the eyes, it needs to be small in size and have extremely high resolution.
Vision Pro’s micro OLEDs are made by applying a color filter to white OLEDs. This method generates lower brightness than the red-green-blue (RGB) method, but it is not yet technically feasible to mass produce, so this method was used. Industry insiders expect to see more RGB micro OLEDs in the future.
In May, Samsung Display acquired U.S.-based Imagine, which makes RGB micro OLEDs, for US$218 million (about 290 billion won). The company has a direct patterning technology that enables higher brightness at lower power. Samsung Display created a new microdisplay team late last year and is considering entering the microdisplay market.
LG Display has also been active in micro OLED panel development. At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2023) in Las Vegas held in early 2023, the company unveiled a 0.42-inch micro OLED panel prototype for VR and AR devices. This was followed by a partnership with LX Semicon and SK hynix. LG Display and LX Semicon designed the prototype and SK hynix processed silicon wafers for it.
Micro LED panels are another area of focus in the display industry. Micro LEDs are tiny RGB LEDs, measuring less than 100 micrometers (㎛), that are tightly packed onto substrates. They can be made in various sizes –- small ones for AR devices and large one for TVs.
Recently, Micro LED panels have also been drawing attention as panels for smart devices. According to foreign media reports, Apple is planning to use micro-LED panels instead of OLED panels in future iPhones and Apple Watches. Apple is reportedly developing its own micro LED panel technology in Taiwan. Samsung Display and LG Display are also developing micro LED panel technology.