Micro LED technology, when will it play a leading role in next-generation displays?

/in , /by

Over the past few years, we have analyzed trends in micro-LED technology and products. Along with the advancement of mini-LED backlight technology, micro-LED has emerged as the next-generation display technology, and interest is growing in when micro-LED will enter the mainstream market. Major display companies and research institutions in countries such as China, Taiwan, South Korea, the United States, and Europe have been accelerating technology development and product commercialization through years of investment, achieving a significant transition from the laboratory stage to mass production. However, the market share of micro-LED in the overall display market remains low, and the pace of commercialization as a mainstream product is still slow.

Samsung Electronics has been leading the way in next-generation display technology with its giant micro-LED TV, ‘The Wall,’ for several years now. Now, with price competitiveness and production efficiency improvements, the company is at a point where it needs to expand into the consumer market in earnest.

Taiwan’s AUO recently showcased automotive micro-LED displays and mirror displays at CES and Touch Taiwan, focusing on targeting the B2B market. The company aims to begin mass production of its 4.5-generation micro-LED production line this year. PlayNitride is preparing to mass produce panels for smartwatches and AR glasses based on its high-brightness, high-resolution technology.

Chinese companies BOE, TCL CSOT, and Tianma are expanding their demonstrations and investments in micro-LED panels and are leading the way in preparations for mass production. BOE’s subsidiary HC SEMITEK is promoting the construction of a micro-LED Epi wafer manufacturing, chip production, and packaging base in Zhuhai City, and at the end of last year, it announced the start of production of a 6-inch substrate micro-LED mass production line. TCL CSOT is preparing to enter the TV and automotive display markets through a joint research institute established with Sanan in 2020 and a joint venture, Extremely Display, to develop and commercialize products. Tianma completed its TFT-based micro-LED production line in December last year and is ready to begin small-scale shipments in phases starting this year. In addition to leading in mass production speed, the company is also accelerating technological advancements such as improving yield rates for 6-inch wafer Micro LED, enhancing laser transfer efficiency, and refining precise tiling bonding. This has been confirmed through the company’s efforts to showcase technological improvements and strengthened productization at technology exhibitions.

At the international business conference ‘OLED & XR KOREA 2025’ hosted by UBI Research, presentations on Micro-LED technology and market trends were provided for TV/large-screen displays, AR, smartwatches, and automotive displays.

According to UBI Research’s analysis, the Micro-LED consumer market is expected to be driven by TVs and AR glasses by 2027, with smartwatches and automotive displays gaining market share by 2028. It is predicted that Micro-LED will break into the mainstream market around 2028, moving beyond premium product segments.

 

More detailed information and technical analysis will be provided in a report to be published by UBI Research at a later date.

Nam Deog Kim, UBI Research Analyst(ndkim@ubiresearch.com)

▶Micro-LED Display Technologies for XR Applications Report Sample