Apple’s glasses, or Apple’s supposed pair of mixed reality lenses, may feature exclusive micro OLED screens made in partnership with the company’s chip supplier a long time ago.
According to a new report by Nikkei Asia, Apple and TSMC are collaborating on micro OLED screens, which “are much thinner and smaller” than the OLED panels found on smartphones or TVs. Micro OLED technology also requires less energy, making it “more suitable for use” in a wearable device, such as AR glasses.
Not to be confused with the microLED TV technology that is gaining momentum in the home entertainment space, the micro OLED is built differently from existing LCD or OLED monitors. It was designed on ultra-small wafer substrates, rather than glass substrates, preferred for larger screens.
Nikkei sources said the technology is in an experimental production stage and current prototypes “are less than 1 inch in size”, although the report does not explain whether this measure applies to thickness.
What does this mean for the Apple glasses release date
Creating a new type of display is not a simple task – that’s why the sources also said that the OLED micro will take several years to achieve mass production for any Apple hardware.
So, where does this put the timeline for Apple glasses? Well, if Apple is committed to equipping its first AR glasses with TSMC micro OLED screens, most of the release date leaks we’ve seen so far are probably wrong. Insider intel reports the release date between spring 2021 and late 2023.
That said, the micro OLED could be planned for a next generation Apple Glass model. The first generation could be launched earlier with a modified design like this patent, for example. Nikkei’s sources may also have unreliable information. While the site has established a proven track record, it’s always a good idea to take Apple Glass rumors with caution.
The companies are reportedly working at a secret facility in Taiwan, where Apple transferred at least a portion of its production of AirPods and Apple Watch last year. It would make sense for Apple to test how its AR glasses work compared to headphones and wearables, but that’s just my curiosity at work.