(Reuters) – Apple Inc has partnered with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co to develop OLED micro displays, which it plans to use in its next augmented reality (AR) devices, Nikkei Asia reported on Wednesday.
Apple is collaborating with TSMC, the only processor supplier for iPhone, as micro OLED monitors are much thinner, smaller and use less energy, making them more suitable for use on wearable AR devices, the report said.
Developing monitors are less than 1 inch in size, Nikkei added.
Bloomberg News reported in January that Apple was still working on basic technologies for its AR glasses, code-named N421. The company said the product was several years away, citing sources, but added that Apple had already planned until 2023 to reveal it. (bloom.bg/36XWuj9)
The micro OLED project with TSMC is currently in the test production phase and will take several years to reach mass production, according to Nikkei.
TSMC declined to comment, while Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
Reporting by Arghyadeep Dutta and Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Devika Syamnath edition