From LCD to OLED to Mini LED: Apple’s Ultimate Display Technology
Recently, Malcolm Owen, an author from AI (Artificial Intelligence website), published an article about LCD, OLED, Mini LED, and Micro LED technologies. In the article, he introduces these four technologies and expresses anticipation for Micro LED, which is expected to replace LCD and OLED, as these technologies are related to Apple’s current or future products.Advancements in display technology have been slow, with the industry seemingly taking decades to upgrade. For example, cathode ray tube (CRT) screens existed for a long time before LCD appeared, but it was only when lightweight LCD screens became affordable that they gradually replaced CRTs; OLED screens emerged in the 1990s but only gained widespread use in recent years.Currently, Apple has introduced Mini LED for the iPad Pro and is also researching Micro LED screens.Both technologies are fascinating, each with its unique advantages. Especially Micro LED, which will fundamentally change the design, production, and display effects of devices.To fully understand these two technologies, we first need to look at other mainstream display technologies.1. Traditional, Low-Cost Display Solution: LCDLCD (Liquid Crystal Display) is the earliest display technology, having been used for decades. LCD is most commonly found in laptops, as well as in tablets, smartphones, and other mobile devices.When an LCD screen is powered on, the properties of the liquid crystal change, affecting the light passing through the liquid crystal material to create an image. For example, when powered on, the current makes some liquid crystal materials transparent, while others become opaque, and some remain semi-transparent, ultimately displaying numbers on the screen. When there are more red, yellow, and blue pixels on a screen, it can display different colors.LCD provides device manufacturers with a cheap, low-cost, and reliable screen. Over the years, it has been the primary technology used in Apple’s product screens.2. OLED: My Pixels Light Up by ThemselvesAfter LCD screens, the next important generation of displays is OLED, or Organic Light Emitting Diode. Unlike LCD screens that rely on LED backlight modules to emit light, OLED screens utilize self-emitting pixels.LCD screens typically require all LEDs in the backlight module to be on, while OLED imaging only needs the pixels that are required to light up, giving OLED a significant energy-saving potential. In terms of display, due to the constant presence of backlight, LCD screens cannot display true black; therefore, OLED screens have a slight edge in contrast.Although OLED screens have advantages such as clear blacks, vivid colors, thinness, and wide viewing angles, they also have the drawback of relatively high production costs and are easily contaminated by dust and water during manufacturing. OLED technology has been rumored for years to be used by Apple in the MacBook Pro. However, this has not yet been realized. Nevertheless, since the iPhone X, OLED screens have been widely used in Apple Watch and iPhone.Industry insiders believe that Apple will use OLED instead of LCD in future iPad Pro models, which will make the tablets thinner and have higher contrast. However, tablets usually have a long lifespan, and prolonged use can lead to OLED panel aging or brightness degradation.3. Mini LED Used in the Latest iPad ProWhile LCD’s appeal is not as strong as OLED, Mini LED technology has given LCD a comeback. Mini LED is essentially LCD but with better backlighting, offering display effects similar to OLED.Clearly, Mini LED has a higher production cost than LCD but is still cheaper compared to OLED. Technically, Mini LED is relatively mature, making it an ideal choice for Apple devices.Currently, Apple has embraced Mini LED. The 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro uses 10,000 small LEDs for backlighting. It features over 2,500 dimming zones across the entire backlight area, resulting in very fine brightness and contrast across the screen.With the successful application of Mini LED in the iPad Pro, Apple is likely to apply Mini LED technology to other products, such as the MacBook Pro. Upgrading displays using Mini LED will reduce production costs compared to OLED, while achieving longer screen lifespans and impressive display effects.As this technology has just begun commercialization, Mini LED is not technically mature, and the mold costs are quite high. Terry Gou believes that by involving manufacturers such as Sanan Optoelectronics, Osram, and Seoul Semiconductor, production costs can be significantly reduced.Gou estimates that in 2021, the cost of Apple’s Mini LED will decrease to 50% of the initial cost, and then to 35% in 2022.4. Micro LED: 30 Times Brighter Than OLEDTaking Mini LED technology to the next level is Micro LED. Similar to Mini LED, Micro LED uses smaller micron-level LEDs. Due to the absence of backlighting, Micro LED differs significantly from LCD and OLED.Each Micro LED can emit red, green, and blue light. By laying enough Micro LEDs side by side, a display screen can be created. This is similar to a giant screen in a stadium, where each part of the giant screen is composed of a group of LEDs. The principle of Micro LED displays is the same, just on a much smaller scale. Compared to OLED, Micro LED can display images that are 30 times brighter while using less power.Micro LED has numerous advantages that OLED lacks. Due to its production process being less susceptible to contamination from water and air, it has a higher yield and longer lifespan. When used in flexible or foldable screens, Micro LED panels are less likely to crack or get damaged compared to OLED panels. The downside is that the production costs of Micro LED are very high before the technology matures.5. Apple’s Ultimate Ambition: Micro LEDCurrently, Apple has invested heavily in developing Micro LED. In May 2014, Apple acquired LuxVue, a company specializing in Micro LED technology, which holds several patents applicable to Apple’s devices.In March 2018, reports indicated that Apple was operating a department dedicated to Micro LED research. This department, covering 62,000 square feet, is only a 15-minute drive from Apple’s headquarters and employs 300 engineers working on Micro LED research.In May 2020, Apple invested $334 million in a factory in northern Taiwan to produce Mini LED and Micro LED display panels. Additionally, Apple has also obtained a patent related to Micro LED production, which can improve the reliability and quality of displays.Conclusion: The Long Road Ahead for Micro LEDAfter achieving great success with devices using LCD, OLED, and Mini LED screens, Apple continues its journey of screen upgrades. In the future, Apple is likely to make significant breakthroughs in Micro LED, providing consumers with higher quality consumer electronics.Unlike LCD, OLED, or Mini LED, Apple devices still have a long way to go before perfecting the use of Micro LED.Source: Entering Zhongguancun
