Apple Inc. is developing its own MicroLED screens for the first time in a secret facility near its California headquarters, Bloomberg News reported, citing sources familiar with the situation.
The U.S. tech giant is reportedly producing small numbers of the device displays at the secret manufacturing facility for testing. The development of the technology is now at an advanced stage, but consumers might need to wait a few years more before seeing the final output.
Apple almost scrapped the project about a year ago since MicroLED screens are more difficult to produce than screens using OLED next-generation display technology, the sources told Bloomberg News.
The company is investing heavily in developing MicroLED screens as part of efforts to bring the design of the key components of its devices in-house. Currently, the screen for the Apple Watch is made by LG Display Co. Ltd., while the OLED-powered iPhone X relies on technology from Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
Apple intends to initially embed the MicroLED screens in future Apple Watch models, according to the report.