August 2021

VueReal announced that it has received volume orders for its transparent displays from automotive and aerospace customers. The company is producing custom displays at its pilot production line in Canada.

Back in June VueReal demonstrated its first transparent microLED display. The display is between 3 and 4 inches in size, with high brightness (over 3,000 nits) and very high transparency (85%). Vuereal says that its microLED cartridge- and printing- based production process enables the production of custom displays with high yield and high throughput.

Diffrative waveguides for AR developer WaveOptics (owned by Snap) announced a strategic supply partnership with Jade Bird Display (JBD) for MicroLED microdisplays. JBD will supply its 0.13-inch VGA microdisplays to WaveOptics, to be incorporated into the company's Leopard development kit.

The Leopard AR reference kit has a form-factor similar to traditional consumer eyewear available, with a single projector (right-side only), providing a monochrome (green) image. The Leopard uses WaveOptics’ ‘Katana’ waveguide platform, its thinnest and lightest waveguide at 1.15 mm thick and 7 grams. The light engine, called Loki, is designed by WaveOptics with the JBD microLEDs and weighs 6 grams and has a volume of 760 mm³.

Korea-based LED developer Seoul Viosys announced two microLED related breakthroughes developed together with researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).

First of all, the researcher succeeded in developing blue and green micro LEDs with 1 μm diameter. Second, they have managed to overcome challenges of decreased EQE in red microLEDs at 70um. The EQE of the 70um red microLEDs have been increased by 150% compared to the company's previous designs.

Porous-GaN material platform developer Porotech announced a partnership with Jade Bird Display (JBD). Under the agreement, Porotech provide JBD with its porous gallium nitride (GaN) technology.

Porotech says its native red InGaN LED epiwafer is not commercial. JBD now plans to use Porotech's porous GaN templates to manufacture InGaN-based red micro-LED displays for use in applications such as VR/AR headsets, AR smart sports goggles and head-up displays.

Many believe that MicroLED technology will emerge as the next-generation display technology, and one of the first markets for such displays is the TV market. Several companies already offer microLED TVs - which you can already buy today. Assuming you have the money and a large enough room, that is.

As is often the case with new technologies, especially in the display industry, the first few years are marked with extremely high prices and limited selection. MicroLED TVs are no exception - as of 2021, they target the very high-end premium market, with very large TVs and prices starting at around $100,000.

But let's assume you really want to buy a microLED TV and can afford it. What are your options today?