A day after BGR reported that the microLED Apple Watch Ultra project could have been canceled, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo corroborated this idea by saying Apple has given up on this product.
Previously, manufacturer Osram announced an unnamed customer canceled all orders for microLED displays, which could possibly be Apple. While the company expected increased revenue in 2025, when Apple was first expected to release its microLED Apple Watch Ultra, Osram’s CEO said that the project was abandoned, which made its shares drop.
Now, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple canceled the microLED Apple Watch Ultra project as this display couldn’t add “significant value to this product,” in addition to production costs being too high to make it economically viable.
A previous report said the cost for a microLED display at this moment would be around $150, although Apple only pays $38 for the current Apple Watch OLED display. Usually, when Apple pays that much for a screen, the product it sells would cost around $1,500, which is almost double what the Apple Watch Ultra costs at this moment.
With that, Kuo believes Apple laid off many people from the microLED development team, as “there’s currently no visibility on any microLED related project.” He continues: “It’s undoubtedly a major setback for Apple, which hopes to own the next generation of display technology to make its products more competitive.”
Besides that, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has hinted that Osram wasn’t the only microLED manufacturer Apple was in talks with. Still, Kuo thinks otherwise: “3. Osram was Apple’s exclusive LED chip supplier for Micro LED. The company’s cancellation of its Micro LED collaboration with Apple means that Apple has no plans to mass-produce Micro LED devices in the foreseeable future.”
What should we expect about a new Apple Watch Ultra?
Despite the microLED display, Apple was rumored to be planning sleep apnea detection for the 2024 Apple Watch while also studying to roll out blood pressure sensors in phases. The first iteration would just tell a user if their blood pressure is trending upward; a 2027 version could have the ability to provide exact numbers and even diagnose related conditions.
In addition, Apple is putting all its efforts into a blood glucose sensor for a future Apple Watch. While it’s unclear if the company will be able to pull a non-invasive system, it’s easier to predict this technology could be presented in 2027 rather than 2024.