What it is
A display made from microscopic inorganic LEDs, typically used as the light engine feeding a waveguide.
How it works
Each pixel emits its own light with no backlight, allowing very high luminance from a die only a few millimetres across.
Why it matters
Brightness is the hardest problem in see-through eyewear; microLED makes daylight-readable displays possible.
Advantages
- Very high brightness
- Low power per nit
- Long lifetime
Current limitations
- Full-colour microLED remains difficult
- High cost
- Limited supplier base
Commercial readiness
Monochrome green microLED is shipping; full-colour remains constrained.
Development timeline
2023
Monochrome microLED light engines enter volume production
2025
Full-colour modules demonstrated in prototypes