The Apple Watch Ultra was originally planned to be the first product from the company to have a microLED panel, but Apple is said to have scrapped the plans now.
The microLED Apple Watch Ultra project is reportedly cancelled. This is the second key project to be scrapped this year according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg.
Gurman claims Apple "is winding down a long-running project to design and develop its own smartwatch displays", referring to the company's in-house efforts to develop microLED panels.
Even though the project has been cancelled and has seen "several dozen engineering roles" cut, Apple isn't giving up on the technology and reports say they are continuing its investment in microLED technology for future products.
Gurman reported in January 2023 that Apple was nearing the launch of its microLED screens after six years of development. Apple's initial plan was to launch the Apple Watch Ultra with microLED in late 2024 before bringing the new display technology to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
However, speculations emerged earlier this month about the demise of the microLED Apple Watch Ultra project after Apple supplier ams Osream revealed in its press release that "a cornerstone project underpinning its microLED strategy got unexpectedly cancelled".
Almost two weeks later, another supplier hinted that the microLED Apple Watch Ultra project had been cancelled after its filing with the U.S Securities and Exchange Commission indicated one of its strategic customers had cancelled "Project W" which involved "the development and future mass production of certain technologies relating to advanced display".
The purported scrapping of the microLED Apple Watch Ultra project comes weeks after Bloomberg reported that Apple has cancelled its electric car project. The electric car project was believed to have been dropped earlier this year as Apple diverted resources to generative AI.
Source: Bloomberg
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