Taiwan Drives Micro LED Advancements with PlayNitride and EPISTAR Leading the Charge

Taiwanese manufacturers are intensifying efforts to develop the next generation of display technology, Micro LED, with PlayNitride Display Co., Ltd. leading mass production of Micro LED chips. PlayNitride, alongside technology transfer partner EPISTAR Corporation, projects that Micro LED TVs will hit a market-friendly price range between 2026 and 2027.

For television applications, PlayNitride anticipates that the current high costs of Micro LED panels will decrease as production scales up, reaching a sweet spot within the market's acceptable range by 2026. Automotive panel prices are expected to follow suit, becoming more accessible between 2027 and 2028.

Beyond chip production, PlayNitride is facilitating turnkey Micro LED solutions for EPISTAR, a subsidiary of ENNOSTAR INC., and AUO Corporation, an affiliate within ENNOSTAR's ecosystem. EPISTAR estimates that Micro LED TV products will achieve profitability between 2027 and 2029. Meanwhile, AUO plans to begin mass production of Micro LED watch panels by the end of 2023, with TV panels following closely behind. Both companies align on the expectation that Micro LED TVs will reach profitability within the same timeframe.

PlayNitride is also advancing the Micro LED manufacturing process with its turnkey solution for wafer production. The process includes Chip on Wafer (COW) technology and Chip on Carrier (COC) capabilities, the latter prearranging Micro LEDs on carrier boards before large-scale transfers. This turnkey output aims to empower capable customers and partners like AUO to expand the market potential for Micro LEDs.