Foxconn, the world's leading electronics manufacturing services company, has announced a partnership with British company Porotech to officially enter the augmented reality (AR) glasses market, with plans to start mass production of Micro LED wafers in the fourth quarter of 2025. This strategic move marks Foxconn's further expansion in the field of AR and MicroLED technology, and also heralds a new impetus for the development of global AR and microdisplay technology.
Content and objectives of cooperation
Under the agreement, Porotech will provide its cutting-edge GaN technology, while Foxconn will provide vertically integrated services from Micro LED wafer processing to packaging and optical modules. Foxconn will build a Micro LED wafer processing line in Taichung, which is expected to start mass production in the fourth quarter of 2025 to meet the needs of future global mainstream customers.
Technical advantages and market prospects
The goal of the cooperation between the two parties is to provide high-performance, high-brightness, compact and lightweight AR display solutions, and promote the development of global AR and microdisplay technology. Dr. Bob Chen, General Manager of Foxconn S Business Group, said that this cooperation will continue Foxconn's technological breakthrough in the field of Micro LED, push R&D results to mass production as soon as possible, and lead a new era of Micro LED technology.
AppleInsider believes that by advancing the Micro LED business, Foxconn can further strengthen its position in Apple's supply chain, paving the way for Apple's follow-up products such as the Apple Watch to apply Micro LED technology. With its excellent performance and cost advantages, Micro LED is expected to become the next generation of mainstream display technology, driving innovation and development in areas such as AR/VR, smart watches, and smartphones.
Pictured: Foxconn's foray into the AR glasses market
According to industry insiders, the application of microdisplay technology in the AR glasses industry is expected to bring about changes in the following aspects:
Improved display performance:
Micro display technology, especially Micro LED technology, is becoming the mainstream solution in the field of AR glasses display due to its advantages of high brightness, low power consumption, and long life. These features enable AR glasses to provide a clear visual experience even in outdoor bright light environments, while reducing device power consumption and extending the use time.
Realization of thin and light design:
The application of Micro LED technology has enabled AR glasses to achieve thinner and lighter designs. AR glasses based on Micro LED+ diffractive light waveguide scheme can achieve thinner and lighter, high light transmittance, larger eyebox, higher brightness into the eye, and smaller opto-mechanical volume. This is essential to improve the user's comfort and style.
Advancing full-color display technology:
The key technology of full-color Micro LED AR glasses is gradually breaking through, and large-scale application can be expected in the future. In the past, many AR glasses could only provide monochrome displays due to technical limitations, but the development of full-color Micro LED technology will enable AR glasses to provide a richer and more realistic visual experience.
Reduce Costs and Promote Adoption:
With the maturity of technology and the reduction of costs, Micro LED is expected to be widely used in large-size displays, wearable devices and other fields. The cost reduction will make AR glasses more accessible and promote their popularity in the consumer market.
Diversified optical display technology solutions:
There are various optical display technology solutions for AR glasses, including Micro OLED + Birdbath, Micro LED + freeform surface/diffractive optical waveguide, etc., Micro LED is expected to become the mainstream solution in the future due to its comprehensive performance advantages, with the gradual breakthrough of manufacturing difficulties and cost reduction.
Market Trends and Expectations
According to TrendForce, the revenue of micro LED chips is expected to reach about $39 million in 2024 and grow to $489 million by 2028. With the breakthrough of technology bottlenecks and the maturity of automotive displays and full-color AR glasses solutions, the revenue of Micro LED chips is expected to grow significantly.
Overall, the partnership between Foxconn and Porotech will not only accelerate the application of Micro LED technology in the field of AR glasses, but also bring new opportunities for the development of AR and microdisplay technology around the world. With the mass production plan progressing, we can expect more innovative products with Micro LED technology to appear on the market in the near future.
