TCL CSOT has unveiled a 0.28-inch micro-LED panel with "retina-grade" picture quality, aimed at future AR glasses and headsets.
Unlike the larger 1.3–1.4-inch panels used in devices like Apple Vision Pro or Samsung Galaxy XR, this micro-LED is intended for glasses or headsets that sit much closer to the eye.
At TCL CSOT's annual DTC conference, the 0.28-inch micro-LED display was specified with a 1280x720 resolution, 5131 PPI and over 500,000 nits of brightness, though only a fraction of that brightness will reach the eye after passing through a light guide.
The tiny 0.28" 5131ppi micro-LED. Photo: TCL CSOTWhen, where?
Following the lackluster launch of Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses that use older, low-resolution LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon) panels at just 600x600 pixels, TCL CSOT's micro-LED could pave the way for a new class of display glasses – potentially AR glasses in the future.
TCL CSOT supplies display panels to consumer products from brands like TCL, Samsung, Sony, LG and Xiaomi.
FlatpanelsHD asked TCL CSOT about the possibilities. You can read the answer below. No word on the timeframe for market introduction, though.
FlatpanelsHD: Regarding the 0.28" micro-LED: This is very impressive pixel density. Is there any timeframe for market introduction and when could it potentially compete on price and picture quality with micro-OLED in consumer VR/AR headsets?
Ming-Jong Jou, Chief of the Technology Planning Center at TCL CSOT: "What we can share is that to support ultra-high-definition AR/VR applications, TCL CSOT has launched the World's Highest-Res Single-Chip Full-Color Si-Micro LED Display (0.28"). Built on a silicon substrate, this ultra-compact 0.28-inch display achieves a resolution of 1280×720 and an exceptional pixel density of 5131PPI. The result is a highly detailed and lifelike visual experience, virtually eliminating any pixelation.
This display's self-emissive nature delivers high brightness, high contrast, and a wide color gamut, enabling a "retina-grade" viewing experience for near-eye applications such as AR glasses and ultra-slim VR devices. With its advantages in miniaturization, ultra-high resolution, and low power consumption, this product sets a new benchmark for next-generation lightweight, high-performance displays."
