Samsung’s MicroLED watch display lights up CES 2025
Samsung is turning heads at CES 2025 by showing off a MicroLED display for wearables. This new display can hit a whopping 4,000 nits of brightness, easily outshining devices like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at 3,000 nits and the Pixel Watch 3 at 2,000 nits. If you’ve ever squinted at your watch screen on a sunny day, you’ll appreciate why this is a big deal.
But this isn’t just about brighter screens. Micro LED technology is known for being more energy-efficient and durable compared to the usual AMOLED or OLED displays. That means a watch with this kind of screen could last longer on a charge and avoid issues like burn-in, which can plague current displays over time.
Bringing TV tech to your wrist
Micro LED displays have been around for a while, but they’ve mostly been reserved for high-end TVs. Shrinking this tech down to smartwatch size isn’t a simple feat. And it’s not just about making it smaller—it also has to work efficiently and hold up to everyday wear and tear. Samsung’s been at it since 2023, aiming to bring Micro LED to wearables, but getting these displays into actual products is proving tricky.
The prototype watch at CES features a 2.1-inch display with a resolution of 418 x 540 pixels and a pixel density of 326ppi. More notably, it’s 33% brighter than the OLED screen on the Galaxy Watch Ultra, making it ideal for outdoor use. The device itself was created by Samsung Display, the division focused on screen technology. However, it will ultimately be up to Samsung Electronics, the team behind Galaxy products, to decide when and how this innovation will be integrated into smartwatches. At this point, no specific timeline has been announced.
What about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2?
Naturally, the buzz around this Micro LED prototype has people wondering if it’ll show up in the next Galaxy Watch Ultra. The current Ultra already has a solid AMOLED screen with 3,000 nits of brightness. Swapping that out for a Micro LED display with 4,000 nits could take things up a notch.
That said, this kind of upgrade doesn’t come cheap. Micro LED displays are still expensive to produce, and Samsung may not be ready to roll them out just yet. While it’s nice to imagine the Ultra 2 with this kind of tech, it’s probably safer to assume we’ll be waiting a bit longer.
A promising but tricky path forward
Samsung isn’t the only player in the Micro LED space. AUO has already started producing wearable Micro LED displays, and companies like Tag Heuer are reportedly working on smartwatches using this technology. Meanwhile, Apple shelved a major Micro LED project last year, though rumors suggest they might still be tinkering with it.
It’s clear that many companies see the potential here. But making it affordable and reliable for everyday use is the sticking point.
Samsung’s prototype is exciting, but it’s still very much a work in progress. For now, it’s more of a “watch this space” situation.
Another name in the game is Garmin. And they might actually beat everyone else to the punch. Rumors point to a Fenix 8 MicroLED in the near future. If Garmin gets there first, they’ll set a high bar for other brands to follow.
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