2024 marks the beginning of a revolutionary shift for Micro LED technology as MiP (Micro-LED-in-Package) emerges as the pivotal technology to bring cost-effective Micro LED displays to the market. While the industry has long recognized the potential of LED displays for large-scale applications, reducing costs has been an elusive goal. Experts describe 2024 as the “Year of MiP”, with MiP set to redefine Micro LED’s growth trajectory by making cost a central focus, though significant steps remain before achieving truly low-cost solutions.
Industry Giants Drive MiP Micro LED Adoption
In early August, Absen, a global leader in LED displays, hosted a Micro LED product launch unveiling its latest MiP technology. The MiP displays employ micro-scale LED chips, about one-tenth the size of traditional LED chips, significantly increasing the black area to 99.3% and theoretically lowering material costs by over 30%. The technology also integrates HTB packaging, and nano-coating, and offers a wide 180° viewing angle, 99% brightness uniformity, full DCI-P3 color coverage, and a high contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1.
Absen’s foray into MiP builds on a legacy of Micro LED technology that dates back to 2016. The company has continually advanced in core areas like chip technology, mass transfer & bonding, packaging, drive systems, precision mechanical control, calibration, control systems, and testing & repair processes. This development brings Micro LED from concept to product and opens the door to new directions in display applications.
Unilumin Leads with Largest MiP Product Line
In October, Unilumin celebrated its 20th anniversary with the launch of the largest MiP product series in the market, including Galaxy, Starlight, Star Diamond, Nova, and Star Spark models. These MiP products cover a broad range of pixel pitches, from P0.7 to P3.9, catering to both ultra-fine and larger pitch applications. This extensive line underscores the adaptability of MiP technology in small and micro-pitch segments, making it a promising addition to the LED display sector.
Unilumin’s MiP innovation includes groundbreaking advances in micro-device packaging and mass transfer technology, achieving Micro LED chips at a 30μm x 50μm scale with substrate-free 0202 packaging (0.2mm x 0.2mm). The company’s new devices support various configurations, including PM+PCB and AM+Glass, and offer seamless compatibility with COB (Chip on Board) packaging. The addition of 0404 MiP devices enhances Unilumin’s ability to support both COB and MiP solutions, ensuring a streamlined path from Mini LED to Micro LED.
MiP vs. COB: A Cost Battle Unfolds
As MiP technology accelerates the adoption of Micro LED displays, it has intensified competition with COB (Chip on Board) technology. Experts attribute the steep price reductions in COB products—up to a 50% drop in late 2023—to industry efforts to maintain market relevance amid MiP’s advances.
Currently, most COB displays utilize Mini LED chips, with a few using Micro LED or MiP-encased chips. This has sparked a competitive landscape focused on cost efficiency, reliability, and structural durability. As MiP technology becomes widely adopted, especially for larger pixel pitches, it must also contend with SMD technology in terms of cost-effectiveness.
The significant price cuts in COB technology and the established low-cost SMD processes present immediate challenges for MiP displays. However, industry experts expect MiP production costs to decrease over time, leading to a redefined competitive landscape.
Balancing Scale and Cost: A Market of Incremental Upgrades
The potential for MiP technology goes beyond cost savings. With micro-scale LED chips—only a tenth the size of traditional ones—MiP enables ten times more pixel capacity per wafer, paving the way for large-scale production. While MiP adoption increases, upstream Micro LED chip suppliers face the challenge of scaling production to meet demand, as high initial prices dampen uptake. Industry leaders like Sanan have adjusted production plans, anticipating that cost reductions in MiP displays will expand the market.
High-End Applications Fuel MiP’s Target Market
By 2028, MiP’s share in the MLED display market is expected to surpass 35%, up from 4% in 2024. The continued demand for finer-pitch displays, especially under P1.0, drives growth in emerging applications. In the first half of 2024, Micro LED displays under P1.0 in China saw a 99.3% increase in sales area year-over-year, capturing 2.3% of the small-pitch LED market and 10.9% of total sales.
The appeal of MiP-Micro LED displays is clear: higher resolutions, new applications, and lower costs promise to unlock new market potential. Major LED players are set to expand into sectors like TV, IT, and automotive displays, aiming to capitalize on MiP’s unique benefits. In sum, 2024 signals a strong market consensus in favor of MiP-Micro LED, with the industry poised for further advancements as 0101 MiP and 20×40µm Micro LED chips are expected to enter production by 2025-2026.
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