BOE Achieved Milestone of Double 5K for 0.9-inch OLEDoS
AR Supply Chain
EV Group
Porotech
Polar Light Technologies AB(PLT)
Q Pixel
Micledi Microdisplays
VueReal
JBD
Hongshi
Raysolve
Giga-Image
GIS/JorJin
Himax
Meta
Google
Snap
KTH
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TrendForce, "2025 Near-Eye Display Market Trend and Technology Analysis" observes that the near-eye display device market is expected to remain subdued in the short term, with global shipments protected at 6.2 million units in 2025. Meta's Quest 3s has underperformed expectations, with shipments forecast to decline to 5.6 million units in 2025. In contrast, AR devices are showing stronger short-term momentum. Driven by new AI+AR products and falling OLEDoS costs, shipments are expected to reach 600,000 units in 2025. Over the medium to long term, ongoing VR/MR product development by major players such as Meta and Apple will help strengthen the ecosystem. On the other hand, strong demand in notification-type AR devices and the rise of high-end full-color AR products are set to fuel long-term growth, with global NED devices shipment forecast to surge to 46.5 million units by 2030.
Outlook on AR Display Technology
Choices regarding AR display technology reflect brand strategies and market trends. In the near term, OLEDoS will remain dominant in China due to cost advantages, though TrendForce notes it faces rising competition from other display technologies. LCoS is expected to gain market traction with adoption by Meta, while growth in notification-type AR glasses using single-color LEDoS is also driving LEDoS penetration.
Over the long term, AR devices will increasingly demand higher computing power, longer battery life, and enhanced display performance-particularly with the integration of AI. Global brands are leaning toward high-spec full-color LEDoS technology. As costs decline and performance improves, TrendForce forecasts shipments of AR devices equipped with full-color LEDoS to reach 20.9 million units by 2030, accounting for 65% penetration.
Waveguide Process and SiC Alliance Analysis
In AR optical engines, waveguide technology remains a critical differentiator. While diffractive waveguides are the current mainstream, efficiency improvements are still needed.
Two primary process technologies dominate waveguide manufacturing:
Nanoimprint lithography (NIL): Suited for early-stage small-batch development due to lower mother mold costs and adaptability to complex nanostructure design.
Photolithography (PL): Better for mass production, with higher throughput, longer mask lifetimes, and direct processing capability for high-refractive-index SiC materials.
TrendForce observes a growing number of Chinese SiC suppliers forming alliances with waveguide makers. SiC's high refractive index makes it a highly promising material. Currently, Chinese SiC substrates are mainly 4- and 6-inch, but cost efficiency is driving a shift to larger sizes. By 2030, shipments of 8-inch SiC wafers are expected to exceed 20%, with 12-inch development on the horizon. This will further accelerate the adoption of PL technology.
AR Brand Strategies and Specification Trends
As AR optical engine modules shrink, specifications are converging and limiting differentiation. CMOS substrate sizes and designs are trending toward standardization to manage costs. Currently, most LEDoS and LCoS panels range from 0.13-0.18 inches, with pixel densities exceeding 5,500 PPI. LEDoS resolutions typically range 640x480 to 720x720, while LCoS panels generally sit at 720x720. This has pushed brands to pursue distinct strategic directions.
Xreal is focused on display technology and algorithms to expand FOV and enhance computing performance, and RayNeo is strengthening its OLEDoS + Birdbath solution for media consumption while advancing full-color LEDoS + waveguide AR glasses. Meanwhile, INMO is prioritizing all-in-one AI-driven AR terminals and Meta plans to build a full product lineup and invest heavily in AI capabilities to counter Apple's future market entry.
This trend highlights a shift in the AR market from hardware-only competition to a more integrated hardware-software ecosystem.