Does anyone need a screen that lights on their wrist? That was my thought when I saw Samsung Display's micro LED smartwatch concept CES 2025. I wasn't allowed to touch or interact with the watch concept, but I didn't have to to understand why it was special. Even when looking at it from a distance, I could see how incredibly bright the screen was compared to a standard smartwatch, making the Las Vegas glowing sphere and street lights displayed on the watch screen really pop.
The screen uses Micro LEDa type of display technology that uses a bunch of tiny LEDs to display images, often resulting in better brightness. Samsung and other companies are already using the technology in theirs televisionsbut the technology has yet to make its way to suitable for wearing. However, Apple was previously rumored to be working on micro LED displays for the Apple Watch, but has since abandoned that initiative, according to Bloomberg.
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The watch I saw at the Samsung Display booth is just a concept, so there's no telling if it will actually arrive in a future product. Samsung Display and Samsung Electronics are separate entities; the former is a display supplier, while the latter is a consumer technology company. So just because Samsung Display has developed new display technologies doesn't necessarily mean they will arrive in new products, as many of these advanced display types are typically expensive to produce at scale.
But back to the brightness of the Samsung Display concept watch.
A poster near the watch shows that its brightness is below 4,000 nits maximum, compared to the 3,000 nit screen on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the 2,000 nit screen on the Pixel Watch 3. However, it was so bright that certain parts of the image looked a little washed out .
Samsung Display isn't the only company exploring micro LED wearables. Taiwan-based display manufacturer AUO is also mentioning micro LED displays for wearables website.
It also begs the question of why such a bright display would be useful on the wrist, if at all. If Samsung ever incorporates this technology in the future Galaxy watch — and that's a big if — I could see how it would make sense in a Pro or Ultra model designed for outdoor use. That bright display would be easy to spot in direct sunlight, and could also allow the watch to function as a better flashlight in dark environments. In addition, it may have more surprising or useful uses.
I'd also wonder if that level of brightness would drain the battery faster and how much darker an ultra-bright watch might get, especially if you're wearing it while you sleep.
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While we don't yet know if a micro LED smartwatch is on the horizon, the Samsung Display concept provides a glimpse of what's possible from a technical standpoint. That may point to what we may see down the line as technologies become cheaper and easier to mass produce.
If Samsung's smartwatch concept is any indication of what's to come, the future of smartwatches could be very bright indeed.
For more than CES 2025check it out the most innovative products from the show that you can actually buy now.