Apple is widely expected to add microLED to Apple Watch Ultra, but a South Korean report suggests its supply chain may not be ready for a launch before 2026.

The Elec reports that high manufacturing costs and production yields remain the main obstacles to mass-producing a microLED Apple Watch Ultra, potentially delaying it beyond 2026.

Apple has reportedly worked on custom microLED technology for nearly a decade. It offers improved brightness, color, dynamic range, viewing angles and efficiency, with images appearing almost painted on the glass.

The current Apple Watch Ultra has a 1.93-inch display, while the proposed microLED model is expected to use a 2.12-inch panel. Manufacturing such a high-density screen remains costly for a device priced at $799. The report’s simulations estimated a 2.12-inch panel at up to $150, around four times the $38 production cost of the existing OLED display.