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| The Garmin Fenix 8 Pro microLED could still get a successor. |
The dream of a microLED Garmin isn't dead—it's just been delayed. AUO's latest investor call hints at cheaper, thinner panels by 2027.
When Garmin launched the Fenix 8 Pro microLED, it was supposed to be a game-changer. And in some ways, it was—4,500 nits of brightness that made every other smartwatch display look dim by comparison. But the $2,000 price tag, the extra millimeter of thickness, and a battery that lasted just four days with always-on display enabled (versus 15 days for the AMOLED model) told a different story.
So when Garmin quietly decided against putting microLED in the Fenix 9, nobody was really surprised. The Fenix 9 at $999 on Amazon stuck with a tried-and-true AMOLED panel, and the microLED experiment seemed destined for the history books.
But according to AU Optronics (AUO), Garmin's display supplier, microLED for smartwatches is far from finished.
AUO Says MicroLED Smartwatches Are Still in Development
During AUO's Q3 2026 investor conference call in Taipei, chairman Paul Peng made something clear: high-end microLED watches remain under "continuous development with customers." That's customers—plural. Not just Garmin.
According to AUO's official investor conference materials, the company reported quarterly revenue of NT$66.9 billion (down 4.3% year-on-year) with a net loss of NT$2.5 billion. Despite the financial headwinds, AUO is doubling down on microLED.
The company confirmed that a new Gen 4.5 high-resolution microLED production line is scheduled to begin operating in the first half of 2027. This isn't just about capacity—it's about cost. AUO says it's on track to halve microLED production costs every two years, a pledge the company has repeated at every earnings call since the Fenix 8 Pro microLED launched.
If that timeline holds, Garmin could theoretically launch a new microLED model in September 2027—two years after the Fenix 8 Pro microLED debuted—at a significantly lower price point.
The Real Problem Isn't Cost—It's Power
Here's where things get interesting. The5kRunner's analysis of AUO's investor call cuts through the corporate optimism with a pointed observation: cost is a problem, but it isn't the main one.
The Fenix 8 Pro microLED consumed roughly three times the energy of an equivalent AMOLED display. That's largely because AUO's first-generation backplane wasn't optimized for wearable applications. Garmin cut the price twice and still chose a 3,000-nit AMOLED for the Fenix 9 Pro instead.
Apple, Samsung, or anyone else considering a microLED watch needs a panel that uses less power than AMOLED—not just one that costs less. Until AUO delivers that, the next microLED watch is a press release away from being another battery disappointment.
Who Else Is AUO Talking To?
Peng's use of "customers" plural is the most intriguing part of the earnings call. Garmin is the only company that has shipped a microLED watch, and it walked away from the technology after one generation. So who else is AUO working with?
Apple is one possibility. The company cancelled its microLED Apple Watch Ultra project with LG in early 2024, reportedly over cost and yield issues. AUO's 4.5-gen line and its stated cost-reduction targets could reopen that door.
Samsung is another candidate. The company has demonstrated microLED watch prototypes and already ships a wide range of wearables. That said, Samsung typically lags Apple by a year or two in display adoption, so a microLED Galaxy Watch might still be years away.
What's clear is that AUO isn't giving up on microLED wearables. The company expects microLED revenue to grow several-fold within one to two years, and the new production line is a significant vote of confidence.
What This Means for Garmin Fans
If you were hoping for a microLED Fenix 9, you'll have to wait. But the Fenix 9 Pro's AMOLED display is no slouch—3,000 nits is plenty bright for outdoor use, and the 15-day battery life (with always-on display) is exactly what endurance athletes need.
For those who want to experience the current pinnacle of Garmin's lineup, the Fenix 9 is available now on Amazon.
As for microLED? The technology is improving. Costs are falling. Production is scaling. But until AUO solves the power consumption problem, microLED watches will remain a niche experiment—impressive on paper, impractical on your wrist.
The next microLED Garmin might arrive in 2027. Whether it's worth the wait depends entirely on whether AUO can deliver a panel that's not just brighter, but smarter about how it uses energy.