Fraunhofer Institute Develops Full-Color RGBW Microdisplays

Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS have developed a full-color OLED microdisplay based on a 28 nm CMOS process, which is highly efficient and features the smallest pixels. 

These advanced displays are specifically designed for near-to-eye visualization and projection, unlocking numerous innovative applications.

The new microdisplays are ideally suited for use in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality glasses. Thanks to their high resolution and efficiency, they are also perfect for portable devices and applications that require superior image quality with a small form factor microdisplay.

The displays are manufactured using a 28 nm CMOS process. The flexible backplane architecture combines frame-based (for continuous updates) and memory-based (for static content). 

Full-color RGBW pixels are created by an integrated White Calculation Block in the backplane, which calculates the white subpixel from standard RGB image data. The extremely small subpixel size of 2.52 × 2.52 µm² enables exceptionally high pixel densities of up to 5040 PPI.

“Compared to conventional microdisplays, the new solution offers significantly lower power consumption, and ultra-high resolution. The flexible driving modes allow both rapid video playback and extremely energy-efficient display of static images, making the displays ideal for battery-powered, lightweight devices with extended runtime,” said, Philipp Wartenberg, Head of Department IC & System Design at Fraunhofer IPMS.

The display was presented at Eurodisplay 2026, taking place from September 22 to 24, 2026, in Dublin, Ireland.