Amazfit is teasing a display upgrade that puts pressure on Garmin – and Apple
Amazfit may be gearing up for its most disruptive outdoor smartwatch yet, with new leaks pointing to a MicroLED-equipped successor to the T-Rex Ultra.
According to recent reports, the device, widely called T-Rex Ultra 2 at the beginning of the leak, may use MicroLED display technology, a type of panel that is still considered rare even at the end of the smartwatch market.
Garmin Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED: stand by me
(Photo credit: Matt Kollat)
If Amazfit brings MicroLED to the low-cost, compact space, the competitive pressure could be immediate.
Garmin watches have built a reputation for being the first to introduce features, from solar charging to advanced training metrics and off-the-grid safety tools, with competitors often following suit at lower prices.
Amazfit has long played that secondary role, rarely leading the way in innovation but consistently undercutting Garmin on price while delivering solid, reliable hardware and software.
MicroLED timing problem
The rumored T-Rex Ultra update also comes at a bad time for Apple.
MicroLED is widely touted as the next big leap for the Apple Watch Ultra line, however reports suggest those plans have been delayed indefinitely.
With Apple effectively sidelined in the MicroLED smartwatch race for now, any credible alternatives could reposition MicroLED as less exclusive (and less premium) than Apple may have intended.
Apple Watch Ultra 3: not MicroLED, but still good
(Photo credit: Matt Kollat)
MicroLED promises higher brightness, better efficiency, and longer life than OLED, making it more attractive for outdoor-oriented watches designed for harsh conditions and extended battery life.
Garmin’s Fenix 8 Pro MicroLED already leans heavily on that narrative, combining the display with a satellite message to bolster its travel-ready credentials.
The leak doesn’t detail the same satellite infrastructure for the upcoming Amazfit wearable, but it doesn’t really need to disrupt the category.
What is Amazfit? it does have a track record of providing rugged, rich watches at prices that make Garmin look aspirational rather than affordable.
When the T-Rex Ultra 3 brings MicroLED without the high-end price tag, the competitive conversation shifts from “who has it first” to “who makes it affordable.”
Nothing has been officially confirmed by Amazfit, and the company has yet to comment on the leak.
However, if the rumors hold true, this could be one of the clearest signs that MicroLED is out of its prime.
[via Notebookcheck]
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