Search giant Google is acquiring a five-year-old startup called Raxium, specializing in Micro LED technology associated with augmented reality and mixed reality displays. The acquisition indeed hints towards a Google Glass return, featuring enhanced display technology.

Raxium focuses on Micro LED technology that can drastically improve the quality of displays. Its website highlights information about its highly-efficient Micro LEDs featuring roughly 3.5 microns per pixel with millions of nits of brightness.

Micro LEDs offer several of the advantages offered by OLED, but eliminate quite a few of its shortcomings, such as burn-in. Moreover, the small proportions make them ideal for close-up displays for head-mounted devices. It can mitigate the ‘screen door effect’ that emerges when a viewer can see the gaps between pixels.

Nevertheless, the objective behind the acquisition hasn’t been disclosed by Google. The majority of the AR devices do not actually use a conventional display. Instead, they feature projection and advanced optics that reflect a display on an otherwise transparent lens. Oppo’s Air Glass and Focals by North use these kinds of displays. Nevertheless, Micro LED displays could also be used for this purpose.

Google has made significant progress in the AR domain with its highly-anticipated Project Iris. However, there is already plenty of competition in the market. Microsoft has its HoloLens, and Meta has made its ambitions clear in the space.

Apple had also acquired a Micro LED display maker back in 2014. However, the technology is more likely to feature in its primary offerings instead of within AR glasses.

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