Google acquired Raxium – a five-year startup that is engaged in MicroLED technology. It can be key in creating a new generation of augmented, virtual and mixed reality headsets. This was announced by Rick Osterloh, chief of Google hardware.

This step proves that Google is on the verge of a major shift in the field of AR. Earlier, the company confirmed that it has acquired an eyewear manufacturer North in 2020 and is hiring engineers to create an augmented reality operating system.

In January, it became known that Google Labs is creating an AR headset called Project Iris. It is run by the same people as Project Starline, a high-definition video chat demo shown last year.

The first time Google bought Raxium was announced last month. At the same time, it was noted that MicroLED technology may be needed to create AR displays that will be more energy efficient than other solutions but will remain color.

Other companies, such as Oppo, Apple, and Vuzix, are also working on the MicroLED technology in the AR headset. At the same time, there is competition with companies that work with augmented reality headsets. Microsoft has already created its HoloLens headset – while Apple, Meta, Snap, and others are investing heavily in their own hardware.

According to the Raxium website, the Super AMOLED screen on a smartphone has a pixel pitch (distance between the center of one pixel and the center of the next) of about 50 microns. At the same time, MicroLED can reduce it to 3.5 microns.