Chip On Board (COB) vs. Matrix Integrated Package (MIP): A Look at MicroLED’s Future

Posted by

02/20/2025

On 02/19/2025

— Interview with Huang Yuanting, Marketing Manager of Xinying Optoelectronics Co., Ltd.
By Wang Xiaolei, LED Display World

This year, the LED display industry faces new challenges as the domestic market becomes increasingly competitive. With the development of Mini/MicroLED technologies, traditional LED packaging companies are experiencing a market transformation. Currently, packaging technologies like COB and MIP have captured widespread attention, but what does the future hold for these technologies? How will LED packaging companies respond? To explore these questions, LED Display World Magazine invited Huang Yuanting, Marketing Manager of Xinying Optoelectronics Co., Ltd. (hereafter “Xinying Optoelectronics”), to discuss the company’s development approach and future plans.

Table of Contents

COB and MIP: Competing Strengths, Coexisting in the MicroLED Market

Huang Yuanting believes that both COB and MIP have their respective advantages. The future of micro-pitch displays will depend on the maturity of these technologies and the availability of supporting resources. As pixel pitch continues to shrink, especially below P1, MIP’s technical and cost advantages will become more apparent. However, Huang emphasized that the market is dynamic, and the optimal solution will evolve with market conditions.

“In the micro-pitch LED market, I believe both technologies will coexist. But as pixel pitch continues to decrease, MIP will likely have the edge,” Huang stated.

When choosing between COB and MIP packaging technologies, Xinying Optoelectronics considers key factors like product adaptability and the development cycle of the technologies. The company has built deep expertise and continued innovation in the Mini/MicroLED space, continuously launching competitive MIP products. One notable product, the XT-CMB0202-T, has gained widespread attention for its excellent display quality, high contrast ratio, slim design, and strong adaptability. Furthermore, the new generation A-MiP product integrates AMIC and RGB MicroLED into the same LED chip. This design features smaller chips and combines active drive technology to address issues with traditional passive drive, such as the “caterpillar effect,” low gray levels, and flickering, providing superior visual comfort and display quality.

Three Product Series to Meet Diverse Market Needs

Huang shared that Xinying Optoelectronics offers three main product series: GF, SY, and XF. The company’s products span MicroLED devices, indoor, outdoor, and small-pitch displays. Xinying’s solutions have already been featured in high-profile events such as the Paris Olympics, the Pompidou Center outdoor screen, Andy Lau’s concert tour, and the Bahrain Arab International Cybersecurity Conference & Exhibition.

GF Series: This high-end product line is made from carefully selected top-quality imported materials, with optimized processes and craftsmanship to create the most stable and reliable displays in the industry. These products have a lifespan of over five years.
SY Series: Utilizes industry-leading mature technologies, refined process control, and high-quality materials, offering excellent stability and display performance.
XF Series: Offers the best value for money, delivering HD-quality display performance with high versatility. These products provide top performance at competitive prices, making them ideal for rental applications, outdoor advertising, sports events, security monitoring, and commercial displays.

Focusing on the High-End Rental Market and the Future of MicroLED

In recent years, competition in the LED packaging industry has intensified. Huang identified four major challenges facing the industry:

Overall overcapacity in the market.
Escalating price wars.
Global economic downturn leading to lower demand.
A decreasing number of profitable companies, as the industry requires heavy investments with low returns.
To navigate these challenges, Xinying Optoelectronics has taken several proactive measures:

Maintaining a clear market position.
Focusing on customer needs and delivering effective solutions that add value.
Continuing investments in MicroLED technology.
Huang expressed confidence in the high-end overseas market, with the company experiencing annual business growth of around 20%. Going forward, Xinying Optoelectronics plans to expand its international market presence by participating in global trade shows like ISE and InfoComm, as well as increasing efforts in online marketing and social media outreach. The company’s overseas rental sector currently makes up a significant portion of its business, while the fixed-installation market is also rapidly growing.

Huang emphasized that future market demands will gradually shift from small-pitch displays to Mini and MicroLED technologies. Indoor displays are becoming more homogenized, driving the need for innovation, while outdoor displays will increasingly prioritize low power consumption. To address these trends, Xinying Optoelectronics is focusing on MicroLED for outdoor displays and prioritizing energy-efficient, high-brightness solutions for indoor displays.

About Xinying Optoelectronics

Xinying Optoelectronics Co., Ltd., founded in April 2021, is located in the heart of the Wuhan New City High-Tech Park, covering approximately 312 acres (200,000 square meters) with a total investment of 40 billion RMB. The company specializes in the research, development, manufacturing, and sales of Mini and MicroOLED display devices. With a highly experienced professional team and world-class automated production equipment, Xinying Optoelectronics is committed to developing the most advanced display packaging technologies and aims to become the global leader in Mini and MicroOLED packaging solutions.