A micro-LED driver applies a low baseline power (i.e., a baseline voltage or current) to pre-charge a micro-LED in a nominally-off (i.e., non-light-emitting) state in addition to applying an operating driving power to drive the micro-LED in a light-emitting state. By pre-charging the micro-LED prior to applying the operating driving power, the micro-LED driver significantly decreases the time between application of the operating driving power and onset of emission of light from the micro-LED. In some embodiments, the micro-LED driver applies an operating driving power having multiple phases of current density to reduce the time between application of the operating driving power and onset of emission of light from the micro-LED.