Apple’s cheaper Vision headset could have lower-resolution OLED displays
Apple Vision Pro was launched earlier this year as the company’s first mixed reality (MR) headset, with a price tag of $3,499 (approximately Rs. 2,92,900). While it is a premium device available in a handful of countries, the iPhone maker has been working on developing a cheaper Vision headset that could be unveiled in the coming years, as per previous reports. In a bid to save costs in developing its next spatial computer, Apple is reportedly exploring the use of lower-resolution OLED displays.
Apple’s cheaper Vision headset could have lower-resolution displays
The Elec reports (in Korean) that Apple recently received an OLED panel sample from Japan Display Inc. (JDI) that is designed for use in MR headsets. This panel is said to use a cheaper component instead of OLED-on-Silicon (OLEDoS) for the board, meaning it could have a resolution of 1,500 ppi.
This is significantly lower than the resolution of the displays on the first-generation Apple Vision Pro — 3,391 ppi. Citing industry sources, the publication also says that the unit reviewed by the iPhone maker also uses technology from Sony, Apple’s primary supplier for the Vision Pro panels.
In July, it was reported that Apple was planning to equip its next Vision headset with a 2.1-inch OLEDoS display with a resolution of 1,700 ppi. This suggests that the size of the displays on the more affordable MR headset will be larger than the first-generation Vision Pro, which has a much higher resolution.
At the time, Apple reportedly reached out to two other suppliers — LG and Samsung — for information about these microdisplays. It is currently unclear whether Apple has received a response to the request for information (RFI) from either company.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously claimed that Apple was still expanding its Vision mixed reality device line, and that the company could launch two new devices. The least expensive of these, according to the journalist, will be released in 2025. However, if the information shared by The Elec is correct, the cheaper MR headset may not be released for a few years.
