Apple Vision Pro was launched earlier this year as the company’s first mixed reality (MR) headset with a price tag of $3,499 (roughly Rs. 2,92,900). Although it is a premium device that is available in a handful of countries, according to previous reports, the iPhone maker is working on developing a cheaper Vision headset that could be introduced in the coming years. To cut costs when developing its next spatial computer, Apple is reportedly exploring the use of lower resolution OLED displays.
Apple’s cheaper Vision headsets may have lower resolution displays
Elec reports (in Korean) that Apple recently received a sample of OLED panels from Japan Display Inc. (JDI) that are designed to be used in MR headsets. It is said to use a cheaper component instead of OLED-on-silicon (OLEDoS) for the panel board, which means it could have 1,500ppi resolution.
This is significantly less than the resolution of the display on the first generation Apple Vision Pro – 3,391ppi. Citing industry sources, the publication also says the sample being reviewed by the iPhone maker also uses technology from Sony, Apple’s primary supplier for 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 1,700ppi. This suggests that the display size 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 was said to have approached two other suppliers – LG and Samsung – for information related to these microdisplays. At present it is not clear whether Apple has received a response to the Request for Information (RFI) from both the companies.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously claimed that Apple is still working on expanding its Vision mixed reality device lineup, and that the company may launch two new devices. According to the journalist, the cheapest of these will come in 2025. However, if the information shared by The Elec is accurate, the cheaper MR headset may not be launched for the next few years.
