Cheaper Apple Vision Headset May Feature Larger, Lower-Resolution Displays

Apple is exploring the development of a more affordable headset than the Vision Pro, potentially using larger, lower-resolution displays. According to Korean publication The Elec, Apple is seeking new suppliers for OLED-on-Silicon (OLEDoS) panels.

The website reports a change in Apple's supply chain management for OLEDoS panels, a key component of the Vision Pro. Sony currently supplies the high-resolution microdisplays, but its limited production capacity - up to 900.000 panels annually - and lack of expansion plans have prompted Apple to look for alternatives. Apple has reportedly requested information from Samsung Display and LG Display about producing larger OLEDoS panels, measuring 2,0 to 2,1 inches, with a density of around 1.700 pixels per inch (PPI).

These displays would be larger than those in the Vision Pro and have a lower resolution. The Vision Pro uses Sony OLEDoS panels with 1,42-inch displays and a pixel density of nearly 3.400 PPI, using wOLED+CF technology. This advanced display technology contributes significantly to the headset's high cost.

At Displayweek 2024, both Samsung and LG showcased advances in OLED microdisplay technology that could interest Apple. Samsung unveiled a 1,03-inch RGB (direct-emission) OLED microdisplay in collaboration with eMagin, offering higher brightness than the wOLED+CF method. LG showcased a 1,3-inch 4K OLED microdisplay with a brightness of 10.000 nits, using MLA technology to increase brightness by 40%.

Apple's interest in larger OLEDoS panels with a lower resolution than those used in the Vision Pro suggests that they may be intended for a new, lower-cost mixed reality headset. Apple is rumoured to have been working on such a device for more than a year, and the latest reports suggest it may be designed to connect to an iPhone or Mac, eliminating the need for an expensive processor.

The low-cost Apple Vision headset could launch as early as the end of next year.