Apple’s lower-end Vision Pro headset may use lower-resolution displays to help bring down the price point.
Apple is reported to be investigating the use of lower-resolution displays for a more budget-friendly version of its Vision Pro wearable headset.
Per DigiTimes and other industry sources, Apple has received OLED display samples from Japan Display (JDI) with a pixel density of around 1,500 pixels per inch (PPI), claims The Elec. This is significantly lower than the 3,391 PPI displays used in the current Vision Pro, which launched earlier this year starting from $3,500.
By reducing the pixel density, Apple could appreciably cut the manufacturing costs involved. The reports go back to June, wherein Apple is said to have sent out requests for information (RFIs) to a number of display manufacturers, including Samsung Display and LG display. These RFIs have reportedly asked for OLED displays with pixel densities around 1,700 PPI, suggesting Apple is exploring multiple options for its cheaper headset.
A sample provided by manufacturer JDI is said to use a glass core substrate OLED technology, as opposed to the OLED-on-Silicon (OLEDoS) displays currently used in the Vision Pro. This shift in display technology could further contribute to a cost reduction.
It’s thought that the development of the lower-end device is at an early stage, and DigiTimes has suggested it could take two to three years before it enters mass production. In the meantime, competition among display manufacturers to secure Apple’s orders is expected to intensify, with companies from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan all vying for a piece of the potentially lucrative contract.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.