Apple is exploring new suppliers for OLED-on-Silicon (OLEDoS) panels, potentially signaling the development of a more affordable mixed reality headset.
According to The Elec, Apple is shifting its supply chain strategy due to Sony's limited production capacity. Sony, which currently provides the high-resolution microdisplays for the Vision Pro headset, can only produce up to 900,000 panels per year and has no plans to expand.
To address this limitation, Apple has issued requests for information (RFI) to Samsung Display and LG Display to evaluate their ability to produce larger OLEDoS panels. Apple is interested in panels ranging from 2.0 to 2.1 inches with a pixel density of approximately 1,700 pixels per inch (PPI). This would be a departure from the Vision Pro's use of Sony’s 1.42-inch panels, which have a pixel density of nearly 3,400 PPI and utilize advanced white OLED with color filter (wOLED+CF) technology.
Samsung and LG showcased significant advancements in OLED microdisplay technology that could attract Apple’s interest. Samsung, in collaboration with eMagin, presented a 1.03-inch RGB OLED microdisplay, which offers higher brightness levels compared to the wOLED+CF method. LG, on the other hand, introduced a 1.3-inch 4K OLED microdisplay with a micro lens array (MLA) that enhances brightness by about 40 percent, reaching 10,000 nits.
Rumors have circulated for over a year about Apple developing a cheaper alternative to Vision Pro, which might connect to an iPhone or Mac to reduce costs by eliminating the need for an expensive processor. This more affordable Vision Pro headset could potentially be launched by the end of next year.
