“Apple Vision”: This is how Apple wants to make its own cheap headset

The rumor is certain: Apple’s “Vision Products Group” (VPG) is currently focusing on developing a more cost-effective version of the Vision Pro. The “Apple Vision” (without the “Pro”) will appear at a cheaper price with slightly thinner hardware than the current model, which costs at least 4,000 euros in Europe. Now more information about possible component changes has leaked from Asia.

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Larger and lower pixel density

As the Korean business magazine The Elec writes, Apple is particularly interested Large OLED-on-silicon screen panels (OLEDoS), which are larger but have a lower resolution than current micro-OLED 4K screens. Demand is currently shifting in Apple’s supply chain towards Korean suppliers. So far, Sony is the only display manufacturer for the Vision Pro. Now LG Display and Samsung Display are also interesting for Apple, which already wants to be able to manufacture larger OLEDoS screens from 2 to 2.1 inches. The pixel density here is 1700 ppi.

For comparison: the Sony micro-OLEDs that Apple is currently installing are around 3400 ppi at 1.42 inches. These are complex and expensive components that are said to make up a large part of the Vision Pro’s component price. If Apple can get cheaper, yet high-quality panels, it will at least drop the price of its headset by about half.

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How expensive can “Vision” be

There is currently speculation that Apple is planning a similar retail price for the “Vision” as the iPhone Pro Max models. These devices are currently available in Europe at 1,450 euros and up. Apple could also save on internal technology. The Vision Pro now has “only” an M2 chip, which is two generations behind the current Apple Silicon version (M4). Apple could also install it in the “Vision” – then at a cheaper price, as the hardware performs comparatively well – while the later “Vision Pro 2” could be equipped with the M4.

Alternatively, Apple could wait for Samsung Display and LG Display to catch up with Sony. A 1.3-inch 4K screen (LG) and a 1.03-inch RGB-OLED system (Samsung, with eMagin – no color filter required) were recently showcased there.

(B.Sc.)