Apple's Affordable VisionPro May Use Samsung Display, Release Delayed to After 2027

Apple's Affordable VisionPro May Use Samsung Display, Release Delayed to After 2027According to TheElec, Apple is looking for a more suitable display technology for its affordable Apple VisionPro, pushing back the release date to after 2027. Currently, VisionPro uses Sony's high-end silicon-based OLED (OLEDoS) panels, boasting a pixel density of up to 3391ppi, delivering an exceptional visual experience for users

Apple's Affordable VisionPro May Use Samsung Display, Release Delayed to After 2027

According to TheElec, Apple is looking for a more suitable display technology for its affordable Apple VisionPro, pushing back the release date to after 2027. Currently, VisionPro uses Sony's high-end silicon-based OLED (OLEDoS) panels, boasting a pixel density of up to 3391ppi, delivering an exceptional visual experience for users. However, this costly display technology is not feasible for a more affordable headset.

To achieve its price goals, Apple is considering two different display technologies. One is W-OLED+CF, which refers to a white OLED panel with a color filter. Unlike OLEDoS, W-OLED+CF is fabricated on a glass substrate rather than a silicon substrate. This technology offers two ways to build the color filter. One is the traditional approach of building the filter on a second glass sheet, which, while mature, adds an extra glass layer, increasing the thickness. Apple leans toward using a thin-film encapsulation (TFE) on the first glass to build the color filter to reduce the thickness.

Samsung is currently using this technology to manufacture screens for its foldable phones, making it a strong contender for the affordable Vision headset's display supplier. While its pixel density is expected to be less than half that of the high-end VisionPro (1500ppi vs 3391ppi), it's still significantly higher than the typical density found in foldable displays. Currently, the highest pixel density on a Samsung phone display is the Galaxy Z Flip6, with 426ppi, only about one-third of the desired density. It's worth noting that even 1500ppi is considered excessive for mobile devices, with over 400ppi being sufficient (flagship models generally have around 500ppi). This means Samsung Display will need to develop panels with a higher density for XR headsets.

Of course, the dual-glass solution hasn't been completely ruled out. Apple is still exploring the best options to ensure its affordable VisionPro offers a compelling visual experience while maintaining its price advantage. The final choice of technology, as well as the final release date, will depend on Apple's final decision.