Apple Explores Lower-Resolution Displays for Budget Vision Pro Headset: A Cost-Cutting Move

Apple is reportedly exploring the possibility of using lower-resolution displays for a more affordable version of its Vision Pro spatial computing headset, as indicated by recent reports from DigiTimes and other industry sources.

Apple Looking For Lower-Resolution Displays for Vision Pro Headset

Apple is said to have obtained OLED display samples from Japan Display (JDI) with a pixel density of around 1,500 pixels per inch (PPI), according to The Elec. That’s far fewer than the 3,391 PPI of those current Vision Pro displays, launched earlier this year at $3,500 to start.

Apple could save a lot of money in manufacturing costs by ever-so-slightly reducing the pixel density below that of competitors, and some might argue this would actually improve the viewing experience between displaying UI elements. While early rumors from June indicated that Apple was already requesting display samples from several manufacturers including Samsung Display and LG Display at the time, these reports proposed OLED displays with pixel densities of around 1,700 PPI. This suggests that Apple is thinking about a number of possibilities for its more affordable headset.

Interestingly, the sample from JDI reportedly utilizes glass core substrate (GCS) OLED technology, differing from the OLED-on-Silicon (OLEDoS) displays currently used in the Vision Pro. This change in display technology could further help in reducing costs.

In June, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that a cheaper Vision Pro might be required to connect to an iPhone or Mac for this process to work and Apple would have the processing power and parts needed for a standalone device. Gurman also reported that the prototype of the low-cost headset codenamed N107 and existing now has a narrower field of view than Vision Pro will remove the integrated EyeSight featuring lighter materials.

However, the development of this device appears to be in its early stages, with DigiTimes suggesting that mass production could take two to three years. This timeline is significantly longer than earlier predictions of a potential launch in late 2025. In the interim, competition among display manufacturers to secure Apple’s orders is expected to heat up, with companies from South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan all competing for this potentially lucrative contract.

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