Samsung’s Foldable Display Tech Could Power Apple’s Lower-Cost Vision Pro Headset

Apple is reportedly in the early stages of developing an affordable version of its Vision Pro mixed reality headset, which launched in the US in April this year at a price of $3,499 (approx Rs 2.95 lakh). While the Vision Pro is not yet available in markets like India, reports indicate that the tech giant aims to expand its reach by creating a budget-friendly alternative that could be released in the coming years.

Apple Vision Pro adapts the light and reflections on 3D models to match the environment, both real and virtual 🤯 pic.twitter.com/OuhlhpgBwq
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) February 15, 2024

The company is considering switching to a different display technology to lower costs. While the current Vision Pro uses high-density OLEDoS panels from Sony, these are too expensive for the budget model. Apple is evaluating alternative display technologies to make the affordable version feasible.

Apple may opt for Samsung’s White OLED with Colour Filter (W-OLED+CF) technology for it. This display system uses a color filter to transform white OLED into vibrant colors, helping reduce costs while maintaining high-quality visuals. However, there’s a challenge. While Apple aims for a lower pixel density for the affordable Vision Pro—1,500ppi compared to the premium model’s 3,391ppi—this is still far higher than typical foldable screens. For reference, the densest display on current Z-foldable devices, like the Galaxy Z Flip6, only reaches 426ppi, which is just a third of what Apple requires.

ALSO SEE: MacBook Air With OLED Screen Rumoured To Be Delayed Until After 2027: Report

Additionally, Apple could replace the silicon backplane from the original Vision Pro with a more affordable glass backplane, though it would be slightly thicker.

The resolution of the new Apple Vision Pro is so ridiculous that you could fit 12 of the original iPhone screens side-by-side, per eye. pic.twitter.com/T5PXwo4ZKu
— Mike Rundle (@flyosity) June 28, 2023

Notably, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the release of this budget-friendly headset may not happen before 2027 due to the lengthy development process and the complexity of the technology involved.

In other news, Apple has filed multiple new patents titled ‘Fabric-based items with stretchable bands,’ one of which details a fabric-based, stretchable band that could enable the Apple Watch to monitor blood pressure, blood sugar, and other health metrics.

ALSO SEE: iQOO 13 India Launch Date Announced in India: Check Expected Specs, Price