On June 18, The Information posted a report titled “Apple Suspends work on the next Vision Pro, Focused on releasing a cheaper model in late 2025.” Today, a new supply chain supports that position of a less expensive Vision-related device is in the works.

The Elec reports today that “Apple is likely to develop a mass-market mixed reality (MR) device with a pixel density of 1500PPI (Pixels Per Inch). The pixel density is lower than that of Apple’s first MR device, Vision Pro, which was released earlier this year, at 3391PPI, which could lower manufacturing costs. Japan’s JDI and Samsung Display are expected to participate in the development of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) for MR devices with around1500PPI.

According to industry sources it has been discovered that JDI recently sent OLED samples to Apple for an MR device based on glass substrates at a 1500PPI level. It is known that the samples sent by JDI also used Sony technology.

Compared to the RFI (Request For Information) that Apple sent to Samsung Display and others in the first half of the year for the development of OLEDOS (OLED on Silicon) at the 1700 PPI level, the 1500 PPI OLED sample that JDI sent to Apple has a slightly lower pixel density.

Further, the sample that JDI sent to Apple is not the silicon substrate-based OLEDOS that Apple originally requested, but an OLED product based on a glass substrate. It is known that the pixel density is currently limited to 1500 PPI when depositing OLED on a glass substrate.

The Vision Pro, which Apple unveiled in June of last year and released early this year, used an Oledos display with a pixel density of 3391 PPI. However, the Vision Pro’s basic model costs $3500 (about 4.7 million won) and its sales are falling short of expectations due to insufficient content.

Samsung Display is expected to develop a glass substrate-based OLED at the 1500PPI level in their A2 line. Samsung Display is known to have recently discussed with several partners regarding the development of glass substrate-based OLED for MR devices.” In context, the current high-end iPhone 16 Pro has OLED pixel density at 460 PPI.  

The timing of mass production of the new headset could take 2-3 or more years from now – much longer than the prediction made in The Information’s report.

For more, read the full report by The Elec.