What you should know
- The original Vision Pro spatial computer by Apple, priced at $3,499, is set to be released in early 2022, while the second-generation mixed reality headset is rumored to be released in 2027.
- The second-generation Vision Pro is expected to use a more advanced RGB OLEDoS display, which is brighter and more efficient than the WOLED display used on the original Vision Pro. Samsung Display is currently the only company capable of delivering these displays.
- Apple is reportedly planning to replace Sony with Samsung as the supplier of the spatial computer’s display for the Vision Pro 2, due to Sony’s limited production capabilities and low yield rate.
- Apple has also been rumored to be working on a more affordable version of the Vision Pro, with some features removed to reduce the price. However, it is currently unclear whether this project is actually underway.
Full Story
So, here’s the scoop. Omdia, a market research firm, has been quoted by The Elec and MacRumors. They’ve got some inside info about the Vision Pro 2. Yep, you heard right, Vision Pro 2. The first Vision Pro hasn’t even hit the market yet. We’re talking a $3,499 spatial computer that won’t be out until January or February. But wait, there’s more.
Apple has already jumped onto the next big thing. They’re working on the second-gen mixed reality headset. Word on the street is, it’s set to launch in 2027.
Now, let’s talk tech. The second-gen Vision Pro is rumored to sport a more advanced RGB OLEDoS display. Omdia says it’s brighter and more efficient than the WOLED display used on the OG Vision Pro. The latter needs an RGB color filter, you see.
And guess who’s the only company that can deliver these RGB OLEDoS displays? Samsung Display. They’ve got a new unit that’s currently manufacturing these panels for military use.
Apple is looking to up its game with the Vision Pro 2’s display. They’re reportedly considering replacing Sony with Samsung as the supplier. Sony’s production for the Vision Pro display isn’t exactly top-notch, with a yield rate of less than 50%.
So, there’s a good chance Apple will upgrade the display for the second-gen Vision Pro. The RGB OLEDoS panel could give the product’s battery life a boost.
Here’s a quick 101 on RGB OLEDoS displays. They use Red, Green, and Blue OLED on silicon. They don’t need a color filter like the WOLED displays. They draw light and color from RGB sub-pixels using a single layer. WOLED screens, on the other hand, apply a color filter to a White Organic Light Emitting Diode. The absence of a color filter is what makes RGB OLEDoS displays brighter than WOLED and color filter OLEDoS displays.
There’s also been chatter about Apple working on a more affordable version of the Vision Pro. They might remove some features to make this spatial computer more budget-friendly. This lower-priced mixed reality headset was rumored to arrive in 2025. But right now, it’s unclear whether Apple is actually working on such a project.
Meanwhile, Omdia’s crystal ball predicts that Apple will ship fewer than 500,000 Vision Pro units next year.
