Apple could be planning a strategic move to make its revolutionary mixed reality glasses, the Vision Pro, more accessible, reducing the price of the device with a lower resolution version. According to several reports, the company is exploring the use of screens with a lower pixel density than the original model, which could mean a important savings in production costs, without sacrificing too much of the immersive visual experience characteristic of this device.
New, more economical VisionPro
According to rumors, Apple would have already received samples of OLED screens from Japan Display with a density of around 1,500 pixels per inch. This figure is well below the 3,391 PPI used by the current Vision Pro, which debuted this year with a starting price of $3,500.
This notable difference in pixel density could translate into a more affordable version of the Vision Pro, capturing the attention of an audience looking for the latest in technology at a more affordable price.
The report also suggests that Apple is in contact with other display manufacturers, such as Samsung Display and LG Display, to whom it has sent requests for information on the production of OLED panels with a density close to 1,700 pixels per inch.
A relevant aspect of the new screen samples that Apple has received is the change in the technology used. Apparently, Japan Display’s screens use OLED technology with a glass core substrate, unlike the OLED screens on silicon currently mounted on the Vision Pro. This replacement could be key in the construction of the product, to further cut costs. production costs, since such technology is generally cheaper to manufacture.
The popular and reputable analyst Mark Gurman of Bloomberg had already anticipated in June that Apple could be working on a cheaper version of the Vision Pro. This new device could require being connected to an iPhone or Mac to function, which would allow the company to reduce costs on processors and components, as it does not need to be a completely autonomous device.
Apple VisionPro with worse screens
Furthermore, the prototype of this cheaper version, whose internal code would be N107, would have a narrower field of vision compared to the original Vision Pro. Another possible sacrifice to make the device cheaper could be the elimination of the EyeSight feature, which allows the user’s eyes to be seen through the external screen, and the use of lighter and cheaper materials.
Despite the great interest generated by this more affordable version of the Vision Pro, the project still appears to be in an early stage of development. They may still have to happen at least two or three years before the device enters mass production, which puts its launch beyond 2025.
Meanwhile, fierce competition is anticipated among display makers to secure the contract with Apple, with companies from South Korea, Japan and Taiwan fighting to position themselves as the key suppliers of this new technology.
The entry This would be the economic version of the Apple Vision Pro: everything we know so far was first published in La Manzana Mordida.
