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Apple AR/VR Headset Again Rumored to Feature Micro OLED Displays While Samsung Readies 'Hologram' AR Device Competitor

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Apple's mixed-reality headset has again been rumored to feature advanced micro OLED displays, Korea's ET News reports.

apple-ar-headset-concept-2.jpeg
Concept render based on purported leaked information by Ian Zelbo​

Micro-OLED displays are built directly on to chip wafers rather than a glass substrate, which results in displays that are thinner, smaller, and more power efficient. They allow for pixel sizes in the range of four to 20 micrometers, compared to 40 to 300 micrometers with standard OLED panels. Micro OLED displays have a much faster microseconds response time, making it more suitable for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications.

A report from The Elec last year claimed that Apple's headset could feature high resolution micro OLED displays with up to 3,000 pixels-per-inch. The insightful Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also said that micro OLED displays will facilitate the headset's "see-through AR experience," as well as immersive VR.

ET News says that the micro OLED displays will be supplied by TSMC, the supplier behind all of the A-series and M-series chips used in Apple's devices. Nikkei previously claimed that Apple has partnered with TSMC to develop "ultra-advanced" micro OLED displays for "upcoming augmented reality devices" at a secret facility in Taiwan. On the other hand, other reports from Japan and display analyst Ross Young have been consistent in the claim that Apple will use micro OLED displays from Sony, rather than TSMC, so it is not entirely clear what is going on in Apple's supply chain.

Young said that Apple's headset will feature two Sony micro OLED displays and one AMOLED panel. The micro OLED displays will be the main displays for the headset, but it is not yet known exactly what the AMOLED display will be used for. Modern VR headsets do not use AMOLED technology because the pixel density is too low, so it is possible that Apple could use it for low-resolution peripheral vision or on the outside of the device.

ET News also reiterated the recent report that the headset has allegedly completed engineering validation testing and is set to feature the M1 chip or a variant of it.

Meanwhile, ET News claims that Samsung is planning to launch an AR device with "hologram" technology and a Exynos chip. This comes after reports of Samsung significantly falling behind in the rush to bring AR and VR devices to market, partially due to its "obsession" with foldable smartphones. Samsung is now said to be co-developing its AR device with Microsoft and DigiLens. The device has reportedly reached the prototyping stage and the company is rumored to be mulling potential launch dates.

While Apple's headset was widely believed to be scheduled to launch this year, a recent report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman cast doubt on the chances of the device emerging in 2022 due to development problems, with 2023 now looking more likely.

Article Link: Apple AR/VR Headset Again Rumored to Feature Micro OLED Displays While Samsung Readies 'Hologram' AR Device Competitor
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2022/02/24/apple-headset-micro-oled-samsung-hologram-device/
Does Samsung have the API's built into Android for this? Assuming this will be running Android. Apple at least has been fine tuning it's API's in iOS for augmented reality for a few years now.

Or since they're falling behind, as it says in the article, are they just going to slap something together quickly and rush it to market?
 
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What VR needs is an open platform, I'm just not excited about Apple making a headset. The other thing that worries me is Apple have the attitude of "use it our way or not at all", they hate customization. VR needs to be accommodating as people have to have different setups for their situation and what makes them comfortable. I just don't see Apple allowing any of that, I'll be surprised if it even has hardware IPD adjustments. I'd also be worried about the controllers, because Apple likes to make things hard to use in an effort to be stylish. So I wouldn't be surprised if their controllers are the worst of the industry because they didn't want to have buttons or something stupid. Knowing Apple they'd probably just have one thing like the Apple TV remote... like the Oculus Go or whatever it was called.

The one thing Apple has on it's side is VR isn't cheap, so if their headset is 500 dollars, no one wil bat an eye lid. Though if it's 1000 dollars then it's clear they are not aiming it at the consumer market, and just doing it for the Pro market.
 
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scaramoosh said:
The one thing Apple has on it's side is VR isn't cheap, so if their headset is 500 dollars, no one wil bat an eye lid. Though if it's 1000 dollars then it's clear they are not aiming it at the consumer market, and just doing it for the Pro market.
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There are three market segments Apple caters to: consumers, professionals and stupidly rich people.
 
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The tech sounds amazing but I’m still waiting to see what the use case will be especially with an estimated $2000 price tag. By comparison, the PlayStation 5 VR headset is estimated to cost $400-$500 and the next “Meta” headset is estimated to be around the same.

Apple isn’t known for gaming so that use case won’t be a strong selling point especially if the PS5 and Meta headsets offer deeper experiences.

This will be interesting. Personally I’m looking forward to the Apple Glasses a lot more. It’s easy to imagine how that could be appealing.
 
3000 pixels for inch? Is that good enough when you put that up against your face? What pixel density do competitors use?
 
lazyrighteye said:
And some struggle to see a market for this… Buckle up. ?
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I have trouble understanding how people cannot see a market, a need, an opportunity for VR/AR/MR. Every time I see people saying "there is no market for these types of devices" it's like hearing someone say there is no market for HDTVs, 4K monitors, 5G, terabyte hard drives, Gigs of RAM, solar power, electric vehicles, the airplane... the wheel. None of these advances are merely, only gizmos, gadgets and toys. Likewise VR, AR, and MR are all quite the same, and will lead to new jobs, more creativity, more opportunity, new ways of communicating, designing, creating, building, educating, and helping the world.
 
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I do not want to be one of those users quoted 10 years from now saying "who asked for this?" - but who asked for this? is this intended for the B2B market? I don't see the use case. Gaming? Certainly not Apple Arcade, which had to go back to including "classics" cuz no one bothered to develop new games for it
 
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munpip214 said:
3000 pixels for inch? Is that good enough when you put that up against your face? What pixel density do competitors use?
Click to expand...

PPD or Pixels Per Degree is what Apple will be talking about when this is announced.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_virtual_reality_headsets

This is great spec comparison for those interested, take a look at the res and PPDs.

Although I'm sure I've read elsewhere that their calculations of PPD is wonky because users say the Reverb G2 anecdotally has a much clearer image quality than the Oculus Quest 2 but I can neither confirm now deny that :p

My maths is awful but looking at the Varjo V3 it's main displays have an around 2800 pixel resolution and has 30 PPD and I read somewhere that around 70 PPD is what can be considered 'Retina' if Apples displays are 4K then that's what 40ish PPD? Maybe someone can do the theoretical calculation? lazy man bad maths.
 
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Macrumors I love you. But could you please stop showing this same render with AR articles? It looks nothing like what apple would ever release. Make it all-white then we’re getting somewhere.
 
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terminator-jq said:
The tech sounds amazing but I’m still waiting to see what the use case will be especially with an estimated $2000 price tag. By comparison, the PlayStation 5 VR headset is estimated to cost $400-$500 and the next “Meta” headset is estimated to be around the same.

Apple isn’t known for gaming so that use case won’t be a strong selling point especially if the PS5 and Meta headsets offer deeper experiences.

This will be interesting. Personally I’m looking forward to the Apple Glasses a lot more. It’s easy to imagine how that could be appealing.
Click to expand...
Based on rumors and expected specs, the closest thing to Apple's headset is the Microsoft Hololens 2, which costs $3500. It's not fair to compare it to the more entry level PS VR or Oculus Quest.
 
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lazyrighteye said:
And some struggle to see a market for this… Buckle up. 🤪
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so what IS the market for this?
Gaming? not Apple's fortune according to everyone on MR
media consumption? porn, yes but other stuff?
virtual meetings? yea right, no enterprise will go for this

I see a lot of use cases in the business world, be it remote troubleshooting, training and such, but the rumored entry pricing will not make it attractive as apple doe not have a stronghold to begin with ...

So, what is the market?
 
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Just because you don't see the use case for this, doesn't mean there isn't one. I do remember people saying why would anyone need that new Apple watch thing. Same comments still going around about folding phones. There are many of us with no vision. All we can do is see what happens.
 
Johns12 said:
Just because you don't see the use case for this, doesn't mean there isn't one. I do remember people saying why would anyone need that new Apple watch thing. Same comments still going around about folding phones. There are many of us with no vision. All we can do is see what happens.
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Yes — there were smart people in the nineties that thought the internet would not be important. I hear similar comments about this technology.
 
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