Could a cheaper Apple Vision Pro be on the horizon?

Rumors are circulating that tech giant Apple could be making a cost-cutting version of the Apple Vision Pro.

The Vision Pro is the tech giant’s headset that went on sale at the start of this year. It integrates digital media with users’ real surroundings. However, the company was careful to not market it as virtual or augmented reality.

Wearable tech like this has boomed in recent years, but Apple’s offering is definitely on the pricier side. Research claimed that they cost around $1,500 to manufacture, while they retail for $3,499. The inside primary displays cost $456 alone, according to tech analysts Omdia.

The processing chips also cost around an additional $240.

The obvious way Apple could cut costs here is to change the most expensive component, the displays. According to DigiTimes, that’s exactly what it is considering. Rumors suggest the company is exploring cheaper, lower-resolution displays to save money.

Manufacturer Japan Display Inc reportedly provided Apple with samples using tech from Sony. Apparently, the samples were of a 1,500 pixels per inch (ppi) organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display.

In comparison, the current Vision Pro boasts a whopping 3,391 ppi – well over double that of the new samples. While users shouldn’t expect a similar caliber from a potentially cheaper model, Apple will have to carefully balance price and quality.

DigiTimes also reports that earlier this year Apple requested information from some other companies too. It says the requests were for 1,700 ppi OLED-on-silicon (OLEDoS) displays.

It further speculates that Apple is exploring these alternatives due to the “underwhelming performance” of the Vision Pro so far.

Don’t expect to see a budget Vision Pro on sale any time soon, however. DigiTimes estimates that it could take two to three years for it to enter mass production.

Feature image credit: Apple

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