David Hsieh, Senior Director for Displays at Omdia, reviews the two display pieces used in Apples newly announced Vision Pro VR device, currently the most expensive components that make up 35% of its component costs.

Apple announced the Vision Pro VR device in June 2023. As predicted in Omdia’s Display Dynamics – April 2022: Apple to launch head-mounted display MR devices with both OLED and Micro OLED displays, the Vision Pro is equipped dually with two pieces of displays as the internal display that presents content to users, and one piece of flexible OLED display as the external display, which presents users’ facial appearances.

1. Figure 1: Apple Vision Pro’s internal OLEDoS display, external OLED display, camera, and sensor

Source: Omdia analyst photo – Apple Worldwide Developers Conference/June 2023

2. Figure 2: Apple Vision Pro’s internal OLEDoS and external OLED displays

Source: Omdia analyst photo – Apple Worldwide Developers Conference/June 2023

Below are Omdia’s estimations about the display panels equipped in the Vision Pro:

• OLEDoS, the internal display or “main display”
  
  • Two pieces per device, one piece for each eye
  • 1.41-inch, 3648x3144 resolution 3,400 PPI
  • 23.9 megapixels (3648x3144 x 3 = 23.9 million, approximately)
  • White OLEDoS made by Sony Semiconductor
  • TSMC, with a 130nm process and 300mm wafer, supplies the silicon backplane
  • TSMC makes the OLEDoS driver IC with a 28nm process
  • Over 500 nits brightness with 95% DCI-P3 color gamut
  • The estimated cost is $228 per piece

• Flexible OLED, the external display or “sub display”
  • One piece
  • 6-inch 800x360 resolution and 145 PPI
  • RGB flexible OLED and free form with goggle shape made by LG Display
  • The estimated cost is $70 per piece

With the cost estimation, we can gauge the display cost will add up to approximately $530, accounting for 35% of the total bill of material (BOM) costs of the Apple Vision Pro set.

Table 1: Apple Vision Pro BOM cost and supplier estimations ($)

Source: Omdia 

Comparatively, the Sony PS VR2’s OLED panel cost is 30% of the total BOM cost. The LTPS TFT LCD panel in Meta’s Quest 2 is 18% of its total BOM cost, and the OLEDoS display in Huawei’s Vision VR device is 39% of its total BOM cost, according to Omdia’s Near Eye Display for XR Application Report – 2023 Database.

In the Vision Pro’s first life cycle, at least 200,000 units of the near-eye device are expected to be manufactured in 2024, followed by an estimated 1 million units projected within the few years beyond 2024 with the launch of the new Vision Pro.

On the other hand, Omdia estimates that as Apple’s first near-eye device product, the Vision Pro will gradually become more user-friendly and have better adaptability with user behavior and improved picture performance. Therefore, Omdia estimates the displays evolution will progress as below:

• First-generation Vision Pro, 2024 – White OLEDoS + flexible OLED; display makers are Sony Semiconductor and LG Display
• Second-generation Vision Pro, 2025 – White OLEDoS + flexible OLED, with higher resolution and brightness; potential display makers are Sony Semiconductor, LG Display, and SeeYA
• Third-generation Vision Pro, 2027 – RGB OLEDoS + flexible OLED, RGB color with the removal of the color conversion layer; potential display makers will be Sony Semiconductor, SeeYA, Samsung Display, LG Display, and BOE

In the long term, Apple may change its white OLEDoS displays to RGB-type OLEDoS displays for better brightness and color performance.