Small, high-resolution micro OLED displays and an M1 Pro-like processor will enable Apple to launch its first AR/VR headset later this year or in 2023, according to reports.

AR-only glasses coming later
Last year, Nikkei reported that Apple is developing micro OLED and microLED display technology, and new reports from Korea now claim that the company will use the micro OLED in its first headset.

- "Apple VR devices are equipped with micro organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays. Apple cooperated with Taiwan’s TSMC with developing OLED displays for VR devices. Micro OLED displays do not require color filters since OLEDs are deposited directly on the chip wafer. Micro OLED is smaller, thinner, and more efficient. The VR headset application processor (AP) will be applied with M1 Chip, which is Apple’s self-developed system-on-chip, and the operating system (OS) will be running iOS," a report from ETNews said.


 Apple Glasses concept. Source: Martin Hajek, iDrop News

Current VR headsets often use LCD panels that deliver high resolution but poor contrast and slow response times. OLED has extremely high contrast and fast response time but typically lower resolution. Last year, The Elec reported that Apple has requested 3000 ppi (pixels per inch) micro OLED samples. For comparison iPhone 13 has a 460 ppi OLED screen.

Bloomberg believes that Apple's mixed-reality operating system will be dubbed rOS, with the "r" likely standing for reality. Bloomberg was also first to report that the headset will feature a chip "on par with the M1 Pro chip inside the latest MacBook Pro". The launch could be delayed to 2023, followed by a more ambitious set of AR-only glasses later this decade, according to the outlet's latest report.

Meanwhile Samsung is rumored to be cooperating with Microsoft to develop AR headsets, with at least one of the headsets using "hologram" technology.

- Source: Bloomberg, The Elec, ETNews, Martin Hajek