Apple Considering Shift Away From Sony for Micro-OLED Displays in Future Vision Pro Headsets

Apple is considering switching production of micro-OLED displays for future versions of the Vision Pro headset from Sony to Chinese manufacturers like BOE and SeeYa amid supply chain challenges, The Information reports.

apple vision pro expanded
Sony, the current supplier of micro-OLED displays for Vision Pro, has apparently shown reservations about expanding its production capabilities for the components amid Apple's effort to ramp up mass production of the headset. Chinese technology firms BOE Technology and SeeYa Technology, on the other hand, are showing significant commitment to the technology, supported by local government initiatives. Apple is currently testing displays from these two suppliers for both a next-generation Vision Pro model and a future low-cost mixed-reality headset device.

If BOE and SeeYa can meet Apple's rigorous quality standards, there is the potential for them to outright replace Sony as the principal Vision Pro display supplier in the future. Even so, Apple's increased engagement with Chinese entities presents different potential operational challenges, evidenced by recent legal issues between Samsung and BOE, as well as various labor concerns.

Regardless, Chinese companies are already deeply integrated in Apple's current production processes for Vision Pro, with firms like Lens Technology and Genius Electronic Optical being key contributors to the headset's production. Likewise, Luxshare Precision Industry has replaced Taiwan's Pegatron as the primary assembler for the device.

Related Roundup: Apple Vision Pro
Buyer's Guide: Vision Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: Apple Vision Pro

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Top Rated Comments

Doomtomb Avatar
14 months ago
Sony is hesitant likely because of the ongoing demand forecast cuts and being stuck holding the bill.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
infiniteentropy Avatar
14 months ago
"Future versions" of the thing we don't have an existing version of.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
14 months ago
Apple has a history of starting with off the shelf components then over time developing their own in-house technology. To get these small and light enough to fulfill the vision of smart glasses everywhere, they're going to have to invent something that doesn't yet exist – or acquire a company who will.

Simplifying the pass through AR flow from having cameras input the outside world into opaque glasses to imitate the real world outside, to actually seeing the outside world with overlaid AR elements is going to require a screen that can become fully transparent while lighting up individual pixels for overlaying virtual elements.

Black would be their own pixels instead of absence of light. The latter already exists (variable opaqueness glass) while transparent displays are still in early stages. Both would need to be far more refined to work at the level required but if there's one company with the resources and motivation to accomplish this, it's Apple.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
al256 Avatar
14 months ago

Is vision pro technically vaporware until it is actually released?

Does everyone remember AirPower???! That turned out to be vaporware lol
Really?? AirPower was announced in Sept 2017 for a 2018 release date. Vision Pro has an expected release date of early 2024. How can it be vaporware if it's 2023??? The concept and passage of time should not be such an illusive concept to grasp.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
whoknows2597 Avatar
14 months ago

Really?? AirPower was announced in Sept 2017 for a 2018 release date. Vision Pro has an expected release date of early 2024. How can it be vaporware if it's 2023??? The concept and passage of time should not be such an illusive concept to grasp.
Also there are working models available for developers to use, unlike AirPower
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jigzaw Avatar
14 months ago
Just gonna be the party pooper and mention that China is engaging in genocide against the Uighur Muslims. The biggest American companies in the world continue to look the other way and pump money into that totalitarian nightmare regime and history will NOT look kindly on it.

I wish Americans could be proud of our biggest industries and see that they support democracy and basic human rights, but they don't, so maybe it's time to start pressuring DC to outlaw doing business with governments engaging in f^&ing genocide. I mean, just the barest minimum of a moral stance. Never Again was supposed to mean NEVER again.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)