Microsoft partners with Samsung to develop rival to Apple Vision Pro headset

The Apple Vision Pro could soon see a rival from Microsoft launch. If Apple’s mixed reality headset fails to gain commercial traction, it could help democratize a technology that’s still struggling to find a place in users’ minds as necessary or even useful.

According to information received from South Korean media ElectricSamsung Display will provide the screens for this future product. Microsoft has reportedly placed an order for several hundred thousand micro-OLED panelsAlso known as OLEDoS (OLED on Silicon). This type of display allows for easier integration into a device such as a headset and to take advantage of smaller pixels. The Apple Vision Pro is equipped with micro OLED displays made by Sony, which also uses them in certain camera models.

A Microsoft MR headset with a Samsung display or a Samsung MR headset with a Sony display?

According to a source mentioned in the publication, this headset combines both virtual reality and augmented reality, watching videos and movies as well as playing games. Microsoft currently has no intention of creating metaverse experiences. The latter has gotten significantly worse recently. Even Meta, which changed its name to the future of technology, has reduced its investments in the metaverse to focus on AI.

The development of micro-OLED panels is a joint effort between Samsung Display and Samsung System LSI, the group’s semiconductor branch. The latter is responsible for designing the silicon substrate required for the component to function properly. The foundry division is involved in the production of semiconductor wafers. Samsung Display then needs to assemble all the parts.

Microsoft’s mixed reality headset not expected until next year “as soon as possible”. A statement from 2025 seems optimistic. Among other information, it is stated that Samsung could also start development of its own MR headset. However, due to quality, price or production capacity, it could use Sony micro OLED displays instead of its own.

Source : Electric