Last week we posted the following article, but it turns out that our information was not correct. We mentioned that this was a strange report - and indeed it turns out that Trendforce analysis was misquoted, and the company did not say that Apple will stop using Sony's OLED microdisplays. We are sorry for posting this!
Apple first VR headset, the Apple Vision Pro, will use dual 1.3" 4K OLED microdisplays. Apple has been working with Sony, that produced the first OLED microdisplays, but later reports suggested that Apple is looking to replace Sony with Seeya and BOE as its suppliers to reduce costs (and also likely to increase potential supply as Sony has limited capacity).
According to a new report by TrendForce, Apple has made some changes to its Vision Pro supply chain and has decided to already stop using Sony's OLED microdisplays - and indeed go with Seeya and BOE.
This seems like a strange decision by Apple, to just drop Sony, as it is likely that Apple made some commitments to Sony. It could be that this supply chain refers to any next components beyond a certain number Apple already ordered.
In any case, we know that both BOE and Seeya produce excellent OLED microdisplays. We reported on Seeya's technology and roadmaps a couple of years ago. Last year Qualcomm chose Seeya's displays for its reference AR HMD.
BOE announced its $170 million OLED microdisplay joint-venture with OLiGHTEK back in 2017, and since then the China-based display maker has constructed its second microdisplay fab. Apple is already using BOE's AMOLEDs in its iPhones (although its history with BOE is not smooth). Earlier this year BOE demonstrated a 1.3" 4K OLED microdisplay, and we assumed that the company aims to enter Apple's supply chain.
You can find OLED microdisplays from Seeya, BOE and Sony at the OLED Marketplace.
