Samsung XR Headset might outshine Apple Vision Pro with clearer display
Samsung is gearing up to release its first XR headset later this year, and it’s aiming to beat Apple’s Vision Pro with a clearer screen. The South Korean company has reportedly chosen a display that promises sharper visuals than what Apple offers.
Samsung’s XR Headset May Feature Sony’s Super-Sharp Screens
A report from TheElec suggests Samsung will use Sony’s 1.3-inch 4K OLEDoS (OLED on Silicon) screens for its new XR headset. These screens come with two tiny 1.3-inch displays, boasting an impressive 3,800 pixels per inch (ppi). That’s sharper than the 3,391 ppi found in Apple’s Vision Pro. Even though Samsung owns eMagin, a company that makes similar OLEDoS panels with 3,500 ppi, it’s sticking with Sony’s tech for this device.
OLEDoS screens work by placing tiny glowing dots (organic LEDs) onto a silicon base, creating bright and crisp images. Sony is expected to begin mass-producing these screens next month and send them to Samsung. The company first showed off these 1.3-inch screens in 2023, priced at about $1,995 each. Samsung plans to start making its XR headset soon after and aims to sell it in the second half of 2025. The company hopes to sell around 100,000 units.
Why the Delay?
Samsung originally wanted to launch its XR headset in 2023. But after seeing Apple’s Vision Pro, which debuted in June 2023 and hit stores in early 2024, Samsung paused its plans. It decided to upgrade the headset’s features to compete better.
Meanwhile, Apple’s Vision Pro hasn’t been a big hit, with only a few hundred thousand units shipped. To bounce back, Apple is working on a cheaper XR headset and has asked Samsung Display to create a 2-2.1-inch screen with a glass base and a lower 1,700 ppi. Samsung’s sharper display could give it an edge as it steps into the XR world, ready to challenge Apple head-on.
