On Monday Patently Apple posted a report titled ‘Ming-Chi Kuo Reiterates Apple’s use of Pancake Lenses for their HMD while pointing to an economical second-gen HMD and more.” Today, a new supply chain report has surfaced with more details about Apple’s upcoming HMD which they refer to as an extended reality (XR) device.
Today, Korea IT News posted a supply chain report that claims that the domestic parts equipment industry is preparing parts for Apple XR devices with the goal of mass production in Q4 and is signing orders for parts production and inspecting equipment.
It is expected that Apple’s XR devices will be released early next year considering the timing of mass production of parts. As it is the first line-up of product they are launching, production volume is not expected to be large.
The core of XR, the display, will be supplied by Sony and LG Display using OLEDoS (OLED on Silicon). These displays are smaller, thinner and more power efficient because it doesn’t require a color filter. Apple’s XR application processor (AP) is the self-developed system-on-chip M1, and the operating system (OS) is iOS.
3D (3D) sensing module for XR devices is most likely from LG Innotek. The 3D sensing module is a part that plays a role in determining the three-dimensional effect by measuring the amount of time it takes to return a light source to the subject or the degree of deformation. It is understood that about three 3D sensing modules are installed in one XR device. The camera of the 1st gen Apple XR device is supplied by a Chinese company as it requires low-mid quality.
It is expected that Apple’s first XR device to be released as a product specialized for entertainment and games. The 1st gen product is expected to focus on significance in testing the metaverse headset to prepare the better version as 2nd gen XR device that will be released soon after.
Apple is also developing a 2nd gen XR device at the same time, with a goal of releasing it in 2024. The 2nd gen product is expected to be much lighter in weight than the 1st gen product and to equipped with call function. They aim to popularize XR devices by greatly increasing portability.
LG Innotek is being discussed as a supplier of ultra-high-definition cameras for the 2nd gen Apple XR devices.
For more, read the full Korea IT News report.
