The Apple AR/VR headset, reportedly named Reality Pro, will be announced on June 5. According to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), the headset will have two 1.41” micro OLEDs, bringing a 4,400 ppi resolution and over 5,000 nits of brightness. In a follow-up tweet, the analyst said the resolution should be “4K per eye”.
Simple math reveals that with
a 1.41” diagonal and a circular/square display, the side is 1”, and the
resolution is 4,000 x 4,000 pixels per display. These numbers are impressive
because the Meta Quest Pro's resolution is 1,800 x 1,920 per eye, while the
PlayStation VR 2 has 2,000 x 2,040 pixels per eye.
The brightness number is 5x
higher than the standard nits we’ve been reporting on smartphones. However, the
human eye perceives light differently, and the number should be calculated
exponentially. Similar to f-stops, there is one step from 1,000 nits to 2,000
nits, a second one from 2,000 nits to 4,000 nits, a third from 4,000 to 8,000
nits, etc. This still means the Reality Pro displays will be nearly three times
brighter than a smartphone screen at peak brightness.
The headset is expected to
cost around US$ 1,500, which will be a tall order for amateurs and enthusiasts. It
will be advertised to professionals, who are likely to use the device to
develop a metaverse for future customers who will purchase a non-Pro Reality
with more modest specs and a more wallet-friendly price tag.