Microsoft plans new mixed-reality VR headset to rival Apple Vision Pro

What you need to know​

• A new report suggests Microsoft has placed an order for "hundreds of thousands" of micro-OLED displays for a new VR headset.
• The headset will reportedly focus on content consumption such as gaming and movies, not the metaverse.
• Microsoft is also working on bringing full desktop Windows apps to mixed reality via the cloud.

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A new report from The Elec (via RoadToVR) has revealed that Microsoft has signed a new deal with Samsung that will see the Korean display manufacturer supply “hundreds of thousands” of new micro-OLED displays for a next-generation mixed reality headset that Microsoft is currently developing.

According to the report, an unnamed industry official says Microsoft’s new mixed reality headset will focus on experiences like “enjoying or watching content such as games and movies, rather than the metaverse.” This implies the device may have a consumer focus, unlike Microsoft's current HoloLens line of headsets.

The news comes after a turbulent few years for Microsoft’s mixed-reality division. In 2022 it was reported that Microsoft had scrapped plans to ship a third-generation HoloLens, and in December 2023 the company announced that the Windows Mixed Reality platform was being shut down.

With that in mind, what might a next-generation mixed-reality headset from Microsoft look like? Recent patent filings suggest the company is exploring a design similar to the Apple Vision Pro, featuring OLED displays and passthrough cameras to simulate augmented reality experiences.