Apple Stock News: Cheaper Vision Headset
Apple Stock News: Apple is reportedly considering lower-resolution displays for a budget version of its Vision Pro headset. The company has received OLED samples from Japan Display (JDI) with a pixel density of around 1,500 PPI, compared to the 3,391 PPI of the current model, which starts at $3,500.
Using lower pixel density could reduce manufacturing costs while still delivering a decent visual experience. Apple is also in talks with other manufacturers like Samsung and LG for displays around 1,700 PPI. The JDI sample employs glass core substrate OLED technology, potentially further cutting costs.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman noted that the budget model might need a tethered iPhone or Mac, allowing for reduced processing power. A prototype, codenamed N107, has a narrower field of view and may lack the EyeSight feature. Development is still early, with mass production expected in two to three years, later than previous estimates for a late 2025 launch, amid increasing competition among display manufacturers.
Apple Card Savings Account
The interest rate for the Apple Card’s high-yield savings account has been cut for the second time this year, decreasing from 4.4% to 4.25%. This adjustment follows a recent 50 basis point cut by the Federal Reserve, and notifications were sent to users on Tuesday.
Introduced in April 2023 in collaboration with Goldman Sachs, the account started at 4.15% and was raised to 4.5% before the latest reduction. Available only to U.S. residents aged 18 and older, it can be easily managed through the Wallet app, with no fees or minimum balance requirements. Users can earn interest on their Daily Cash and funds from linked accounts, with the balance limit increased from $250,000 to $1,000,000. Setting up the account is straightforward within the Wallet app. Additionally, there are reports suggesting that Goldman Sachs might end its consumer lending partnership with Apple, although the potential impact on Apple Card holders remains uncertain.
Noise Cancellation
In a recent Engadget interview, Apple’s VP of Hardware Engineering, Kate Bergeron, and AirPods Marketing Director, Eric Treski, explained how the new AirPods 4 achieved effective active noise cancellation (ANC) despite their open-ear design without silicone tips.
They credited the H2 chip and “computational audio” for enabling ANC for the first time in standard AirPods, with Bergeron stating it’s “more computationally intense than with the AirPods Pro.” Treski noted the challenge of delivering quality ANC without ear tips, highlighting the H2 chip’s role in optimizing cancellation by detecting environmental noise.
They also mentioned that the new shape and acoustic architecture of the AirPods 4 improve ANC performance. The earbuds are now available, with only the higher-end $179 model offering active noise cancellation.
