After years in which "3D without glasses" sounded like an idea that never truly managed to break through, it seems the industry is once again trying to push in that direction – this time with much bigger ambitions. According to a new report circulating on social media and hardware forums, Samsung is working on a new holographic display for smartphones, one capable of presenting depth and spatial motion directly above the glass, without the need for external accessories. At the same time, the same report also mentions rumors about a "Spatial iPhone" – a future Apple iPhone focused on a spatial computing experience.
The basis for the current rumors comes from the leaker "Schrödinger," who claims that voices within the supply chain are already discussing a display project codenamed "MH1" or "H1." The technology in question is significantly different from the 3D displays we have known in the past; it combines advanced eye-tracking with a nano-structured holographic layer embedded directly into the AMOLED panel. This method makes it possible to direct light at precise angles toward the user's eyes, creating the illusion of objects floating above the screen.
For Apple, this move appears to be a natural continuation of the spatial computing vision it introduced with the Vision Pro headset. Although Apple maintains strict secrecy, patents filed by the company as far back as 2008 show that it has been exploring 3D displays for quite some time. John Ternus, Apple's Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, recently noted that the integration between the digital and physical worlds is inevitable. Since Apple does not manufacture displays itself, it is expected to rely on Samsung's capabilities, as the Korean giant has previously published academic research on ultra-thin holographic video technology.
The biggest challenge for such technology is maintaining image quality during everyday use. Reports indicate that the new display will function as a completely standard 4K screen for regular tasks, and only when the user views compatible content will the depth layer activate. However, anyone expecting to hold a holographic iPhone as early as next year will need to wait; the project is currently in the early stages of research and development, and estimates point to 2030 as a realistic timeframe for smartphones of this type to mature.