It turns out that Apple’s next big thing won’t be something that fits in your pocket or bag. Rather it could be another wearable device. Analyst Ming Chi-kuo said in November that Apple’s “goal is to replace the iPhone with AR in 10 years.” Here’s what we know so far about Apple’s rumored mixed-reality headset.
2022 Apple Headset: The latest rumor
May 19, 2022: Bloomberg reports that Apple has shown its board members a functional headset and “enhanced” the realityOS. Likely to be made public in the next few months.
February 22, 2022: Digitimes reports that Apple is over Original production test For its AR headset.
February 9, 2022: iOS developer Rance Verhaven There is a stain References to realityOS in the App Store Upload a log that probably signals the development of Apple’s Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality headset.
January 11, 2022: Ming-Chi Kuo reports (via Macroom) that Apple will use the AR headset The same 96W USB-C power adapter As with the MacBook Pro, it will have a larger battery.
January 5, 2022: A new report from Ming-Chi Kuo (via Macromers) describes Apple’s lens setup A “pancake” design To make it lighter and more compact.
January 4, 2022: Display supply chain consultants say Apple’s headset “will have an innovative display configuration, Three display modules“
December 15, 2021: Says Ross Young, a display supply chain consultant Volume estimate for headset display “shows low” Which may indicate a higher price tag.
December 9, 2021: Another Ming-Chi Kuo reported (via 9to5Mac) Gesture-based navigation.
December 8, 2021: Ming-chi Kuo reported (via 9to5Mac) that A second generation headset Already have work.
2022 Apple Headset: Design
Although the ultimate goal of Apple’s AR project is to create a pair of fashionable smart glasses, the first version will be much larger than that, weighing 300-400 grams, according to Ming-Chi Kuo. According to reports, the first generation Apple headset will be an oculus-style headset with a woven mesh-wrapped body similar to the AirPods Max. It may look like a smoother version of Google’s Daydream headset, which also had a softer fabric body. A patent application for a “head-mounted display unit” also details different areas of compatibility, which would mean an area of comfort focus.
However, we don’t know much about the design of Apple’s AR device. Although Jon Prosser reports that Apple is working on a pair of prototype pair of AR glasses, more recent rumors suggest that a true pair of glasses is still many years away. In January, Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple would use “pancake” lenses to keep weight and bulk low.
Interestingly, Cuo said Apple is already working on a second-generation model (via 9to5Mac) with a “significantly lighter” and “updated art” design expected to launch in 2024.
2022 Apple Headset: Display
As a mixed-reality device, Apple’s glasses are rumored to handle both virtual and augmented reality through a pair of high-resolution 8K screens using i-tracking technology. The headset is said to have more than a dozen cameras, according to The Information, which will present a real-world view of the screen as if you were looking through clear glass. It will probably use OLED or Mini LED and will also include Apple’s ceramic shield coating.
In January, display supply chain consultants reported that the headset would have “three display modules” featuring two micro OLED displays and an AMOLED panel. According to the report, the tertiary OLED panel will be used for “low-resolution peripheral vision, enabling a favored display system based on where the user’s focus is”.
2022 Apple headset: processor and specs
Kuo (via Macromer), Apple’s AR headset will have two processors, the secondary chip responsible for the high-end processor’s “same computing power as the M1 for Mac” and “sensor-related computing”. Sounds like a lot of processing power for a headset, but if the headset needs a pair of 8K displays it will need a heavy chip. The report goes on to say that it needs to be paired with an iPhone, much like the original Apple Watch.
Kuo also said that the headset will support Wi-Fi 6E, which is rumored to be coming to the iPhone 14. It will probably have at least 8GB RAM and a 256GB hard drive. We don’t know much about battery life yet, but Kuo says improving battery life will be the focus of second-generation models. Kuo reports that the headset will come with the same 96W power adapter as the MacBook Pro, which suggests it will have a larger battery.
Apples
2022 Apple Headset: Apps and Functionality
We still don’t know what the user interface of Apple’s headset will look like, but it looks like a head-up AR display that can recognize people and objects when handling VR applications. The new immersive walking directions on iOS 15 are a good indication of how it will work, with dynamic names and directions on the road. In addition to maps, we expect apps for fitness, music, messaging, and calls to be the focus of the experience.
As a mixed-reality device, it will be able to handle VR applications, which opens headsets for different apps. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman added that gaming platforms could have “a strong focus” as well as “media costs”. He hopes that Apple will work closely with developers and media partners to create content that can be viewed on VR on devices. Apple will probably lean towards VR content with its own TV + service.
Apple must have apps dedicated to AR-type things, such as major apps and tools that let you see a 3D render before you buy Apple products. In a December report, Gorman added that the iPhone’s Animozis and VR FaceTime could be positioned as “the zoom of the new age.”
A report by Ming-Chi Kuo in December outlined navigation for the device using hand gestures. In a technical note obtained by 9to5Mac, he predicted that “the structural light on the AR / MR headset can detect not only changes in the user’s or other person’s hand and object position but also dynamic detail changes in front of the user’s eyes. Animoji can detect user dynamic expression changes). ” It is likely that Siri will play a significant role in how users interact with the headset.
2022 Apple Headset: Price and Disclosure
Apple has reportedly been working on its VR headset for several years, but both Gurman and Kuo agree that Apple is targeting the end of 2022 as the release date. In February, Digitimes reported that Apple had completed 2nd-stage EVT testing for its AR headset and was on track for a fall 2022 release.
When it comes to pricing, rumors suggest that the first iteration may be a very expensive device, possibly costing several thousand dollars. In December, a Display Supply Chain Consultants report noted that volume estimates for AR headset displays would “show less for next year”, indicating higher price tags (and lower sales). With price tags beyond the reach of most people, the AR headset will be primarily a diehard and proof of concept device for developers, but Apple is no less exciting for the wearable future.