Apple VR/AR headset — everything we know so far
Apple VR/AR headset — everything we know so far
The Apple VR and augmented reality or mixed reality headset continues to pop upwardly in rumors and other reports. While Apple has non officially announced the device, CEO Tim Cook has called the expanse of AR "critically important" and i of "very few profound technologies."
Like the Oculus Quest 2 or PSVR 2, Apple tree'due south supposed VR ambitions want to compete with the best VR headsets around.
And we should notation, Apple's VR/AR headset is separate from its rumored Apple Glasses, which, as the proper name suggests, are purely augmented reality. They're likewise reportedly style in the future, while the Apple AR/VR headset could arrive as presently as the end of this twelvemonth.
Nosotros've seen several reports coming out regarding Apple tree VR/AR, including next generation display applied science and its potential price and release window. Here'southward everything you lot need to know about the Apple VR and mixed reality headset.
Apple tree AR/VR headset news (update January 27)
- Tim Melt has teased Apple's futurity AR plans, and while not a confirmation of any wearables it suggests Apple is working on AR projects across what's available on iPhone.
- Google looks to be developing its own Google AR headset, which could compete against Apple tree; here'due south everything we know so far.
- Marking Gurman claims that the Apple VR/AR headset will come with 'M1 Pro-like' performance, only may cost upwards of $two,000 when it finally arrives
Apple VR and mixed-reality headset release date speculation
A Jan 2021 report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claimed that Apple's VR and mixed reality headset would show upward sometime in 2022. Others backed upwards that forecast, including Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who has the Apple's VR/AR headset slated for the end of 2022 with shipments ramping upwardly in the commencement quarter of 2023. Display Supply Concatenation Consultants likewise believes in a tardily 2022 launch.
At first, Kuo was predicting a Q2 2022 launch. It seems that this delay is down to the circuitous design of the headset, combined with Apple's own standards, which are supposedly much higher than competitors' products.
In other words, developing such a headset is hard work and Apple wants to make sure it's doing its job properly. Kuo besides claimed the headset will launch with a full complement of hardware, software and services, and the delay ways developers will have more time to piece of work on them.
That could explicate a more contempo report from Bloomberg, challenge that Apple may push dorsum the launch of the headset, which was going to get a preview at the Worldwide Developers Briefing in June. At this signal, Bloomberg says the Apple VR/AR handset might not arrive until 2023.
Kuo forecasts that Apple will follow upwards on the 2022 release of the Apple headset with a second version in 2024 that will be significantly lighter and feature a faster processor.
Apple VR and mixed reality headset vs Apple Drinking glass
According to reports, the Apple VR and mixed reality headset is designed to exist a precursor to Apple Glass. The AR lenses are supposed to offer an "optical run into-through AR experience," co-ordinate to Ming-Chi Kuo.
In other words, based on everything we've heard, Apple Glass is designed to look and act similar an ordinary lightweight pair of glasses. We're talking virtually glasses that are able to project data, and presumably imagery, onto its lenses
The Apple tree VR and mixed reality headset is expected to exist like a typical VR headset, but one with a number of exterior cameras and sensors that unlock bonus functionality.
That mode Apple's VR and mixed reality headset tin offer body tracking, and incorporate existent-world environments in a virtual space. Plus, the Apple tree VR headset could incorporate a encounter-through experience that can deliver a course of augmented reality. So, information technology'southward non quite like the Oculus Quest ii, which is VR-but.
Notwithstanding Mark Gurman has claimed that the Apple headset will exist designed for brusk trips into VR — rather than jumping on the 'metaverse' bandwagon like so many others. In fact Apple tree is said to take declared metaverse if "off limits". Users will be able to use the mixed reality headset for communication, content viewing and gaming, only it won't exist a device you wear all twenty-four hours, or equally a replacement for real life.
Apple VR and mixed reality headset rumored price
Reports on the Apple tree VR and mixed reality headset toll have been mixed. Simply rumors suggest a developer focus, so pricing may center around alluring programmers.
Tim Cook has spoken at length nigh how AR is Apple'due south end goal. The headset is reported to be the first stage in the visitor's wearable AR ambitions. The headset's main goal is reportedly to set up developers for the launch of Apple tree Drinking glass, and ensure the specs have app support for launch. Apple'south master incentive is not to make money, and reports claim the headset's cost volition reflect that.
That being said, Marking Gurman has claimed the headset will be heavy on gaming, media consumption and advice, suggesting Apple is designing something with consumers in mind. Perchance this could mean a cheaper 2nd-gen headset afterwards. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the commencement-generation headset won't exist expensive, or a primarily designed for programmer use.
While Apple's VR and mixed reality headset is supposed to be expensive, reports are divided on how expensive information technology'south set to exist.
A report from The Information claims that Apple's VR headset will be every bit high every bit $3,000. Gaming VR headsets rarely cost more $1,000, though the Microsoft Hololens 2 does cost a whopping $iii,500.
Marking Gurman claims that the headset could price upward of $ii,000. That cost tag is supposed to account for the headset'southward hardware, which could include the Apple tree M1 Pro chip, an extended evolution time and the usual increased markup applied to other Apple products.
However, Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that the headset volition only cost $1,000. Or the same as the iPhone 12 Pro. While this is still expensive, it's a lot more palatable for the boilerplate developer. Especially if the headset is as loftier-powered as reports have indicated.
But a more than contempo report past Display Supply Concatenation Consultants, or DSCC, states that Apple's headset would toll "several one thousand dollars."
In any case, the cost of entry is going to be high and certainly a lot higher than other stand-alone VR headsets. For example, the Oculus Quest 2 costs $300 past comparing.
Apple VR and mixed reality headset rumored features
The primary characteristic of the Apple headset is mixed reality. According to Mark Gurman, the headset will include external cameras which are currently existence used to test features like paw-tracking and gesture command. Office of this includes the possibility of being able to blazon in the air with a virtual keyboard.
The Information's report has elaborated on this, claiming the headset will feature 12 tracking cameras that can feed information to ii 8K displays in front of the user's eyes. On top of that, the headset will as well reportedly feature LiDAR sensors. This study was contradicted by Display Supply Chain Consultants, or DSCC, which claims that Sony is making 4K 4000 x 4000 displays for Apple's headset with a 1.iv-inch diagonal. Although, DSCC did mention that LiDAR was a possibility.
For those that don't know, LiDAR uses lasers to measure distance, which tin can gather the area of a space quickly and accurately. A device tin can use this info to meliorate place objects in AR, and has already been used this way on high-end iPad Pro as well equally the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
And, according to DSCC, Apple might cram in 3 displays full inside its headset. There could be the two Sony-fabricated 4K displays mentioned above, likewise every bit one larger lower resolution AMOLED display on the back. This, according to the report, would allow Apple to create a foveated display.
A foveated brandish refers to the fovea that sits at the dorsum of a person's eye, along the retina. The fovea helps with sharpening central vision. A foveated VR headset could use eye tracking to help focus an image on what the user is looking at while lowering the resolution around the periphery. This video by YouTube aqueduct SweViver does an excellent job explaining fixed foveated rendering, or FFR.
However, all those sensors may not be working alone. Sources have told The Data that users will exist able to wear a "thimble-similar" device on their finger to help with hand tracking and other controls.
A lot of power is going to be needed to keep all this going, and Gurman's report claims that the headset will feature Apple tree's "near avant-garde and powerful chips." Apparently, the flake inside Apple's VR headset will be more than powerful than the newly-launched M1 Mac chip.
Speaking of specs, a newer study from Kuo has the headset tipped to become a caryatid or processors, suggesting Apple won't be scrimping on power.
"The higher-cease processor will accept similar computing power equally the M1 for Mac, whereas the lower-end processor will be in charge of sensor-related computing," Kuo predicts.
"Apple's AR headset requires a dissever processor as the computing ability of the sensor is significantly higher than that of the iPhone.
"For example, the AR headset requires at to the lowest degree 6-eight optical modules to simultaneously provide continuous video see-through AR services to users. In comparing, an iPhone requires up to iii optical modules running simultaneously and does not require continuous computing."
Co-ordinate to Kuo that hardware volition also need a significant amount of power. To the point where the headset will apparently come with a 96W MacBook charger to keep everything powered on.
Not and then long ago, Kuo also shared that the device could go hand gesture controls too as object detection features, which could be enabled through "highly sensitive 3D sensing modules."
"The AR/MR headset tin can find not only the position change of the user or other people's hand and object in front of the user's eyes but as well the dynamic item modify of the mitt," he predicts. As an example, Kuo suggested when users modify their mitt from a clenched fist to an opened hand, the auto could track this movement and create an image of a balloon floating abroad as if released.
A patent discovered past Apple Insider reveals that Apple has been working on some smart rings, which tin be used to rails finger and hand movements. This could be employed with the VR and mixed reality headset, to heave the capabilities of the external cameras.
The patent also mentions being able to detect objects the user is property, including an Apple Pencil. That means the headset volition be see what yous want to do, and alter its functionality accordingly. So if you concord an Apple tree Pencil information technology sill know y'all want to hand write something, as oppose to typing. And then on
Per annotator Ming-Chi Kuo, he believes that Apple volition utilize "3P pancake lenses" that will take a folded design to allow low-cal to reflect back and forth between the display and lenses. This could let for a headset pattern that's meaty and lightweight.
Ming-Chi Kuo likewise claims that the headset will come up with Wi-Fi 6E support, which would let information technology to connect to a dissever device and transfer large amounts of information with low latency. This means the headset could let a carve up device, like an iPhone or Mac, to practice all the difficult work and beam it to the headset without the need for a concrete cablevision.
Not doing all the processing in the headset itself will as well hateful Apple tree can help keep the weight depression and preserve bombardment life for much longer than it would take lasted otherwise.
Apple tree VR and mixed reality headset design
According to a report past The Data from early on 2021, the outlet received design sketches of what Apple's mixed reality headset might look like. This is apparently based on early on image piece of work past Apple engineers and may not reverberate the final product.
Concept artist Ian Zelbo likewise created some renders of a possible headset design, based on The Information'due south leak from earlier in the year.
Regardless, with this being Apple tree, we'd expect the mixed reality headset to sport a chip of slick industrial blueprint with a lot of user ergonomics in mind.
For what it's worth, Ming-Chi Kou has claimed the Apple tree headset will weigh between 300 and 400 grams (a little less than a pound) when it debuts. A lighter version is in the works for a subsequent release, Kou adds.
Apple VR and mixed reality headset: Will you desire to buy information technology?
Current reports and rumors suggest that Apple'south AR/VR mixed reality headset volition have a professional and developer focus. The thought is to ensure developers take a real device so they can go to grips with designing apps for augmented reality, ahead of the eventual launch of the Apple Spectacles AR specs.
We've read reports that propose that Apple's AR/VR headset could cost as loftier equally $iii,000, whereas other reports advise a device that'southward "several yard dollars."
But with the Apple Glasses however reportedly several years away, fourth dimension may modify the entreatment of the Apple headset. After all, the more time developers have with it, the more than apps they tin release, and the more interesting it will exist to ain. That'south assuming the price tag doesn't continue to put people off.
Granted, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has stated that Apple could be looking to launch a second-generation headset in 2024. He expects this headset to sell x million units, rivaling the Oculus Quest 2. Maybe this headset volition have much larger mass-market appeal.
Apple VR and mixed reality headset wish listing: What nosotros desire
Long-term condolement: The trouble with well-nigh VR headsets is that they're not ideal for long-term use. Discomfort by and large increases after most 30 minutes. Of form, the more comfy the headset is from the outset, the longer you'll be able to keep going.
If Apple tin can design the AirPods Pro in such a way that you can forget they're there, information technology tin certainly ensure its mixed reality headset is as pro-comfort equally possible.
Solid battery life: Currently, the battery life on standalone headsets isn't great. The Oculus Quest 2 only lasts ii to three hours, depending on what you're doing. Nosotros desire Apple'south VR and mixed reality headset to offering at least this much battery life, just ideally more.
A focus on fitness: With possible integration with Apple tree Fitness Plus and the Apple Watch, the Apple headset could be a game changer for fitness. Yous could use the device during workouts and see your progress as you follow along with personal trainers.
Proper AR: If Apple is going to kick start its wearable AR efforts with a mixed-reality headset, we want to encounter some proper AR features. Users will ever be aware that the headset is in place, merely Apple should, at the very least, do everything it tin to make sure that any see-through AR functionality is as realistic as possible. That means good image quality, no noticeable lag, and a adept field of view.
No gimmicks: If the mixed reality headset actually is a developer device that's existence released to the public, the least Apple tin do is make sure in that location'south a reason to have i. Don't release the headset for the sake of it, especially if it really is that expensive. Give people an bodily reason to option one up for themselves, beyond the logo.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/news/apple-vr-and-mixed-reality-headset-release-date-price-specs-and-leaks
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