Apple’s long-rumored AR/VR headset, which has been in the works for several years, is expected to be released this year. According to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the device is not intended for periods of usage with the tech giant ruling out the “metaverse” vision in preference of shorter experiences.
Apple’s mixed-reality headset is not an ‘all-day device’
Mixed reality headsets are expected to be all the rage in the coming years with Meta’s Oculus being one of the most popular gifts over the holiday season. However, while some companies are leaning toward the idea of users spending a long time in their headsets, Apple is reportedly not.
In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman reveals he’s been told “pretty directly” that the idea of a “metaverse” is “off limits” internally at Apple. Rather than using the headset as an “all-day device,” the Cupertino tech giant intends for it to be used for “bursts of gaming, communication and content consumption”.
Here’s one word I’d be shocked to hear on stage when Apple announces its headset: metaverse. I’ve been told pretty directly that the idea of a completely virtual world where users can escape to — like they can in Meta Platforms/Facebook’s vision of the future — is off limits from Apple.
So far what we know about the headset’s design is that it is allegedly similar to Facebook’s Oculus device but will be lightweight, less than 150 grams, for more comfortable all-day wear. To achieve that, the company will use Fresnel’s hybrid ultra-short focal length lenses and OLED displays with 3,000 PPI. In addition, the device will feature three displays, not the traditional two.
Powered by an M1-like processor, the headset will also feature advanced hand gesture detection, eye tracking, iris recognition, voice control, skin detection, facial expression detection, and spatial detection.
In terms of price, the headset will cost several thousand dollars since the first-generation headset will be higher-end, aimed at professionals and developers to expand Apple’s ecosystem in AR/VR.
