Apple continues to be anticipated to launch a combined actuality headset this yr, however technical points have compelled the tech large to shelve plans for the maybe extra essential light-weight augmented actuality glasses that had been anticipated later.
Bloomberg on Tuesday reported that Apple had indefinitely delayed work on the long-rumored AR glasses and pared again the scope of the challenge. Apple will as a substitute goal 2024 for the discharge of its lower-cost — however nonetheless possible costly — combined actuality headset.
Whereas the mixed-reality headset is predicted to value round $3,000, Bloomberg studies Apple is planning to comply with up with a decrease value combined actuality headset priced round $1,500.
Apple-focused provide chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in December estimated Apple would ship its combined actuality headset within the second half of 2023 slightly than the second quarter, citing software-related points for the delay.
Additionally: Apple’s VR/AR headset is coming. This is every thing we all know to this point
The combined actuality headset combines parts of increase actuality and digital actuality, with parts together with eyeball monitoring, a number of cameras, pancake optics, and lenses. AR customers see the world by a lens that’s overlaid with digital photos and knowledge. VR alternatively, resembling Meta’s Oculus, encloses customers in a digital world.
The light-weight AR equipment is extra like conventional glasses — and is smaller and extra advanced to producer.
Per Mark Gurman’s Energy On e-newsletter, Apple had till just lately deliberate to unveil the headset this month, however has pushed again the occasion to its Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) in June. However there was additionally hypothesis final yr that Apple may take the wraps off the headset at WWDC 2022.
Apple has utilized for numerous AR/VR-related logos, together with “RealityOS”, “Actuality One”, “Actuality Professional”, and “Actuality Processor”. The OS is prone to be known as xrOS, whereas the gadget could be known as the Actuality Professional. XR stands for eXtended Actuality. Apple execs have shunned the phrase ‘metaverse’.
The headset is claimed to run on an Apple Mac M2 chip, characteristic at the very least 10 cameras inside and outside the gadget, and have very high-resolution shows.
Apple has built-in AR options into the iPhone for years, however the AR headset shall be vital because it turns into the iPhone maker’s first new {hardware} class since launching Apple Watch in 2015.
