According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple’s new VR headset is set for a 2023 release. The product has been in development since April 2015, and although we still don’t know what it looks like or what features it has in store, the new headset will use both virtual-reality and augmented-reality tech.
Bloomberg describes the device as a mixed-reality headset, since it will use cameras on its exterior to stream images to high-resolution displays on the inside of the virtual reality headset, a technique called “pass-through” augmented reality.
The latest claims from Ming-Chi Kuo, Information and Supply Chain Analyst, also speculate that the headset will weigh significantly less than Meta’s Quest 2, feature dual 4K OLED microdisplays, and use a new chip with “similar computing power as the M1 for Mac”.
The release is set to be the next big thing since the Apple Watch, and the launch of the new product category could open up new markets for Apple worldwide.
Apple’s headset announcement comes in line with Meta’s preview of a virtual reality headset called “Project Cambria”, which CEO Mark Zuckerberg previewed last week. The new headset will join Meta’s predecessor headset, the “Quest”, which sells for $300.
Although the tech giant has never confirmed that it is developing a headset, it has hired thousands of workers in a division called “Technology Design Group”, which works on virtual reality and augmented reality technology. So far, Apple has released software for iPhones called ARkit, which allows apps to overlay digital images through the iPhone’s camera.
The announcement is expected to take place virtually next month at the WWDC annual developer’s conference.
If you see something out of place or would like to contribute to this story, check out our Ethics and Policy section.
