Apple’s developer convention WWDC 2023 is edging nearer, and it might herald the arrival of an all-new Apple gadget: the Apple VR headset. The system is rumored to be a robust mixed-reality system with next-gen computing prowess that would put rival headsets to disgrace – however we should always count on it to price an arm and a leg too.
That mentioned, we gained’t know what the Apple VR headset is actually like till Apple reveals it – with indicators at present pointing to that taking place throughout WWDC 2023. Simply don’t get your hopes up on that entrance; beforehand the headset was rumored to be prepared for an April 2023 reveal (which didn’t occur) and at one level it was supposedly as a consequence of launch in 2022. We’ve even heard options {that a} WWDC unveiling could possibly be in jeopardy.
Rumored Apple VR headset particulars
– Announcement anticipated at WWDC 2023
– Predicted to price: $3,000 / $2,200 / AU$4,400
– Slim, light-weight design
– Two chipsets (M2 and one for XR)
– Assist for VR and MR experiences
– No controllers, simply hand monitoring
– Quick battery life
Even when it’s a whereas longer earlier than we all know for sure what Apple’s VR headset is able to there are nonetheless loads of rumors and leaks which paint a reasonably clear image of what we should always count on to see. This so-called laptop computer to your face will boast two chipsets – one for VR just like the Snapdragon XR2 Plus discovered within the Meta Quest Professional and in addition an M2, the identical chip present in the perfect MacBook and Macs. What’s extra, it will apparently use a 2,800 pixel-per-inch micro OLED show and as an alternative of controllers, it is believed you may management it with simply your arms, voice, and eyes.
Apple VR headset: what it’s essential know
Apple VR headset launch date: Apple hasn’t but confirmed that it is engaged on a mixed-reality headset however rumors point out the challenge shall be revealed at WWDC 2023. and launch later within the yr
Apple VR headset value: Pricing can also be but to be confirmed, however rumors have advised we’ll see one thing across the $3,000 / $2,200 / AU$4,400 mark.
Apple VR headset options: Apple’s headset is predicted to make use of have each digital and combined actuality capabilities. We have additionally heard it is going to be powered by the spectacular M2 chip.
Apple VR headset design: The Apple VR headset might look a lot much less cumbersome than its rivals in response to these accustomed to the challenge. The show unit is believed to deal with each part, whereas a single strap goes across the head to maintain it safe, although there was speak of it utilizing an exterior battery pack.
Apple VR headset battery life: Leaks have advised the VR headset can solely be utilized in brief bursts, main us to consider its battery life shall be fairly brief.
Apple VR headset controllers: The newest rumors counsel the headset will not have controllers and that’ll it rely solely readily available monitoring.
Apple VR headset information and leaks
March 30, 2023 – There are experiences that the Apple VR headset would possibly miss WWDC 2023, although it’d nonetheless get revealed there and simply launch at a later date.
March 27, 2023 – in response to leaks from a secret Apple VR headset demo the Apple VR headset won’t match over your glasses.
March 13, 2023 – a brand new report means that Apple’s first-gen mixed-reality headset has divided opinion throughout the firm, with CEO Tim Cook dinner pushing for a launch this yr.
March 5, 2023 – the upcoming headset is prone to function Continuity options much like these provided by current Apple merchandise, in response to a patent.
February 26, 2023 – we’re listening to that Apple’s 1st-gen headset is prone to launch alongside the iPhone 15 in September, and shall be adopted by two 2nd-gen headsets (one high-end, one low-end) in 2025.
February 16, 2023 – the Apple VR Headset is now anticipated to be introduced at WWDC 2023 in June as an alternative of an occasion in April.
January 24, 2023 – as an alternative of controllers the Apple VR headset would possibly rely solely readily available monitoring and voice instructions in response to experiences.
January 8, 2023 – one of the dependable analysts within the Apple enterprise says the headset will go on sale within the third quarter of 2023.
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December 2, 2022 – Apple’s VR headset would possibly now not run on software program named realityOS as an alternative it is anticipated to make use of the newly-christened xrOS platform.
November 13, 2022 – In response to one report, mass manufacturing on the headset is because of begin in March 2023, with a grand unveiling in April 2023.
October 16, 2022 – It might appear that the Apple VR headset goes to supply iris scanning as a means of authentication, enabling account and cost authorization, and straightforward multi-user switching.
August 29, 2022 – Apple’s VR headset could be known as both Actuality One or Actuality Professional based mostly on emblems. More than likely it will be known as the Actuality Professional and the Apple Glasses would be the Actuality One.
July 27, 2022 – The Apple VR headset could be managed by sporting two Apple Watches (one on every wrist) based mostly on an Apple patent.
June 27, 2022 – Apple’s VR headset is predicted to be extra highly effective than the world’s greatest MacBook, with experiences it will use the brand new Apple M2 chip.
June 26, 2022 – famous Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that we’ll see the Apple VR headset arrive in January 2023, a prediction that matches in with different current hypothesis concerning the system’s launch date.
Could 29, 2022 – extra emblems have come to gentle suggesting that Apple has trademarked the realityOS identify, and could possibly be making that trademark worldwide proper after WWDC 2022.
Could 25, 2022 – Apple has been awarded a patent for an OLED display screen cooling system for a VR headset. It is designed to be a lot much less advanced and heavy than a typical OLED thermal administration setup (through PatentlyApple (opens in new tab)).
Could 18, 2022 – Stories have emerged from The Data (opens in new tab) that helps claims that the event course of for the Apple VR headset has been hit with a number of setbacks over time, together with inside disputes and an absence of collaboration.
February 9, 2022 – Reference to ‘realityOS’ noticed in official Apple App Retailer replace logs by builders; later eliminated suggesting it was an accident.
January 13, 2022 – Stories of additional growth points counsel that the Apple VR headset shall be delayed till 2023 moderately than launched in 2022.
January 11, 2022 – A number of sources have indicated that the Apple VR headset can solely be used for brief bursts at a time, we predict this could possibly be as a consequence of battery constraints.
December 8, 2021 – Apple reportedly has excessive XR ambitions and needs to launch a second headset (probably the Apple Glasses) not lengthy after its first.
December 8, 2021 – Apple’s headset may very well weigh between 300 and 400 grams in response to the most recent experiences from analysts.
April 7, 2021 – A separate Apple patent submitting suggests its headset might enable hand monitoring and be managed by in-air gestures.
April 7, 2021 – Apple gadgets might quickly be given invisible markers to assist them work together higher with customers sporting Apple VR headsets.
March 24, 2021 – Apple is seemingly trying to make its VR headset as gentle as attainable; reportedly it’ll weigh simply 150 grams, a lot lower than the 503 grams Meta Quest 2.
March 20, 2021 – To keep away from the 8K screens consuming up battery life, Apple apparently plans to make use of subtle eye-tracking to solely activate parts of the show at a time.
March 16, 2021 – Primarily based on a patent submitting Apple’s headset might use a pair of subtle thimble rings as a wearable handset.
February 5, 2021 – The Apple VR headset might use greater than a dozen cameras and home twin 8K shows to ship a premium efficiency to customers.
February 4, 2021 – An Apple headset is deliberate to launch in 2022 with LiDar distance monitoring to assist present enhanced AR and VR options, as mentioned within the unique iteration of this text.
Apple VR headset launch date
Apple’s VR headset seems all set for a WWDC 2023 launch, assuming Apple doesn’t resolve to delay it on the final minute. It was as a consequence of launch in April, however the Apple VR headset was delayed till June as a consequence of some growth snags with its {hardware} and software program.
Moreover, even when the headset is unveiled in June, it won’t launch straight away. Professional Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said that the headset’s manufacturing schedule has been delayed by one other one or two months – if that is true then we would not have the handset in our arms till a lot later in 2023 (round September).
If the Apple VR headset is unveiled at WWDC 2023 we’ll probably discover out extra particulars about its launch date, so we’ll be paying shut consideration to the occasion when it kicks off on Monday, June 6.
Apple VR headset value
The Apple VR headset is predicted to have high-end specs and a really premium design (extra on that under) however rumors and leaks have advised that it’ll price you numerous.
Whereas the small print haven’t been confirmed by Apple the present determine floating round is that the VR headset will price an eye-watering $3,000 (round $2,200 / AU$4,400). That’s greater than as an Oculus Quest 2 ($430 for the 256GB mannequin), a Meta Quest Professional ($1,000), a Pico 4 (round $460 for the 128GB mannequin), a PS5 ($500 for the disc model), and a PlayStation VR 2 headset ($600) mixed.
This determine was first advised by The Data (opens in new tab) and later corroborated by Bloomberg – whose sources mentioned that Apple initially anticipated to promote roughly one unit per retailer per day. That’s roughly the identical price of gross sales because the Mac Professional 2019 which set you again $5,999 (roughly £4,730 / AU$8,720).
Apple VR headset options and design
Apple has but to verify the existence of its VR headset, however quite a few design particulars and options have been leaked already; giving us a reasonably good thought of what it’ll look and carry out like.
As with all leaks now we have to recollect to take this info with a pinch of salt, however that recommendation is particularly true right here. That is as a result of Apple is supposedly engaged on a number of gadgets: this headset, a less expensive follow-up VR headset, and a pair of Apple Glasses; this has led to some confusion amongst leakers about what particulars relate to which headset.
Issues are quite a bit much less complicated now nonetheless and we have since gone again by way of all of the rumors and can spotlight those right here that paint the most definitely and constant image of Apple’s upcoming system.
First off it is most likely going to be a robust system, with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (through AppleInsider) predicting the system can have related computing energy because the MacBook Professional (M1,2020). Nonetheless, probably partially because of the delays Apple appears to have deserted the M1 chip and would possibly really use an M2 chip in its headset as an alternative – with the M2 being about 35% extra highly effective than its predecessor.
We additionally count on the Apple headset to include twin excessive decision shows which might every boast a 7680 x 4320 decision that’s 4 occasions as many pixels as a 4K display screen and considerably extra pixels than another commercially out there VR system. A number of leaks have confirmed this element so we’re feeling assured that these high-quality shows will seem within the remaining design.
To assist these elements preserve battery, Apple apparently has a plan to make use of subtle eye-tracking. Eye-tracking software program within the headset is designed to comply with the place the consumer is trying and solely activate that portion of the display screen on the full 8K decision. Different areas of the display screen would grow to be extra blurred to save lots of on processing energy through a trick known as foveated rendering.
This might assist the system’s rumored brief battery life. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (opens in new tab) cites a number of sources in saying that the Apple headset is designed for use solely in brief bursts. Supposedly it is a mandated limitation to insurgent towards concepts just like the Metaverse which might require you to make use of the headset for lengthy durations of time. We suspect Apple would obtain this by deliberately putting in a small battery that requires frequent recharging moderately than imposing any form of time-out perform.
A small battery would additionally assist the headset keep its light-weight design – with rumors indicating Apple desires to make the headset as gentle as 150 grams; this is able to be over two-thirds lighter than the Meta Quest 2 (previously referred to as the Oculus Quest 2). Different rumors counsel it might really find yourself within the (extra reasonable) 300-400 gram vary.
One remaining patent revealed that we could be utilizing two Apple Watches to manage the headset, although we positively advocate taking this with a pinch of salt. Contemplating the Apple Watch 7 begins at $399 / £369 / AU$599, requiring even one in all them would make the VR headset much more costly than it is already predicted to be.
A newer rumor suggests the system will as an alternative use extra typical hand-tracking strategies present in rivals just like the Oculus Quest 2 and furthermore, it’ll forgo controllers altogether. Hand-tracking could be clunky, but when the headset depends on its eye-tracking knowledge to enhance accuracy and in addition depends on subtle voice instructions we might see the VR headset providing an awesome consumer expertise with out burdening us with handsets.
We have additionally heard that Apple is planning to place iris scanning into the headset, so completely different customers can put on it and authorize their very own cellular funds and account logins without having to sort out passwords each time. A patent filed by Apple means that the headset will work seamlessly with different Apple devices.