Yesterday I saw a new Kuo report that said Apple plans to launch its first AR device sometime this year. Although he didn’t go into details, the analyst previously suggested that we can expect to see Apple glasses with iPhone, at least for the first generation of the company’s move to augmented reality.
While there are pros and cons to having the iPhone do the heavy lifting, overall I think it’s an approach that makes sense …
The report of the glasses being simply an external display device dates back to 2019.
Kuo says that the first generation of Apple AR glasses will depend heavily on the iPhone. The analyst says that the AR glasses will essentially function as a screen with only the real services of computing, rendering, Internet connectivity and location coming from the iPhone in the user’s pocket. Pairing is assumed to work wirelessly like the Apple Watch, but the report does not explicitly state this.
Yesterday’s report added nothing in terms of what to expect, saying only that some kind of Apple AR device will be launched in 2021.
We can think of the two AR approaches as being equivalent to today’s virtual reality headsets. The Oculus Rift depends on a computer for processing, while the headset is just a display with sensors and input devices. In contrast, Oculus Quest is a standalone VR device that does all the processing on its own. Quest does have an integrated Android phone.
The previous approach – but using an iPhone instead of a PC – has three major advantages.
First, cost. It is significantly cheaper to make a device that does not need its own computing power. This should make Apple’s glasses more accessible than they would otherwise be.
Second, weight. Removing the ‘computer’ from the headset allows the glasses to be lighter and therefore more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Third, longevity. You can buy a single pair of glasses and keep them for several generations of the iPhone, reaping the benefits of improved performance each year.
It will be interesting to see how Apple launches first generation glasses. A 2019 report stated that Apple’s long-term plan for this type of device would replace smartphones ‘in about a decade’. Personally, I am not convinced.
Are we really in a position where every person who now owns an iPhone will wear glasses? And if we’re not going to wear them all the time, does taking an Apple glasses out of your pocket make more sense than picking up the phone?
I then explained the reasons why I would probably buy a pair, but as a replacement for my Apple Watch, instead of my iPhone.
What’s your opinion? Do you agree that it makes sense to have Apple glasses with iPhone or prefer a standalone device? Please let us know in the comments.
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