For years, we’ve heard rumors that Apple is working on some kind of fanciful AR glasses – the futuristic type that can look like normal old lenses. And while those are apparently still on the way, the company is reportedly settling for a more boring “virtual reality” device to begin with, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Apple is planning to launch the headset, code-named N301, as early as 2022. It is expected to compete with existing products like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, although it should be much more expensive. It is described as an immersive and multifunctional device for games, videos and communication.
There will be some AR functionality, allowing you to overlay images over the real world, but the report says that aspect will be “limited”.
Current prototypes of the device are roughly the size of the Oculus Quest, and Apple reportedly created a system that allows you to wear prescription lenses in your headset instead of trying to wear it over your glasses. In terms of performance, the prototypes include a processor that outperforms the new M1 chip.
As noted by Bloomberg, the company normally likes to enter a new category by taking trend technology and simplifying it into the mainstream, but this time, “Apple is not looking to create a hit like the iPhone for its first headset” . Instead, the VR headset appears to be a taste of what’s to come – a niche product for early users and developers.
This is certainly not much different from what Apple did in practice. Products like the iPhone and MacBook Air may be revolutionary in retrospect, but it is debatable whether first generation products really justified these revolutions on their own.
After the first users took the first generation products, it was the subsequent hardware iterations that really refined the products and made them innovative. It looks like Apple may be relying on this story to try to get their AR glasses right.
The glasses, supposedly codenamed N421, are still “several years ahead”, although the company originally aimed at a 2023 ad. Having said that, I wouldn’t have very high hopes for the VR headset in the meantime; the report states that there is still a chance for Apple to dismiss the project altogether.
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Published on January 22, 2021 – 05:31 UTC