Apple plans to launch its so-called mixed reality headset “in mid-2022”, followed by augmented reality glasses by 2025, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a research note from TF International Securities, obtained by MacRumors .
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“We anticipate that Apple’s MR / AR product roadmap includes three phases: type of helmet in 2022, type of glasses in 2025 and type of contact lens in 2030-2040,” wrote Kuo. “We anticipate that the helmet product will provide AR and VR experiences, while types of glasses and contact lenses are more likely to focus on AR applications.”
Kuo said that several prototypes of mixed reality headsets from Apple currently weigh 200 to 300 grams, but he said the final weight will be reduced to 100 to 200 grams if Apple can solve technical problems, which would be significantly lighter than than many existing virtual reality devices. Due to a complex design, Kuo expects the price of the headset to be around US $ 1,000 in the United States, in line with the price of a “next-generation iPhone”.
In line with a previous rumor, Kuo said the headset will be equipped with Sony Micro-OLED monitors and various optical modules to provide a “transparent AR experience”, adding that the headset can “also offer a reality experience. virtual”.
Kuo said the headset will be “portable”, with independent computing and storage capabilities, but not truly “mobile” like an iPhone. “When the technology improves, we believe that the new helmet product can also improve your mobility,” he said.
Kuo believes that the Apple headset has the potential to provide an “immersive experience that is significantly better than existing virtual reality products”.
Last month, The information reported that the headset will be equipped with more than a dozen cameras to track hand movements, along with two 8K ultra-high resolution monitors and advanced eye tracking technology. The cameras would be able to pass real-world video through the viewfinder and display it to the user.
“While Apple is focusing on RA, we believe that the hardware specifications for this product can provide an immersive experience that is significantly better than existing VR products. We believe that Apple can highly integrate this helmet with video-related applications ( for example, Apple TV +, Apple Arcade, etc.) as one of the top selling points. “
As for Apple’s augmented reality glasses, Kuo expects a launch in 2025, at the very least, and he believes that “there is still no prototype”.
Kuo said the glasses will provide a “transparent optical AR experience” and will be positioned more as a “mobile” product than mixed reality headsets. “While the helmet provides a great immersion experience, the glasses focus more on providing a ‘mobile + AR’ experience,” he said. Kuo is eager for Apple’s glasses to integrate with the much-talked about Apple car, which is likely to take place several years ago.
Finally, Kuo looked to the future and predicted that Apple will launch “contact lenses” sometime after 2030. He said that this product would bring electronics from the “visible computing” era to “invisible computing”, but did not offer more details .
Apple is highly committed to mixed reality / augmented reality technologies, according to Kuo, who has a “positive outlook” about Apple’s future in space. Kuo said that the main beneficiaries of the headset supply chain include Sony (exclusive monitor supplier), Pegatron (exclusive EMS) and suppliers related to optical components.