For years, we’ve been hearing rumors that Apple is working on some kind of fantastic AR glasses – the futuristic kind that can look like ordinary old lenses. And while it’s apparently still on its way, the company is reportedly launching a boring “mostly virtual reality” device, according to a Bloomberg report.
Apple plans to launch the headset, codenamed N301, as early as 2022. It is expected to compete with existing products such as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, although it is expected to be much more expensive. It is described as a compelling, multipurpose device for games, videos and communication.
There will be some AR functionality, which will allow you to cover real-world images, but the report says this aspect will be ‘limited’.
Current prototypes of the device are about as big as the Oculus Quest, and Apple apparently created a system that allows you to use prescription lenses in the headset rather than wearing them over your glasses. In terms of performance, prototypes have included a processor that performs better than the new M1 chip.
As noted by Bloomberg, the company normally wants to enter a new category by using trending technology and simplifying it for mainstream, but this time Apple does not want to create an iPhone-like hit for its first headset. ‘The VR headset seems to be rather a foretaste of the future – a niche product for early adopters and developers.
Granted, this is not really anything other than what Apple did in practice. Products like the iPhone and MacBook Air may be revolutionary in retrospect, but it is doubtful whether first-generation products really justify the revolutions on their own.
After early adopters picked up first-generation products, it was subsequent hardware iterations that really refined the products to the game changers they were. It looks like Apple may be on the verge of getting its AR glasses right.
The glasses, which are believed to be codenamed N421, are still a few years away, although the company originally aimed for a 2023 announcement. That said, in the meantime, I will not get too much hope for the VR headset; the report claims that there is still a chance that Apple could scrap the project altogether.
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Published on January 22, 2021 – 05:31 UTC