For years we have been surrounded by rumors about a new augmented reality headset that Apple is working on. Below is an overview based on rumors and iOS leaks.
For several years now, there have been repeated reports that Apple is working on an augmented reality headset. Originally, the product was expected to be presented in 2020. But, as we know, that was not the case. However, there are new rumors, which promise a market launch in 2021.
Apple AR product: It all started in 2017
The first rumors about a pure AR product from Apple were documented in 2017. At the time, Bloomberg stated that Apple was working on an AR headset that could be released sometime in 2020. According to the report at the time, Apple was internally testing a headset with a system-in-package design that would run a new operating system called "rOS" - based on iOS. Interestingly, the report did not provide many details about the actual headset design. That same year, the Financial Times published an article that provided more details, explaining that Apple was developing augmented reality glasses that would have 3D cameras and would rely on the iPhone.
Analyst warned of changes in schedule
That same year, Apple introduced the ARKit API with iOS 11, which further improved augmented reality technology for iOS apps. In early 2018, Apple began talks with companies that build components for AR and VR devices, including EMagin - which produces OLED display components for this type of headset. Well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that Apple plans to start mass production of its first augmented reality product between 2019 and 2020. At the same time, he warned that the timeline could change, and a later launch is not ruled out.
Specifications, Design and Features
In the same report, Kuo mentioned that the first generation of Apple's AR headset will be heavily dependent on the iPhone, just like the first generation of the Apple Watch was. The analyst explained that all "Apple Glasses" data will be rendered and processed on the iPhone, with the new device acting as the AR screen. Since the iPhone is supposed to handle all the processing power, it is possible to develop a much lighter, more comfortable accessory to wear. Basically, like regular glasses. If the device were to work fully independently, this would not be possible. The existence of such an AR product has since been unintentionally confirmed by Apple itself. In 2019, internal files were discovered by 9to5mac hidden in a build of iOS 13. A new internal system called StarBoard is responsible for rendering and managing AR images on the iPhone and displaying them on the AR headset.
Apple is reportedly developing two different products
The discovery confirmed rumors that the device would work similarly to the first Apple Watch with WatchKit apps. But that's not all. The iOS 13 code also revealed that the company has been testing AR mode with apps like Maps, Find My, and Quick Look (for exploring web content in AR), as well as APIs to support games and other applications. Since then, a number of patents have also been discovered that relate to a device that can "provide virtual 3D views of a user's surroundings enriched with virtual content." Bloomberg described Apple's AR headset at the time as glasses that can display text, emails, maps, games, and other things through holographic displays built into the lens. Last year, Mark Gurman revealed that the company has two strategies for its augmented reality devices, one being AR glasses and the other being a more robust AR/VR headset.
According to the report, the headset aims to combine the best of AR and VR to deliver industry-leading gaming and content VR experiences while the slim and lightweight glasses will be AR-only and focus on overlaying data such as map navigation on top of what the user sees in the real world.
When will Apple introduce the AR headset?
After Apple did not introduce such a product in 2020, 2021 is being watched with great interest. Bloomberg claimed some time ago that the Apple AR/VR headset could be introduced in 2021 or 2022, while "Apple Glasses" will not be released until 2023 due to difficulties in development and manufacturing. This information was later "confirmed" by other sources. The well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently reported that Apple will indeed announce its first augmented reality device in 2021. He left open whether this will be the AR glasses or the AR/VR headset.
Will Apple unveil “rOS” at WWDC 2021?
The timing was also not commented on, which is why it can be assumed that such a product will be announced in the fall. However, Apple could unveil the new operating system called "rOS" at WWDC 2021 in the summer. Be that as it may. The fact is that Apple has continued to improve the ARKit API and the cameras on the devices to enable a better augmented reality experience. The LiDAR scanner, which was introduced with the 2020 iPad Pro and is also included in the iPhone 12 Pro models, would fit perfectly into a new AR device. So the whole thing definitely remains exciting. (Photo by World Image / Bigstockphoto)
