Report: Apple’s AR/VR Headset Reaches New Development Milestone

Development on Apple’s rumored AR/VR headset has reached a new internal milestone, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reporting that the hardware has been shown to the company’s board last week.

According to the report, Apple has also made good progress on “rOS”, the company’s new reality operating system that will power the headset. “That progress, coupled with the board presentation, suggests that the product’s debut could potentially come within the next several months,” Gurman wrote.

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The Bloomberg reporter believes that the first version of Apple’s new headset, which has been in development since 2015, could support both virtual reality and augmented reality. It should feature chips that are “on par with those in Apple’s latest Macs,” as well as “ultra-high resolution screens.”

“The company has been working on AR versions of its core iPhone apps for the headset, as well as new apps that will handle tasks such as streaming immersive content and holding virtual meetings,” said Gurman. In addition to this first VR/AR headset, Apple is also said to be working on standalone augmented reality glasses that could be released later this decade.

Apple is expected to announce its new headset in the coming months, and it should be the company’s first big product launch since the release of the Apple Watch back in 2015. If Facebook managed to get a headstart in the VR market with its purchase of Oculus, VR is still a very nascent business. Apple’s upcoming headset may stand out if the company nails the software and provides seamless integrations with the rest of the Apple ecosystem.

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Conversation 4 comments

  • TallGuySE

    Premium Member
    19 May, 2022 - 3:38 pm

    <p>It seems like everyone is pouring resources into AR/VR, but I just don’t see this being a big thing for most people. Where are people going to wear this? Glasses make more sense if the functionally and battery life are there. </p>

    • j5

      Premium Member
      19 May, 2022 - 5:15 pm

      <p>I agree that for the normie tech user it’s probably not going to be a big hit. I think AR/VR has a long term future with education (ok class put on your Apple VR headsets we’re going to the bottom of the ocean today), real estate (there already are shows that use VR on HGTV I think) they show the homeowner what their renovation could look like, people with disabilities can go places with VR, the medical field they can use AR/VR before and during surgeries local and remote.</p><p><br></p><p>I remember YEARS ago Microsoft had a house of the future video. And it showed a family celebrating their kid’s birthday, the dad was standing next to the grandfather then the camera turns, the grandfather is actually on the wall in the room, he’s at home, but the grandfather is walking around the wall/room and people in both places can see each other. I think AR/VR has a future with normies like this.</p>

  • Travis

    19 May, 2022 - 8:19 pm

    <p>i used to think VR was a fad because my experience was using a Gear VR headset. On a whim I recently purchased a Quest 2 and I have been blown away by the realness of it. The screen is much better than the Gear I had and the games feel so realistic. I’ve been playing Ping Pong and it is as close to the real thing as you can get. There are other great games as well like boxing and a Gun range game. We will see if it holds my interest but it is much better than I thought. If it was easier to experience it I think it would be way more popular. </p>

  • Brazbit

    20 May, 2022 - 2:48 pm

    <p>It sure is a good thing that Microsoft got well out ahead of the competition and created an insurmountable foothold in the AR field. By concentrating on the AR market while the competition dabbled in VR they guaranteed that they would be leaps and bounds ahead of any serious contenders so no one could just waltz in and cash in on years of nearly empty promises and fancy tech demos constrained to glorified engineering prototypes. With their ~6 year lead in this field they will reign as the undisputed leader, at least until about halfway through Apple’s presentation…</p>

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