Rumors about Apple’s VR headset have been circulating for years, but as the speculative spring reveal draws nearer, the details are getting more real, and some are, frankly, unbelievable. If Apple can only deliver a fraction of the buzzy specs suggested, it could be 2023’s hottest new tech.
New reports on Apple’s VR headset are coming as we get closer to Sony’s PSVR 2 launch next month, you can read all you need to know about it in our PSVR Hub 2 and find out which games to play on day one in our guide to the best psvr games 2. While Sony’s new VR headset looks fantastic, Apple’s proposed technology could win out if these rumors come true.
A recent report to Bloomberg (opens in a new tab) suggests that Apple’s VR and AR headset – dubbed Reality Pro – could be the most advanced headset yet, and will feature an iOS-like interface that works without external controllers, full-body 1-to-1 rendering, and the screen mirroring option from your Mac.
According to Blomberg’s Mark Gurman, who is a regular Apple Predictions come to fruition, this Apple VR and AR headset will use multiple external cameras to track your movements and hands; sensors in the headset itself will be able to track the movement of your eyes. This combination is rumored to mean you’ll be able to ‘look’ at a menu or option, then pinch your fingers to select it – there’s no need for a controller.
We’ve yet to see what the Apple Reality Pro headset will look like, but that hasn’t stopped the designers from speculating. Renderings by designer Antonio de Rosa (opens in a new tab) are among the best (see on this page). Would you wear this? I want.
Other than that, Gurman’s report suggests we’ll be able to switch between full VR and AR by twisting a “digital crown”, as shown on Information (opens in a new tab) early January. This is similar to how PSVR 2 will approach pass-through video to let you see the world around you; but Apple’s Reality Pro seems to be taking augmented reality more seriously, with speculation about 3D screens for iPhone and Mac overlaid in your world.
Apple seems to be chasing after The next helmet from Meta, which will mix VR and AR, in a fight for the metaverse, with much of this new Apple VR and AR headset focusing on collaboration between users. Headset wearers who make one-to-one FaceTime calls will see their friends rendered 1-to-1 as lifelike body models. Recall that Meta took a low-res cartoon approach to its user avatars, these look like Nintendo Miis rather than realistic people. Given that the future of design and the internet is all about collaboration and persistent content, this approach from Apple could put its VR and AR headset front and center.
The rumors reported by Gurman also include more options for full immersion, for example, there is speculation that you will be able to watch videos on a large screen in VR cinema with connectivity to AirPods Pro to add spatial audio sensitivity. This sort of approach has already been tested, with Sony releasing a virtual headquarters app for watching concerts and football matches for the original PSVR.
Interesting way, Reuters (opens in a new tab) reported that Apple’s headset is being developed in conjunction with Disney and Sony, to bring content to the technology build for video streaming – there will no doubt be VR-enabled Apple TV content.
There’s been confusion over whether Apple’s Reality Pro headset will be wired, like the PSVR 2, or wireless, like Meta Quest Pro, but given Gurman is also raising speculation about the battery – about the size of two iPhones 14 pro Max – for two hours of power, wireless will be an option.
If even half of Gurman’s rumors come true, Apple’s AR and VR headset could be the most advanced virtual reality headset on the market (although we haven’t yet heard of display resolution etc. ), but it could come at a price. Gurman suggests the Apple Reality Pro will sell for $3,000, which puts it out of reach for many, and suggests it’s aimed at professionals and studio use. Although there is also speculation Apple is developing a lower cost version for $1500 which puts it head to head with high end PC VR headsets but makes the PSVR 2 look like a good one. affair.
While rumors around Apple’s VR and AR headset support, it’s best to also reflect on past gossip with the Apple rumors from 2022 it never happened. As I say, though, if even a fraction of Gurman’s Apple VR headset leaks come true, Reality Pro could be exceptional.
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