Apple AR/VR headset: Release date, price, design, features, and more details

There have been several rumors over the years about virtual reality headsets, augmented reality headsets, and augmented reality glasses, so what does Apple have planned for its augmented reality future? According to a slew of rumors, leaks, acquisitions, and new hiring at Apple, it might be a hybrid of all three, with a release date spread out over several years. Apple's AR/VR development team is said to number around 1,000 people, all of whom are dedicated to incorporating developing technology into future products. Apple has made a number of AR/VR-focused hires in recent years, and the corporation has also bought a number of startups that specialize in either AR/VR technology or content geared to those platforms.

It makes sense in some ways: Apple has always said that augmented reality is a fascinating technology, and it effectively already has the world's largest AR app offering via ARKit-integrated apps on the App Store, so transferring AR-focused apps to a headset platform would provide a more immersive, enjoyable experience than holding up a smartphone in front of you wouldn't be a huge leap. The company is said to be working on numerous headset prototypes, focusing not only on augmented reality but also on virtual reality.

Apple's ultimate goal is to create a full-fledged pair of augmented reality glasses, dubbed Apple Glass by leaker Jon Prosser, but the technology is still in its infancy and a few years away. For those interested in the impending smart glasses, we cover the newest Apple AR Glasses news separately. According to multiple sources, the solution might be an AR/VR hybrid headgear akin to the Oculus Quest 2, which is expected to be released in the not-too-distant future. Here's everything you need to know about Apple's upcoming AR/VR headset, including the latest rumors and likely release date.

When will Apple's AR/VR headset be available?

According to Bloomberg, Apple's first AR/VR headset will be a "pricey, niche" alternative, with Apple expecting to sell only 180,000 copies (similar to the Mac Pro) when it launches. While some had thought that Apple's March 2022 event's 'Peek Performance' tagline would hint at its AR aspirations, that was not the case; instead, the presentation focused on improvements to the iPhone SE and iPad Air, as well as a brand-new Mac Studio.

Back in late 2021, Kuo expected a late Q4 2022 release for the forthcoming headgear, which he reiterated in January 2022. That places it after the iPhone 14's early Q4 release, implying a December release, similar to the (equally narrow) AirPods Max. Due to early production challenges, however, Kuo believes that headset supplies will be limited until early 2023, when "more significant shipments" of the headset will begin to appear.

However, Bloomberg thinks that we may have to wait a little longer. According to Bloomberg, Apple exhibited the AR/VR headgear to its board of directors in May 2022, indicating that the headset is nearing completion but not quite ready for prime time. With the headgear being a no-show at WWDC, it appears that these rumors are true. Apple's development of realityOS, the software that would run on the headset, has reportedly accelerated in recent weeks, according to reports. A separate discovery of a realityOS trademark in early June 2022, which falls within the categories of peripherals, software, and wearable computer gear, backed up this theory. With all of this in mind, we don't expect Apple to unveil its AR/VR headset in 2022, with the delay implying that a release in 2023 is more likely.

What is the price of the Apple AR/VR headset?

Bloomberg claims that the headgear will be substantially more expensive than current standalone VR headsets, which vary from the £299/$299 Oculus Quest 2 to the £905/$799 HTC Vive Focus Plus for businesses, though the article does not specify a price. According to JPMorgan Chase industry analyst Yang Weilun, it might be substantially more expensive, costing Apple roughly $500 for each device to construct, and according to The Information's massive story, it could cost as much as $3,000.

After all, the comparable Microsoft HoloLens costs roughly $3500. With The Information claiming that Apple will forego the consumer market in favor of enterprise, the price seems to make sense. DSCC also expects the headset will be a high-end product, predicting that "the Apple headset will cost several thousand dollars" in early 2022, implying that it will be aimed primarily at "professionals and developers to grow Apple's ecosystem in AR/VR."

Ming-Chi Kuo, on the other hand, claims that while it will be premium, it will not be that premium. Instead, Kuo predicts that it will be comparable to the pricing of a "high-end iPhone," which costs around $1000 in the United States. A high price tag isn't surprising given the high-end specs revealed in leaks and rumors.

Apple AR/VR headset Design

The headset is claimed to have a design comparable to the Facebook-owned Oculus Quest 2, but with a sleeker style (it is, after all, an Apple product) and lightweight fabrics and materials that assist maintain a comfortable fit throughout extended sessions. Current prototypes, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, weigh between 200 and 300 grams, but the company is aiming for 100-200 grams if it can address a few remaining technological issues. The lens department is one area where it's seeking to cut weight, with Kuo describing a 'pancake' lens system. According to a memo received by Cult of Mac, the future headset will employ Genius and Young Optics' "3P pancake" lenses.

The lenses have numerous sheets of a glass packed firmly together to minimize the overall form factor, allowing for a lighter and more compact design. Those who use big lenses on DSLR or mirrorless cameras will be familiar with the concept. Despite Apple's commitment to fanless technology – even at the expense of performance, as with the MacBook Air M1 - Kuo believes Apple will include a cooling fan in the headset.

While Apple is considering utilizing Siri, its virtual assistant, to manage the headgear, the company is also considering including a real remote. Though Bloomberg was unable to disclose specifics on the remote, MacRumours' discovery of a snapshot from iOS 14 exhibiting a controller comparable to that used with the Vive Focus could provide some insight. It could also work with the Remote app on your iPhone, allowing you to control the headset in the same way you would an Apple TV, though that's just speculation from Tech Advisor for the moment.

Apple AR/VR headset Performance

According to Bloomberg, the headset has an Apple-designed chip that is more powerful than the Mac-focused M1 chipset, allowing the business to integrate a high-resolution display and cameras that allow users to "read microscopic writing" and "see other persons standing in front of and behind virtual things." According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the headset will include two chipsets, the higher-powered of which will be close to the performance of the M1 chipset, while the lower-end chipset would solely handle sensor functions. The headset will have the "same amount of computing capability as M1" when used together.

Kuo claimed in a follow-up note in early 2022 that the headset will require the same 96W charger as the 14in MacBook Pro, claiming that this "proves that Apple AR/MR requires the same level of computing power as the MacBook Pro and is substantially higher than the iPhone." The problem with combining MacBook-level capability with a lightweight design is that something has to give, and it appears that something has to give in the form of battery life. Apple, according to WCCFTech, isn't developing the headset to be worn for long amounts of time, but rather for short, focused bursts.

Tim Cook, Apple's CEO, has already expressed concerns about how his company's products are used for continuous scrolling, so this could be a strategy to encourage users to take a small step into the augmented world rather than fully immerse themselves in it. Ming-Chi Kuo also speculated that Apple's forthcoming HMD will ship with Wi-Fi 6/6E to "enhance the wireless experience," with "much better" transmission speed and battery consumption than Wi-Fi 5, citing Oculus Air Link as an example.

Apple AR/VR headset Tracking technology

The Information claims that Apple is planning to include eye-tracking technology that will "fully render only parts of the display where the user is looking," allowing the headset to render lower-quality graphics along with the user's peripheral vision and reduce overall computing needs without a noticeable visual downgrade. It will also be able to map surfaces, edges, and environments, with Bloomberg stating that it would allow genuine 1:1 tracking in virtual and augmented reality scenarios with "better precision than existing gadgets on the market." The built-in cameras might also track hand movements and show a virtual keyboard onto physical surfaces to facilitate typing.

The report goes on to say that the headset will "be fitted with more than a dozen cameras for hand tracking movements and projecting video of the actual world to individuals wearing it," according to The Information. While the technology appears to be more suited to augmented reality – particularly the ability to see people standing in front of virtual objects in a real environment – Bloomberg and The Information agree that the main focus will be virtual reality, with AR capabilities being "more limited" after allegedly hitting several development hurdles.

Apple AR/VR headset Software

Apple is rumored to be working on a special App Store for the headgear, with a focus on gaming, streaming media content, and virtual chat - similar to Oculus' standalone headset. The headset would provide "an all-encompassing 3-D digital world" focused on gaming, streaming video, and catching up with friends, according to Bloomberg (or possibly work colleagues, depending on your setup).

Until 2022, when iOS engineers began to notice references to a new operating system named "realityOS," not much further was said about the subject. It's been discovered in a number of places, including Apple's opensource dyld project on GitHub, as well as App Store submission records. According to Bloomberg, the headset will almost certainly have its own App Store where developers can create and distribute apps for the new headset.