The first report that Apple is working on an augmented reality (AR) headset came out in 2017 and work has been going on in secret ever since. The headset might finally see the light of day next year, but it won’t be something for the average consumer. Information spoke to someone familiar with the project.
Apple’s headset is expected to cost around $ 3,000, but it will feature the most advanced hardware ever. The company laid the groundwork for this with the addition of LiDAR sensors on iPads and iPhones, as well as the development of its own silicon.
The headset will have two 8K screens. Eye tracking will allow fovated rendering, reducing the load on the GPU without noticeable loss of quality. The image will be rendered at full resolution only in the area where the user’s eyes are focused (peripheral vision of the eye is not clear).
Several LiDAR sensors will be used to map the room and track the movements of the helmet. Apple is reportedly experimenting with several types of controls – manual tracking (activated by more than a dozen cameras), eye tracking, a physical dial on the side of the helmet, and an accessory described as a “dice.”
A report of Bloomberg suggests that Apple will design a special chipset to power this device. It will be similar to the M1, but with more processing power (perhaps similar to the supposed M2). A mesh fabric material would be used on the outside to keep the helmet light.
This device will primarily function as a VR headset with limited AR functionality. Apple could reveal it next year, although some reports claim the headset is several years away and will be unveiled in 2023 at the earliest.
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