Apple’s rumored upcoming AR/VR headset could arrive as early as this year — but we’ve already seen predictions for a second-generation version, which could include high-end and low-end models.
This is via a well-respected Apple analyst Guo Mingchi (opens in a new tab) (pass mike rumors (opens in a new tab)), who said the two devices are slated to debut in 2025. Other than that, we don’t have much information about them.
As an industry analyst, Kuo talked about some of the deals Apple has been making behind the scenes with manufacturing partners — but the most interesting, as far as consumers are concerned, is the promise of cheaper headphones.
price may be right
If rumors are accurate, the first Apple AR/VR headset launching this year or next will be very expensive: $3,000 (about £2,510 / AU$4,460) and above have been mentioned by various sources, and you might think to know the situation .
That’ll put many of us out of reach, hence the cheaper second-gen model – probably at about half the price. This isn’t the first time a cheaper alternative has been mentioned, and it looks like it could replace Apple’s planned augmented reality glasses.
As for the latest first-generation models, Guo said (opens in a new tab) Now unlikely in the first half of the year. Instead, the odds of it appearing alongside the iPhone 15 handset in September are “rising.”
Analysis: Choose Your Reality
It’s always worth taking a look back at the reality of what we’re talking about here so you can understand exactly what Apple is doing. First up is AR, or augmented reality, where digital elements are superimposed on top of the real world — for example, you point your phone camera at the ground and a Pokémon magically appears.
Then we have VR, or virtual reality, completely enclosed digital worlds where everything is generated by software. If you’ve ever used something like the Oculus Quest 2, you’ve experienced this, and the processing requirements are higher because more digital objects need to be generated.
Apple’s headset appears to be able to mix AR and VR technologies: Kuo calls it an “AR/MR headset,” with MR standing for mixed reality. Mixed reality often means AR and VR combined in one device, although confusingly not every technologist uses it to refer to the same thing – sometimes it’s used to mean higher, more immersive Its AR level.
Beyond the term there is XR or Extended Reality, which is used in most cases as an umbrella term covering AR, VR and MR. Now you can dazzle your guests at your next dinner party with a thorough knowledge of all the AR and VR lingo.
