Apple Rumored to Announce 'Game-Changer' AR/VR Headset in January 2023

[incoherent_1]

I know there are a lot of naysayers for this product but this is a potential iPhone moment. A see it to believe it product. Apple's big product intros tend to be 10 years in the making. The concept has been around for a long time but nobody has done it quite right. The weight of the headset, the miniaturisation of optical components, Apple's processor advances, software and tools development via iOS and so many factors play in to this having transformative potential.

If you can take yourself inside a virtual studio/world with Mac-like capabilities, retina-like resolution and can communicate and collaborate 'face to face' whilst still maintaining a safe tether to your physical environment so they can feel connected as one and the same (and with M1/M2 style efficiency) then we're on to something!

This product could make the iPhone look like the iPod, which is to say blow its already crazy success out of the water.

Imagine being able to go and see the pyramids of Egypt.

Whenever you want.

On a private tour.

From Cleopatra.

I don’t expect such things will be possible with the first iteration, but all of the technological puzzle pieces are there (haptics, processing power, sensors, bandwidth, etc), and Apple is known for bringing together existing technologies in ways that give an unprecedented experience.

I will never understand the people who say this technology has no future.

 

[genovelle]

I know there are a lot of naysayers for this product but this is a potential iPhone moment. A see it to believe it product. Apple's big product intros tend to be 10 years in the making. The concept has been around for a long time but nobody has done it quite right. The weight of the headset, the miniaturisation of optical components, Apple's processor advances, software and tools development via iOS and so many factors play in to this having transformative potential.

If you can take yourself inside a virtual studio/world with Mac-like capabilities, retina-like resolution and can communicate and collaborate 'face to face' whilst still maintaining a safe tether to your physical environment so they can feel connected as one and the same (and with M1/M2 style efficiency) then we're on to something!

I agree! The January announcement mirrors that of the iPhone as well which I believe was the last major release to be introduced in January to give developers more time to work with it before a final showing at WWDC and a July release

 

[Whathappened]

Did you accidentally type another $0 on the end of $300 ?!!! $3,000 really is way too expensive for consumer markets.

Steve Ballmer thought the same in 2007.

 

[rafark]

Or they release it with the BETA stamp so nobody can complain. Hope it is not rushed.

Will they release it for free though? Otherwise that beta tag won’t matter

 

[synergize]

Are the scuba tanks extra?

 

[twolf2919]

I know there are a lot of naysayers for this product but this is a potential iPhone moment. A see it to believe it product. Apple's big product intros tend to be 10 years in the making. The concept has been around for a long time but nobody has done it quite right. The weight of the headset, the miniaturisation of optical components, Apple's processor advances, software and tools development via iOS and so many factors play in to this having transformative potential.

If you can take yourself inside a virtual studio/world with Mac-like capabilities, retina-like resolution and can communicate and collaborate 'face to face' whilst still maintaining a safe tether to your physical environment so they can feel connected as one and the same (and with M1/M2 style efficiency) then we're on to something!

Sorry, but I guess, you can count me as one of those naysayers. As described by this article/Kuo, this headset can only be a niche product due to its size. There's no physical way around it. With supposedly several processors, displays, and sensors, this thing will either need a large battery (think iPhone size) or be tethered to one (on your belt?) The latter would never fly in the consumer space, but the former would mean you're running around with heavy ski goggles!

The only way this headset can be made light enough for prolonged wearing is if the iPhone does all the heavy lifting and the headset itself simply has wireless networking, the display, and sensors on-board. The same technique can later be used for the supposed follow-on AR-only glasses - which need to be even lighter.

Think about tit: my prescription glasses weigh about 20g. My iPhone weighs about 170g. I don't think anyone would be willing to carry 170g on their head all day.

 

[B4rbelith]

Imagine what 'Maps' is going to look like with this tech. You'll be able to rotate the globe, pinch to zoom, and move around any space in 3D. You will also be able to get a directional overlay of where you're walking, with your own personal hud. This is going to absolutely stun people when it comes out.

 

[jav6454]

Or they release it with the BETA stamp so nobody can complain. Hope it is not rushed.

Or vaporware.

 

[LinkRS]

At that cost, Apple will price out a number of folks. I am a big fan of VR, I own an original Rift, and have a Quest 2. However, the key component is the software, without it, it won't matter how much it costs, as nobody will want it. There will be the typical Apple "super fans" that rush out and buy anything that says "Apple," but that price is going to block many folks. Heck, the only reason that iPhones are so popular now, is that folks can get them on payment plans. If they do something similar with the Apple Headset, that would help.

However, at that rumored price, this may be targeting business users, vices consumers. Microsoft's AR headset (HoloLens) is similarly being targeted towards businesses vices consumers.

 

[jav6454]

Imagine what 'Maps' is going to look like with this tech. You'll be able to rotate the globe, pinch to zoom, and move around any space in 3D. You will also be able to get a directional overlay of where you're walking, with your own personal hud. This is going to absolutely stun people when it comes out.

I don't see this as an VR device. Apple has made no secret they stand behind AR, not VR.

 

[citysnaps]

Imagine what 'Maps' is going to look like with this tech. You'll be able to rotate the globe, pinch to zoom, and move around any space in 3D. You will also be able to get a directional overlay of where you're walking, with your own personal hud. This is going to absolutely stun people when it comes out.

Outstanding idea! Great seeing someone here flexing their imagination!

 

[citysnaps]

I don't see this as an VR device. Apple has made no secret they stand behind AR, not VR.

I think AR is Apple's main thrust. And VR will come along for the ride.

 

[jav6454]

I think AR is Apple's main thrust. And VR will come along for the ride.

VR will be driven in by devs, not Apple most likely.

 

[techfreak23]

It'll be interesting to see what they come out with, if anything. Meta just did a preview of things they are working on, but it sounds like they won't be releasing anything substantial for at least another couple of years for the cost and size of the technology to come down. Based on that and the current high-end headsets, I think the $3k price is sounding a lot more reasonable judging by the rumors.

 

[B4rbelith]

I don't see this as an VR device. Apple has made no secret they stand behind AR, not VR.

They are not mutually exclusive. The tech will allow you to dial in 'reality' as much as you like from total virtual immersion to being able to see the external world clearly. You will be able to pinch to zoom virtually to enlarge and shrink what you are seeing virtually, as well as use other gestures.

I don't think people are fully aware of how amazing this is going to look until they actually experience it.

It is 100% the future of technology, and where the whole thing has been moving for years. Jobs knew this, and Apple has been developing all of its technologies to converge into this technology. The world will move away from phones and tablets (as we know them), and move to wearables.

This is Apple's first step into this space and they want to make sure the technology seriously wows people. The price is not that important at this stage, but they will want people to experience it so they can understand what it is they're showing. Then it will develop as the technology matures and gets smaller.

 

[jav6454]

[...]

I don't think people are fully aware of how amazing this is going to look until they actually experience it.

It is 100% the future of technology, and where the whole thing has been moving for years. Jobs knew this, and Apple has been developing all of its technologies to converge into this technology. The world will move away from phones and tablets (as we know them), and move to wearables.

This is Apple's first step into this space and they want to make sure the technology seriously wows people. The price is not that important at this stage, but they will want people to experience it so they can understand what it is they're showing. Then it will develop as the technology matures and gets smaller.

We already have AR/VR from some companies and it hasn't really caught on. Not sure what Apple will do differently, but I can hope.

Apple is known to foresee certain techs, so yes, agree.

 

[SoldOnApple]

It's too bad Apple doesn't have AAA games in their ecosystem, this headset would be great for that.

 

[jav6454]

It's too bad Apple doesn't have AAA games in their ecosystem, this headset would be great for that.

This argument again?

 

[michaelprescott]

It'll be interesting to see what they come out with, if anything. Meta just did a preview of things they are working on, but it sounds like they won't be releasing anything substantial for at least another couple of years for the cost and size of the technology to come down. Based on that and the current high-end headsets, I think the $3k price is sounding a lot more reasonable judging by the rumors.

I've been following this tech for years now, Apple's acquisitions, and their research and development. From my perspective, every advancement they've made in both services and hardware has all been cleverly, strategically, progressing towards this one objective, to deliver world-changing next-gen VR/AR/MR technology. Impressively, they've monetized many of the results along the way, and it seems they're right on the cusp of bringing it all together.

Meta, Sony, and others are also making advancements. Competition and collaboration in the space are just going to accelerate progress.

I also saw Meta's preview, and had mixed thoughts about it. #1 they've addressed a number of challenges, #2 they have a hint of what Apple is about to introduce and it's better to show some of their hand before, not after, #3 they want to own the metaverse, and their hardware is a means to that end. If they rely on Apple's platform, they won't have unfettered access to private user information. If they have their own platform, they'll have 100% of user information. So, having several players competing, will ultimately be good for consumers. I hope Meta's products retain a fair presence in the market and they don't just give up on hardware development and switch back to software only.

Immersive and augmented view devices will gradually replace phones and tablets, PCs and laptops, and even compliment group viewing devices like television screens. Most, if not already all, of the hardware is in place for next-gen devices. From this point forward it becomes an iterative improvement cycle, further miniaturization, improved power efficiencies, and steady progress on resolution, emitters, and lens technology.

 

[_Spinn_]

I will believe it when I see it.

 

[twolf2919]

They are not mutually exclusive. The tech will allow you to dial in 'reality' as much as you like from total virtual immersion to being able to see the external world clearly. You will be able to pinch to zoom virtually to enlarge and shrink what you are seeing virtually, as well as use other gestures.

I don't think people are fully aware of how amazing this is going to look until they actually experience it.

It is 100% the future of technology, and where the whole thing has been moving for years. Jobs knew this, and Apple has been developing all of its technologies to converge into this technology. The world will move away from phones and tablets (as we know them), and move to wearables.

This is Apple's first step into this space and they want to make sure the technology seriously wows people. The price is not that important at this stage, but they will want people to experience it so they can understand what it is they're showing. Then it will develop as the technology matures and gets smaller.

Yes, the potential is enormous. What people are willing to wear - i.e. how goofy they're willing to look - is another matter. With current technology, you won't be able to wear all this technology comfortably on you head for any prolonged period. The battery required would simply be too heavy.

 

[CoreForce]

Introducing it in January means a lack of confidence it is ready for prime time at holiday season.

 

[lazyrighteye]

I know there are a lot of naysayers for this product but this is a potential iPhone moment. A see it to believe it product. Apple's big product intros tend to be 10 years in the making. The concept has been around for a long time but nobody has done it quite right. The weight of the headset, the miniaturisation of optical components, Apple's processor advances, software and tools development via iOS and so many factors play in to this having transformative potential.

If you can take yourself inside a virtual studio/world with Mac-like capabilities, retina-like resolution and can communicate and collaborate 'face to face' whilst still maintaining a safe tether to your physical environment so they can feel connected as one and the same (and with M1/M2 style efficiency) then we're on to something!

Fully agree and have been expressing the same.

I've not been as interested in a pending keynote/product revel since that '07 iPhone. And while demand for a HUD is nowhere near that of that first iPhone, I can't help but feel this is going to be a more significant moment than most here are expecting. We shall see.

Side note: The one thing that bugs about this rumored timing - Apple's never seems to have a pre-holiday item ready to roll (tho I want to say that maybe the AirPods Max was ready just ahead of xmas). Feels like they always miss the holiday shopping season (US) and I haven't been able to understand that strategy. Regardless, while I have been ear-marking funds for this, I am no where near the rumored $3k mark. If that's the case, I will not be jumping in. It may be wishful thinking on my part, but I'm hoping the $3k rumor is a set up - making the $1,999 price tag seem like a steal that would otherwise have been met with vitriol without that $3k plant.

 

[michaelprescott]

Yes, the potential is enormous. What people are willing to wear - i.e. how goofy they're willing to look - is another matter. With current technology, you won't be able to wear all this technology comfortably on you head for any prolonged period. The battery required would simply be too heavy.

I agree. While the community has produced a lot of VR content, and those targeting AR capable devices have also created some amazing experiences, wide-spread adoption can't happen till content creators can comfortably and productively spend more time creating within the devices. The first iteration of next-gen VR/AR/MR hardware needs to be comfortable and have remarkable clarity for hours of prolonged use. With that in place as a tool for content creators, iterative progression of the hardware will ultimately lead to form-factors that can be most widely used by everyone. But, just like phones, I don't think anyone is going to be using these devices 100% of the time, no matter what form they are in. Heck, even wearing lightweight sunglasses 100% of the time isn't normal. The only way that immersive hardware would be used 100% of the time is if it was in the form of contact lenses, and that is surely decades away.

 

[SoldOnApple]

This argument again?

Well it is kinda baffling considering all Apple's latest hardware could run any AAA game if only the games were ported to them.