Bloomberg: Apple's First AR/VR Headset 'Pricey, Niche Precursor' to More Ambitious AR Glasses and Could Launch Next Year

[Red Oak]

Apple seems to have gotten themselves twisted up in a pretzel when it comes to AR/VR

They have talked it up for years, but are years away from a viable product

$20 billion dollars a year in R&D. Geez

 

[Moakesy]

I think about 95% of the rumour strikes me as highly unlikely.

Who is VR for anyway and is that your typical Apple customer...I'd say not. VR feels very like 3D TV....technically great, been around for years but just doesn't stick because no-one needs it in their life.

AR feels like it has more potential. Whilst it still hasn't proven very sticky so far, it has the opportunity for someone to come in and take it up to a completely different level....a bit like Apple did with the iPod / iPhone etc.

It doesn't have to be Apple of course, but someone needs to do it if these products are going to be worth the R&D.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

This doesn't sound like Apple. A device you have to wear on your head. WITH A FAN.

 

[jclardy]

My money will be on £2,999 if it’s completely independent of requirements for other hardware and includes noise cancelling headphones and handheld controllers. The key to its success will be the wide range of software for VR capability

I can't see them going that high. I have an Oculus Quest 2, a $299 headset that is actually incredibly smooth and polished for it's low price point. The quest has a lot of software...Apple will have none out of the gate if this thing is VR only. Assuming they immediately introduce Unity support a lot of titles could be easily ported to the platform.

The thing is - the Quest as a base + better displays + an A15 chip would be a beastly headset. That could easily be accomplished under a $1500 price point in 2021. The SOC in the quest is peanuts vs what Apple is putting out for mobile, and in a headset they could push the SOC even further.

 

[Kid Red]

Not sure the consumer market for an AR headset, but VR is in its infancy and there's opportunity for Apple in this space. However, I don't see mention of software. Will it run Steam games? Will developers need to make Apple versions of their current VR offerings? That's the important part. If you can't run Steam games, you can't compete against Oculus.

 

[cardfan]

No thanks. I’ll sit on the sidelines for this one. You guys have at it.

 

[MacsRgr8]

A device that blocks your view to reality? I am telling Jobs.

Now, this device is the real reality distortion field.

 

[citysnaps]

No... not VR. AR.

Funny how people get so frothed up from a tech journalist suggesting "pricey," and then coming up with ridiculous numbers.

 

[Force332]

Remember last year when Jon Prosser stated the Apple Glass project was originally planned to be previewed in Fall of 2020 in conjunction with the iPhone announcement? This report could not paint a more difference picture of that development.

 

[luvbug]

Sounds as though it's a good thing I'm perfectly happy with the *real*, natural reality that we already have. Like a lot of things these days, Apple development seems to be in slow-mo for anything outside of their mainline products. Perhaps that's a good thing, though. Better to get it right than get it fast.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

No... not VR. AR.

Funny how people get so frothed up from a tech journalist suggesting "pricey," and then coming up with ridiculous numbers.

"Pricey" is relative, I agree.

I certainly understand relatively expensive "pro gear" and how Apple markets it to "professionals."

If this device is say, $5,000.00, who are you marketing it to and what is your pitch?

A VR headset that plays games is, in my view, primarily a toy.

It's easy to suggest someone pay $5,000.00 to $15,000.00 on a Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR if that person uses the devices to make money--a good deal more money than the cost of the equipment. That purchaser would also get a tax write off.

But how do you market this thing?

My personal opinion is Gurman is fed information by Apple on purpose to test the waters. I think that is what this is. I am sure there are Apple employees trolling this comment section right now for reaction.

Hi Craig!!!

 

[Williesleg]

Oh I can't wait until next year every year!
Thanks Tim Apple!

 

[Psychicbob]

The Apple headset and AirPods Max constitute a mobile safe space. A very expensive one, no doubt.

 

[innovationwho]

This is just clickbait.

 

[Mrjetsondc]

If AR lets me have imaginary friends, I would be interested

 

[G5isAlive]

So Apple makes a computer without fans, but has to install fans in a headset?

The rumors coming out lately are so bizarre and so out of left field that I am starting to think someone at Apple is having fun putting out garbage rumors on purpose. These glasses have been talked about for years, I am surprised they are not further along... or are they? Maybe Apple is trying to put out misinformation to lure the competition into complacency, and then BOOM. They release a mature and great product when no one expects it. Okay, maybe thats fantasy but it makes just as much sense as these rumors.

 

[subjonas]

I’m very excited to see how this headset might benefit me for doing work. That said, if this device is too weak in order to keep it wireless and mobile, then I’m concerned it will not be of much use. It will then be too compromised, neither a good work nor a good consumption device.

 

[glindon]

Every year that goes by the less I’m interested in AR. Outside of placing virtual furniture or measurement apps there hasn’t been much progress on the software front even though Apple has been building out the APIs for years now. I haven’t seen any game changing experiences and suddenly being able to experience it with glasses isn’t going to make the lackluster software any better. Apple isn’t serious about games enough to make any kind of dent and game developers aren’t interested in Apple’s platform compared to PC and consoles. The Mac architecture change has further exasperated this.

 

[chado53]

Like everyone else. AR is srsly the only thing that matters and I see this being a huge success if the price is right. Although, price may not matter either. People will buy 🍎 no matter what.

 

[5105973]

I thought Samsung had a pretty cool VR goggle setup. You used your phone in it and it ran pretty well. I had fun. It came as part of a promotional package so I did not have to pay for it. Samsung developed two generations if I remember correctly before deciding it wasn’t lucrative enough and getting out of the business. Google did the same. So it seems odd to me Apple would go in on this and even try dealing with our eyeglass prescriptions. My Samsung device let me make adjustments with a dial so I could go without my glasses. I don’t know why Apple doesn’t do the same.

 

[Northgrove]

I think they should focus on the AR glasses rather than a stepping stone in a market that already exists. Skate where the puck is going to be, and all that. But hey, I'm not the guy who manages a trillion dollar company.

 

[djlythium]

Can only imagine the price for these... 😖

 

[huge_apple_fangirl]

Didn’t the rumors say the AR glasses would come out 2021/2022? And now they’re saying it’s VR in 2022 (earliest) and AR even later? The timeline keeps slipping which makes me wonder if this is even legit. Also, macOS is barely compatible with VR- steam games VR just dumped them- and iOS not at all. And a big bulky device that covers your face sounds like the last thing Apple would make. They have also never expressed any interest in VR, only AR. Color me skeptical on this one.

 

[otternonsense]

Feels like the VR/AR ship has somewhat sailed, unless Apple is so confident in their offering that it will prompt a 3rd VR renaissance. Really though, is there still interest and demand? 6-7 years ago Apple could have made a game changing splash. Now it feels late to a show where most of the audience has left the room. I know, "they're getting it right" and everything, but if the AirPods Max have taught us anything is that they're taking their sweet time to de-risk and deliver 4 year old designs that are still fundamentally flawed.

 

[now i see it]

it's probably not possible in our life times for humankind to make AR glasses like Ive wanted.