Kuo: Apple Headset Will Use Same 96W Power Adapter as 14-Inch MacBook Pro

[TVreporter]

Unless Apple has some major game studios lined up and ready to launch with the headset, I don't see how this will garner major appeal, at least not upon launch. There has been no talk/rumours of anyone developing games for this set - surely something would have leaked by now.

Seems like a niche product — for now. I hope Apple proves me and other doubters wrong.

 

[8KYUP]

Unless Apple has some major game studios lined up and ready to launch with the headset, I don't see how this will garner major appeal, at least not upon launch. There has been no talk/rumours of anyone developing games for this set - surely something would have leaked by now.

Seems like a niche product — for now. I hope they Apple proves me and other doubters wrong.

Because Apple's success so far has been reliant on gaming?

 

[deconstruct60]

Kuo expects Apple to sell:

2023: 3 million units
2024: 8-10 million units
2025: 15-20 million units

The first year is basically around the level of HomePod speaker sales.

"...
rising to 15 million by 2025. Kuo expects a second-generation headset to arrive in the 2024 timeframe, which will be both lighter and less expensive to buy. ..."

Kuo: Apple AR/VR headset will charge using same 96 W power adapter as MacBook Pro - 9to5Mac

Ming-Chi Kuo continues his stream of reporting on the supply chain for the upcoming Apple headset device, which is expected...

9to5mac.com

That large uptick in '24 and '25 is probably not being driven by the original headset at the original prices.

3M maybe if priced in the $1,000 range. If $2K then less likely. If $3K then even less likely.

Those numbers look like highly optimitic estimates.

 

[ttyRazor]

This could just be for fast charging so there’s less downtime between sessions, and not necessarily the actual power draw of the device, same as the 14” MacBook Pro. I’d expect smaller batteries to keep weight down, so recharging quickly would be a priority. Breakaway MagSafe would make a lot of sense for this too.

 

[sdwaltz]

Apple failed to sell a $400 speaker even though it was high quality and worth the pricetag.

I just fail to see how they will convince the mass market to buy a $1-$2K device with niche use cases. I’m so curious to see what are the killer apps they will bring to drive mass adoption (probably fitness if I had to guess).

One thing is for sure, the AR part better mean it’s portable enough for people to bring it around to wherever they want to. Apple’s forte is and will always be portable devices.

I feel like doing a workout with a heavy VR headset that will end up covered in sweat is a non-starter?

 

[PC_tech]

and worth the pricetag.

Apparently not…

 

[metapunk2077fail]

Get a better headstrap. The BoboVR one on Amazon is like $35 and very comfortable.

Read the post again.

 

[metapunk2077fail]

Disagree, I love working with virtual desktops. It’s not ideal with the Oculus because the resolution is not quite high enough and the headset gets too heavy for long periods of use. But it’s still pretty amazing. If Apple comes out with a device that improves in both of those areas, a lot of people are going to find working with virtual desktops to be an amazing experience.

Cool. That's you.

I can guarantee you are a tiny minority. Most people, probably 99.999%, will not wear a VR strap-on because that's not how people like to work and using a keyboard and other actual things on their actual desktop are painfully difficult to use if they can't see them.

I've highlighted some important trends. Young people aren't as much interested in VR as they are in mechanical keyboards and other devices. Middle aged and older people are even less interested.

VR has a close association with isolation and people, such as incels, who don't want to be part of there real world. This association is impossible to remove and it may grow stronger. Regular people don't want to be seen to be part of it.

 

[lazyrighteye]

Goggle-to-goggle Messages will make the green vs. blue dot convo seem as silly as it is. Will take something like Messages to a new level that will make Google’s plea for Apple to conform to their standard, moot.

I love reading these forums as a new device/category rumor builds. It’s literally the same cycle every, single, time. Especially new category rumors… Us mere mortal know not what to make of such wizardry. “Why would I want it?” “What could it possibly do with it?” “Who would pay that much for it?” “Steve never would have…” “It’ll fail.” “Tim must go.”

Have we learned NOTHING?? 🤪

Nearly every, single, time (please refrain from rehashing the well-documented missteps, I’m well aware, thanks), that same device that no one needed, could understand nor afford managed to sell at record rates, nestle it’s way into our workflows and redefine THE standard that others would try and mimic. I see no reason this cycle won’t continue with whatever goggle-type device Apple launches.

 

[wigby]

Geez this is a straw man argument and a half! It’s weird seeing some respond to a price that’s only in their head.

What's the difference between a rumor and something that is in someone's head? Both are unsubstantiated and we are all responding to both.

 

[macduke]

Where did you come up with a $3000 price tag? If I had to guess, you’re purposely inflating the price of this product that you don’t know, only to disparage against it.

Dude, he probably came up with it reading MacRumors.com. Have you heard of it? Chillax. https://www.macrumors.com/2021/02/24/apple-vr-headset-3000/

I'm going to reserve final judgement until I see it, but I don't think most people are going to wear massive goggles on their head when they're going around in public. And I say this as a futurist and Apple fanboy (I predicted the demise of the HomePod as well, and that's not something I've done before). Things like this make more sense as home game consoles or other unique entertainment experiences at this point (immersive movies?), and maybe this first iteration will be geared towards that. Later on, when I can get AR on what look like fairly normal glasses, that might be cool. But I don't want crap popping up all the time. I think the majority of people don't want to be even more connected than they already are. We're already seeing the psychological effects of that and more pullback away from being so connected 24/7. Imagine having everything constantly in your field of view popping up and poking you to interact all day long. People will have even less chill than they already have. So it all depends on how it's implemented.

The problem is that I haven't seen many applications for AR that don't seem kinda gimmicky or creepy, aside from maybe virtually trying on clothes, glasses, makeup, and seeing what furniture looks like in your house before buying it. So I'm not gonna drop a bunch of money on shopping if my phone can do it just as well.

I tend to think the metaverse won't catch on broadly for a long time. People are beaten down by this pandemic and want to get out into the world and see people in person and experience events live. I think one day there will be more of a market for it, but I don't think the majority of people will want to live in it until it's a Matrix-level of realism and brain input. However, if the pandemic gets worse with a super deadly variant and they lock down everything, I expect things like this to be very popular, at least until that is resolved. Then I think there will be pushback for some time.

 

[cyberslammer]

PORN.

There, I said it.

 

[Matt Leaf]

It'll be very interesting to see how Apple go with this. I wonder if they can crack it? Another iPhone moment? Leaping ahead of the pack? The way I see it working is VR begins to present use cases that simply supercede other use cases and processes, to the point not doing it in VR seems silly, and it makes other methods feel archaic. For a lot of people I think it will just be a sometimes device, but others may jump in more fully.

Comparing to the Homepod is fair though, I wish Apple had tried harder there. The Mini isn't as appealing, and the Homepod just didn't compete with the competition on pricing. I'd love to know there reasons for discontuing the Homepod.

 

[hrMACnstuff]

to those wondering where the $3000 pricetag came from, it was here on macrumors last February.

Apple's VR Headset to Cost $3,000​

Wednesday February 24, 2021 8:35 am PST by Hartley Charlton

 

[richinaus]

Cool. That's you.

I can guarantee you are a tiny minority. Most people, probably 99.999%, will not wear a VR strap-on because that's not how people like to work and using a keyboard and other actual things on their actual desktop are painfully difficult to use if they can't see them.

I've highlighted some important trends. Young people aren't as much interested in VR as they are in mechanical keyboards and other devices. Middle aged and older people are even less interested.

VR has a close association with isolation and people, such as incels, who don't want to be part of there real world. This association is impossible to remove and it may grow stronger. Regular people don't want to be seen to be part of it.

Yep but the aim of Apple is AR…….or more specific XR.

 

[Jensend]

None, because the Quest 2 weighs 1 lb. It is an amazing workout experience. Spend a half hour with Leanne in Supernatural and tell me that you have ever had a better workout experience.

It's funny how people exaggerate the weight to make a point. If the true weight were so bad, why would you need to exaggerate?
All major VR headsets are under 2 pounds (anything that has sold more than 100k).
Now, I do actually think current headsets are too heavy, but I don't think that's an insurmountable problem. HTC now has a headset that's under half a pound (albeit with an external power source).

I find that the weight is less of an issue in more active experiences — I tend to notice the weight most when doing something passive, like watching a movie. If I'm playing Beat Saber or a boxing or sword fighting game, I tend to get fatigue from the motions required to play the game well before I notice any issues with the headset itself.

 

[8KYUP]

Cool. That's you.

I can guarantee you are a tiny minority. Most people, probably 99.999%, will not wear a VR strap-on because that's not how people like to work and using a keyboard and other actual things on their actual desktop are painfully difficult to use if they can't see them.

I've highlighted some important trends. Young people aren't as much interested in VR as they are in mechanical keyboards and other devices. Middle aged and older people are even less interested.

VR has a close association with isolation and people, such as incels, who don't want to be part of there real world. This association is impossible to remove and it may grow stronger. Regular people don't want to be seen to be part of it.

You can clearly see your keyboard and mouse on your real desk by using passthrough. Right now. Of course, anyone who has used even a $299.00 Quest II already knows this. You can opt for either a virtual background or your real one. That is the nature of the passthrough API. Now imagine this with 6-8 high res forward facing cameras designed specifically for passthrough. And then couple that with high resolution monitors and superior optics.

 

[mannyvel]

Most people, probably 99.999%, will not wear a VR strap-on because that's not how people like to work and using a keyboard and other actual things on their actual desktop are painfully difficult to use if they can't see them.

You could have said the exact same thing about the PC on everyone's desk 30 years ago. 30 years ago nobody knew how to type and nobody knew how to use a mouse. It just wasn't how people like to work.

Just like how people would never browse the web on a phone or enter text on a phone because the screen/keyboard was too small. That line of reasoning sure worked out.

Using the past as a guide for technology adoption works until it doesn't. It's not the greatest way to bolster your opinion.

 

[Aeolius]

Because Apple's success so far has been reliant on gaming?

Well, we did get Pippin. ? As for social media, there was good ol' Ping.

 

[Aeolius]

VR has a close association with isolation and people, such as incels, who don't want to be part of there real world. This association is impossible to remove and it may grow stronger. Regular people don't want to be seen to be part of it.

Impossible to remove? First I've heard of it, unless of course you mean something along the lines of D&D players are all geeks (and proud of it), cosplayers are all social outcasts (so they defined their own subculture), etc.

 

[Aeolius]

None, because the Quest 2 weighs 1 lb. It is an amazing workout experience. Spend a half hour with Leanne in Supernatural and tell me that you have ever had a better workout experience.

Dude! Last night I did a Supernatural workout routine, Played 3-4 songs from Lady Gaga on Beat Saber, and played for an hour in Dead & Buried II. This morning I was hurting! ?
VR gamers are all gonna be ripped!

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

A "one size fits all" solution looks like a perfect expectation of what Apple would do!

 

[mannyvel]

WTF is an incel? Someone who's incarcerated?

 

[themacobserver]

Holy smokes! That's a lot of wattage for a wearable. Why does it need to be so high?

Because it will think instead of the one wearing it.

 

[metapunk2077fail]

Impossible to remove? First I've heard of it, unless of course you mean something along the lines of D&D players are all geeks (and proud of it), cosplayers are all social outcasts (so they defined their own subculture), etc.

Yes, imposible to remove and it will get worse. Some companies, the obvious ones, have now seen there is too much money to be made from trolls, incels, grifters and scams. This will extend into VR as they are already trying to brute force their way into gaming.