Kuo: Apple's 2022 AR/VR Headset to Support Faster Wi-Fi 6E

[MacRumors]

Apple plans to release its first mixed reality headset with Wi-Fi 6E support in 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a note sent out to investors.

Concept render by Antonio De Rosa based on recent reports​

Apple is rumored to be working on at least two AR projects that include an augmented reality headset set to be released in late 2022, followed by a sleeker pair of augmented reality glasses coming at a later date.

According to Kuo, Apple's first head-mounted device and similar competing headsets will adopt faster Wi-Fi 6E support to meet the needs of the high-end, immersive experience they deliver.

The adoption of the latest Wi-Fi specification is a basic requirement for head-mounted displays (HMDs) to improve the wireless experience. New HMDs from Meta, Apple, and Sony will all adopt Wi-Fi 6/6E in 2022.

[...]

We forecast Meta, Apple, and Sony to be the most influential brands in the metaverse device market in 2022, with Meta, Apple, and Sony launching new HMDs in 2H22, 4Q22, and 2Q22, respectively.

Kuo breaks down the logic of his expectation by drawing attention to this year's launch of the Oculus Air Link, a wireless way to play VR games on the Oculus Quest 2, which was launched by Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook.

"Wi-Fi 6 is significantly better than Wi-Fi 5 in transmission speed and power consumption, so Meta's latest Oculus Quest 2 supports Wi-Fi 6," explains Kuo. "Wi-Fi 6 helps Oculus Air Link operate more stably and allows for a display refresh rate of up to 120Hz (compared to 72Hz or 90Hz for Wi-Fi 5)."

A previous report by The Information claimed Apple's first AR/VR headset will need to be wirelessly tethered to an iPhone or another Apple device to unlock full functionality. Some reports suggested this year's iPhone 13 series would feature Wi-Fi 6E, but the rumor never panned out. If both the report from The Information and Kuo's latest headset prediction are accurate, Apple's 2022 iPhone will presumably feature Wi-Fi 6E support.

Wi-Fi 6E offers the features and capabilities of Wi-Fi 6, including higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates, extended into the 6 GHz band. The additional spectrum provides more airspace beyond existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, resulting in increased bandwidth and less interference for devices that support Wi-Fi 6E.

In terms of the type of software that the headset will be designed to run, Apple is believed to be focusing on gaming, streaming video content, and video conferencing, with a special emphasis on gaming. Writing in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple is "shooting for" a headset that can handle high-quality VR games:

Apple's first headset will be of the mixed reality variety. That means it will have both AR and VR capabilities. While gaming can be done in both environments, virtual reality is what you want for seriously high-performance games with top-tier graphics. For Apple's first headset, that's what it's shooting for: a mixed reality experience that can handle games in high-quality virtual reality with snappy chips and high-end displays.

Kuo recently claimed mass production of Apple's headset could be delayed until the end of the fourth quarter of 2022, but today's report suggests it could still launch in the same quarter. This AR/VR headset that's in development is separate from a set of augmented reality smart glasses that are in the works. The sleeker, smaller smart glasses will follow the headset and are expected to launch in 2023. More details are available in our AR/VR roundup.

Article Link: Kuo: Apple's 2022 AR/VR Headset to Support Faster Wi-Fi 6E

 

[JOLoughlin]

WiGig 2 support would be more useful and the new standard for a VR/AR headset that has wireless streaming. Unfortunately it would require additional hardware on both ends. Say a thunderbolt dongle on a mac.

 

[alpi123]

Apple Glasses would be the next big thing from Apple. Can't wait.

 

[ooans]

The day is here! The 2021 Macbook Pro is obsolete!

It doesn't have Wi-Fi 6E, but only Wi-Fi 6.

 

[ersan191]

"Wi-Fi 6 helps Oculus Air Link operate more stably and allows for a display refresh rate of up to 120Hz (compared to 72Hz or 90Hz for Wi-Fi 5)."

Right because WiFi 5 can't handle 150mbps apparently. I must be imagining using 120Hz air link on my ac router nearly every day then.

 

[rukia]

While Apple silicon seems to be overkill for iPhones the outstanding performance per watt would be a strong competitive advantage for MR headsets. It's easier for Apple to build a headset than for Meta or Sony to build a world class SOC.

 

[dantracht]

With all due respect, I came here to say that: of all the rumored products in the pipeline, I care about this the least.

 

[Mike_Trivisonno]

There will be a notch in the field of view.

 

[asiga]

My first reaction is: This doesn't belong to Apple, because Apple is about simple design, and wearing that is anything but simple. But I was thinking about Jobs-era Apple. However, for the modern Apple, it makes a lot of sense: if people shouldn't be in control of the OS version in their devices, nor in control of their cars... why should they use their eyes, to begin with? It's a sort of involution, a path to dehumanize people by negating both what be do naturally (use our eyes) and what be learnt to do (drive cars).

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Tim has been praising AR for at least 5-6 years now and how critical it is to Apple. How he is it’s number one fan etc…so much time, capital and resources allocated to this. Over 300 patents too. One can only imagine what it will be…for businesses and consumers.

 

[Trevorlane]

There will be a notch in the field of view.

Forget the notch, there's a bitten apple that I'll be staring through. Talk about unsubliminal messaging

 

[BvizioN]

There will be a notch in the field of view.

I feel that the notch memes are gonna get old real quick.
Internet just can't survive without memes.

 

[gamersevil]

With all due respect, I came here to say that: of all the rumored products in the pipeline, I care about this the least.

You cared enough to write a comment though.

 

[AlexESP]

My first reaction is: This doesn't belong to Apple, because Apple is about simple design, and wearing that is anything but simple. But I was thinking about Jobs-era Apple. However, for the modern Apple, it makes a lot of sense: if people shouldn't be in control of the OS version in their devices, nor in control of their cars... why should they use their eyes, to begin with? It's a sort of involution, a path to dehumanize people by negating both what be do naturally (use our eyes) and what be learnt to do (drive cars).

Yes, of course, because Steve Jobs was well known for advocating that “people should be in control of the OS version in their devices”. Apple’s spirit basically hasn’t changed with Cook.

 

[gamersevil]

My first reaction is: This doesn't belong to Apple, because Apple is about simple design, and wearing that is anything but simple. But I was thinking about Jobs-era Apple. However, for the modern Apple, it makes a lot of sense: if people shouldn't be in control of the OS version in their devices, nor in control of their cars... why should they use their eyes, to begin with? It's a sort of involution, a path to dehumanize people by negating both what be do naturally (use our eyes) and what be learnt to do (drive cars).

Kids these days with their VR and automated cars. Even their clothes are premade by society. Back in my days we rode horses and gathered woods for warmth. They took from us what we learned (hunting for food) by inventing farm animals!

 

[lanomds1]

I’m so excited for the accessibility features these glasses could deliver for people with low vision. Can’t wait.

 

[magicschoolbus]

but can I go into the meta verse with these?

 

[Marbles1]

".... with a special emphasis on gaming."

"Writing in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says Apple is "shooting for" a headset that can handle high-quality VR games"


I simply don't believe this. Apple have never understood gaming or taken it seriously. They've done everything they can to the opposite in fact.

 

[huge_apple_fangirl]

Am I the only one who doesn’t really think this is coming?

 

[jlocker]

I just built a real gaming rig with WIFI 6E on the motherboard along with Thunderbolt 4. So Apple gave up on expandable and gaming computers, So my next purchase will be a ASUS 6E gaming router to replace my 2 year old WIFI 6 router. Sorry Apple, you killed gaming, so it is going to be hard to capture game customers back after shutting things down like Bootcamp, Windows 11 support, shutting down Nvidia and not supporting EGPU hardware, and not aggressively taking all that money you have stock piled away and going after game developers like Microsoft has over the last year.

I sold 10 oculus quest 2 this weekend alone at Best Buy.

 

[Lcgiv]

Tim has been praising AR for at least 5-6 years now and how critical it is to Apple. How he is it’s number one fan etc…so much time, capital and resources allocated to this. Over 300 patents too. One can only imagine what it will be…for businesses and consumers.

If it’s not a Newton…

 

[KOTN91]

This is the future but the trouble is Ming Kuo is usually wrong nowadays

 

[Lcgiv]

but can I go into the meta verse with these?

Only the iVerse, “Metaverse” will be Facebook and WhatsApp in your head

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Wonder if Apple Glasses Series one will be carrying a notch?

 

[Alpha God Vonn]

Ummm No. too Much Radiation around Your Head. Cancer & Many other health issues.