Last week, Apple internally teased its upcoming mixed reality (MR) headset to its board of members, including Chief Executive Tim Cook.
According to reports, the prototype headset is near completion at an advanced production stage. Rumours claim that Apple will release its MR headset either later this year or next, namely amid competition from Meta’s upcoming MR and virtual reality (VR) headsets expected at the end of 2022.
The news comes after Apple reportedly delayed its MR headset due to production challenges related to overheating, cameras, and software development issues, leading to a release window in late 2022 or early 2023.
In early April, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman found sections of Apple’s iOS 16 beta source code that suggested the MR headset would integrate onto iPhone devices, stating the code was “chock-full of references to the headset and its interactions with the iPhone.”
Although he states that Apple is unlikely to reveal its headset at next month’s “Apple Worldwide Developers Conference.” Gurman explained that the device will debut during the life-cycle of iOS 16, “which kicks off in June.”
Inside Look
The news comes after Veteran Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed vital details concerning the MR device in January.
The analyst said at the time that Apple’s upcoming headset would contain a fully integrated M1 chip, making the device as powerful as a MacBook, a 5-nanometre chip and a 4-nanometre chip from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp, and a 96W USB-C power adapter.
Furthermore, Kuo revealed that Apple is including a separate chip in its upcoming MR headset, which provides sensor-related computing to enhance consumer and enterprise use cases.
Apple’s Special Projects Team made their first Presentation to Apple’s Board regarding their Future MR Headset https://t.co/VS68bTheOg pic.twitter.com/U2BSiUVp6W
— Patently Apple (@PatentlyApple) May 19, 2022
Additionally, Apple watchdogs PatentlyApple reported on more than 349 patent fillings by the Cupertino-based firm for MR designs.
Key patents include a real-time 3D (RT3D) spatial audio system, facial biometrics, 3D Time of Flight (ToF) modules, a unique MR user interface, and accurate augmented reality (AR) displays for poor lighting conditions, among many others.