Oliver Cragg / Android Authority
TL;DR
- A report has revealed new details about Apple’s unannounced mixed reality headset.
- The headset can feature a waist-mounted battery, magnetically attachable custom lenses, and more.
- The headset may not work properly with third-party Bluetooth headphones.
Although it has not yet been announced, Apple’s mixed reality headset is one of the company’s most anticipated upcoming products. Despite a few leaks, there isn’t much information about the project to hold onto. However, a report has given us some new details about the device.
A comprehensive report of The information has revealed that Apple’s mixed reality headset includes some features not seen on mass-market headsets. These features include a waist-mounted battery pack, small motors to automatically adjust the lenses, a physical dial to switch between VR and the real world, and technology to make the AirPods Pro work better with the headset.
According to The information, Apple opted to forego a design that integrated the battery into the headband last year, opting instead for an external battery. This was a decision that was controversial among Apple’s engineers because it contrasted with the company’s preference for a cable-less aesthetic. The battery is said to last around two hours, which would be about the same amount of time as a Meta Quest 2.
In addition, the company has given the headset an H2 chip to provide an ultra-low latency connection with the second-generation AirPods Pro and future models. According to the report, third-party Bluetooth headphones may not work properly with the headset and have too much lag. There’s also no 3.5mm headphone jack, so you’ll need your AirPods Pro to have a good experience.
The article also summarized a wide variety of other details previously leaked, such as:
- A goggle-like design that minimizes size and weight by using aluminum, glass and carbon fiber.
- An estimated price of about $3,000.
- A field of view of 120 degrees.
- Two processor chips for image signal processing and one SoC for CPU, GPU and memory.
- Internal micro-OLED displays for each eye with 4K resolution separately.
- Follow eye
- Cameras and sensors for tracking facial expressions and body movements.
- Short and long range lidar scanners to map surfaces.
- Different headbands for consumers and developers.
The headset’s rumored price tag would make it one of the most expensive VR headsets on the market when it’s released. And it would go straight up against Meta’s enterprise-level Quest Pro.
What do you think of these new details about Apple’s mixed reality headset? Let us know in the comments below.