Apple VR Headset: Specs, Price and The Technology that Will Make it Work

Apple’s VR headset has been one of the most awaited models in the virtual reality headsets category. The popularity definitely can be owed to its brand name “Apple’. The company is known for its innovative technology and expertise in developing breakthrough products in the tech industry. VR headset by Apple will be a combined Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) headset.

Technology explained for AR and VR Devices

VR devices allow a wearer to see the content and images within the goggles, while AR devices have the power to overlay digital content on top of the physical- world views.

The headset will make use of a combination of AR and VR technology. It will have two ultra- high-resolution displays which have been developed with Sony Group Corp. and they will work on handling the VR aspect of the device. It will also come with a collection of external cameras to make the AR mode work for the device.

Expected Price and Release at WWDC

Apple VR headset was to be unveiled in the Spring of 2023, but the company later changed its plans. Now, the upcoming VR headset is all set to be launched at the biggest consumer focused event; Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) that is to be held in June 2023. The headset is expected to cost as high as $3000 and Apple is now looking at introducing all the specifics of the device at the Worldwide Developers Conference alongside new versions of iOS, watchOS and macOS. The change in plans is being said to be owed to various engineering issues related to hardware and software.The headset is going to be expensive as it is going to be marketed as a premium product in the VR headset market. Though according to Mark Gurman, Apple is working on launching a cheaper version of the headset in the range of $1500, to improve its market appeal and is planning to launch it by the end of 2024 or the beginning of the year 2025.

A Quick Review of the New Specs of the Apple VR Headset

1. The headset will have powerful video- watching feature which will allow the users to get the feel of watching a movie in a completely different setting like an outer space or ocean.
2. Apple’s VR headsets would be heavier than the proposed AR glasses and will be similar in look and feel to other available VR headsets in the market.
3. The VR headset is supposed to have 15 cameras for tracking and biometrics. Eight cameras will be used to help the wearer see the world while he is wearing the VR headset
4. There are internal sensors in the headset that automatically help in adjusting the 8K visuals according to the user’s unique facial features.
5. There are powerful cameras inside that work on translating your facial expressions in the form of a display on the outside of the device.
6. The unique part of the headset is the presence of an Apple watch- esque dial on the side which allows the user to switch between the VR views and the colour views of his physical world.
7. Rumours further reveal that Apple VR headset will capture leg movements also.
8. VR Headset will have a curved visor on the front, and this will outwardly show a wearer’s eyes with speakers on the sides. A headband will fit the device around the user’s head.
9. It will be a standalone product with a built-in battery, and the wearer can use it without connecting it to a game console like he has to do in PlayStation VR.
10. The new VR headset will be made from aluminum, glass and cushions.
11. According to the leaked specifications the Apple Mixed- Reality headset might use a custom version of M2 chips found in the company’s latest Macs. The second chip used by the company will be Reality Processor.
12. It will provide a much higher resolution display than the other existing VR headsets in the market.
13. To make room for more realistic environments, the VR headset will use ultra-high resolution 8K display.
14. It will use a technique called Foveated Rendering which tends to track the eye movement of the users when they are immersed in the virtual world. The eye and hand tracking feature are the Unique selling Proposition (USP) of the device.
15. Apple’s VR headsets will have motion sensors that will display virtual hands that will move with the remote.
16. The headset will work for two hours, per battery pack and the battery is going to be large in size.
17. SharePlay feature in the VR headset will allow the user to watch movies or play music while he or she is immersed in the virtual world.

Additional New Features of the Device

The newly rumored features include pass- through cameras and in- air typing.

What Differentiates it From Other VR Headsets Available in the Market?

Consumers using the already launched VR headsets in the market have expressed that they don't like to be isolated inside a virtual environment, but there are still some in the market who believe that the Metaverse is the next big thing in gaming and gadgets. One Apple marketing executive has revealed that Apple will never make use of the term Metaverse for their new technology. Recently Apple CEO Tim Cook told Dutch Publication Bright "I always think that people understand what something is, and I am really not sure an average person can tell you what the metaverse is" According to Mark Gurman Apple will have to make use of third-party developers to create innovative apps and games for their mixed- reality headset, so that it has a large appeal for the mass market.

Drawbacks of the Apple VR Headset

The headset has relatively low battery life. If a user wants to watch multiple movies or play for long hours, then he or she might have to buy multiple batteries.

The headset does not have any headphone jack.

The Technology Behind the Headset

Apple VR headset will have the capability to switch between AR and VR.

The device will have iOS like interface.

The device will be powerful enough to show Mac Display and Immersive videos.

How will the Device Work?

According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the VR headset by Apple will have many external cameras that will be used to analyze the movements of the user’s hands. Also, there will be a presence of sensors within the gadget’s housing to track the movement of eyes. These features allow the user to control the device by looking at it and the user can select any on-screen item like a button or an app.

To activate the task the users will have to pinch their thumb and index finger together. Users will have no need to hold anything, and this differentiates the Apple VR headsets from other VR headsets which rely on a hand controller.

Digital Crown feature is going to be the real winner for the new VR headset by Apple. It is a feature which is quite similar to an Apple watch where the wearer is allowed to switch between AR and VR modes. The VR mode of the device gives a total immersive experience but as soon as the AR mode is enabled the content fades back and becomes surrounded by the wearer’s physical environment.

The Face Time software of the headset will help in realistically interpreting the user’s face and full body in VR. This will help in the creation of a more realistic Avatar of the wearer, and these realistic Avatars will allow two people wearing the Apple VR headset to communicate and feel like they are in the same room with each other. Additional users involved will be displayed as Apple’s customized icon or Memoji.

Apple’s VR headset is going to be a product for the premium market, but its launch is the most awaited launch of the year in the tech world. The headset is definitely going to be a delight for the gamers and tech gadget lovers all across the world.

Also Read: Apple to Launch a Cheaper Version of its Mixed Reality Headset (pcquest.com)