Apple’s mixed-reality headset may not require being paired to an iPhone to work, and it’s thought that the first release of the device could work independently of any other Apple device.
It’s rumored that Apple may be preparing its initial headset to finally surface this year, potentially during or before WWDC 2023. The device could function on a more standalone basis than originally thought, and according to Mark Gurman’s “Power On” newsletter for Bloomberg, the headset “probably won’t require” an iPhone for setup, nor for actual use. Sources say the latest versions of the headset being tested apparently can be set up without needing an iPhone, with the headset able to download a user’s content and iCloud data directly for itself.
It’s also rumored that while the headset will be able to work independently of other hardware, users will still be able to transfer data to the headset from an iPhone or iPad. This has recently been proven to be possible, as Meta’s Quest 2 is already designed to be used separately from other hardware, though users can still interact with it via a companion app.
It’s also been noted that interacting with the headset is via eye and hand tracking, including in-air typing, but this has apparently been “finicky in testing.” While users may have to rely on an iPhone’s keyboard for text entry, it is expected that software updates will be deployed to provide rapid improvements after launch.
Gurman also stated that he thinks a WWDC launch could be likely for the headset, which may be dubbed the “Reality Pro.” Shipments could theoretically take place by the end of 2023.
Looking beyond the first headset, Gurman also noted that Apple is already planning follow-up models, including a cheaper version due at the end of 2024 or into 2025. Using a lower-end display and processor, the headset tentatively titled Reality One will be much cheaper than the initial $3,000 model.
A second-generation Reality Pro headset is also said to be in the works, and could offer considerably more performance than the M2-equipped first-gen model. An apparent complaint is that the M2-based model isn’t powerful enough to support more than two realistic VR representations of participants at a time.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and Bloomberg