Apple’s RealityOS for rumored headset appears in trademark application

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

RealityOS, the name Apple is said to be using for its rumored virtual and augmented reality headset, has appeared in a trademark filing. References to the name of the reality operating system have appeared in Apple's software.

It is common for large companies to apply for trademarks under one-off company names, like Realityo Systems, in the state.

The trademark application shows that Apple is about to announce its long-rumored headset. The company's board of directors reportedly tried out the device, which is common practice ahead of a public launch. According to a report in January, the headset was supposed to be released in late 2022, but it could be delayed due to development challenges. The headset could be released in 2023, according to the report.

The trademarks are also the only ones owned by this company “Realityo Systems LLC.” They were originally filed on December 8, 2021. This was just two months before “realityOS” began showing up in Apple source code.

— Parker Ortolani (@ParkerOrtolani) May 29, 2022

The trademark documentation refers to the design and development of computer hardware, software, peripherals, and computer and video games.

The RealityOS trademark has not been applied for by Apple, and instead has been registered by a company called Realityo Systems. According to 9to5Mac, Apple has used a shell company to register macOS update names in the past.

The kicker? It's very likely that Apple is behind both Realityo Systems and Yosemite Research. The only two examples of the name being used in public are listed in the RealityOS filings for a trademark and service mark.

The applications have been discovered just days before Apple is due to kick off its annual developer conference next week on June 6th, and are listed with deadlines of June 8th, leading to speculation that we could see the headset announced during Apple's keynote. The June 8th date is likely a coincidence, and coincides with a key legal deadline that comes six months after a trademark is filed.