As Apple continues to struggle to keep its new product announcements secret until it is ready for a big on-stage reveal, a new report has revealed some interesting details about the company's long-rumored augmented reality headset.
Both MacRumors and 9to5Mac claim to have seen a recent research report prepared by an Apple analyst for investors that includes new details about Apple's headset plans that seem to go against another report from back in September. The report said that the headset's processor was ready for trial production but wouldn't be as powerful as the ones used in Apple products. It was thought that the Apple headset would be dependent on the machine learning capabilities of the processor in another device, like a tethered iPhone, for its augmented and mixed reality tricks, and would mostly function like a wireless display.
An Apple analyst with an impressive track record of predicting what the company will have next, has predicted that the Apple augmented reality headset will arrive in the end of 2022, powered by a pair of processors. Why did all that add up? The headset will be able to process live feeds from more optical sensors than the iPhone Pro models.
The computing power of the sensor is higher than that of the iPhone, so Apple requires a separate processor for its augmented reality headset. The augmented reality headset needs at least 8 optical modules to provide continuous video see-through services to users. In comparison, an iPhone requires up to 3 optical modules running simultaneously and does not require continuous computing.
The use of an M1 caliber processor will increase the headset's potential capabilities, helping to set it apart from what the competition's products can do. Consumers don't really want a headset that's dependent on other expensive hardware The products were huge hits because of their affordability. Neither requires a gaming PC or a high-end phone. The Apple Watch is essentially a wrist-worn second screen for the iPhone, and from the sounds of it, Apple is planning to offer a different experience with an augmented reality headset.
