2023 could be the year in which we finally officially see Apple’s long-awaited mixed reality headset (with virtual reality and augmented reality functions); those also known as apple glass. The Cupertino company, in fact, could announce them even months before they go on sale to prevent data leaks or rumors from spoiling the surprise of the launch, although it seems that it is already late. A large leak from The Information has revealed the main features of these new glasses, that will arrive with a specific button to be able to make a transition between the real world and the virtual world, glasses with a greater field of vision in front of the Meta Quest Pro and many more news.
Undoubtedly, one of the most interesting novelties, and of which we barely knew details, is the dial that the Apple Glass will include to be able to switch between the real world and the virtual world. This button could arrive with a design similar to the digital crown that is included in Apple Watch and that we also see in AirPods Max, so we intuit that just by turning it we can activate the viewer to show content in virtual reality or augmented reality . Or, disable it so that we can only see the real world through the lenses.
And speaking of lenses, users who commonly wear glasses they will be able to use the Apple Glass with customized prescription lenses that can be attached to the visor magnetically. Apple’s mixed reality headset will also have a small motor capable of automatically adjusting the interpupillary distance of the lenses. That is, the distance between the two pupils of the eyes. In this way, Apple Glass will be able to offer an adjusted field of vision for each user. This will be 120 degrees; much greater than other glasses, such as the Meta Quest Pro, whose angle is 106 degrees.
External battery, two processors and a headset with integrated speakers
One of the most curious details of the Apple Glass will be its battery. This, in particular, could be a component independent of the viewer. The user would have to put it on the waist, and it would be connected to the headband of the glasses by means of a magnetic cable similar to the one the company includes in its Macs. Apparently, the battery will last less than 2 hours on a single charge, but they can be interchangeable.
Regarding the design, Apple Glass is expected to be made of aluminum, glass, and carbon fiber; materials that will help bring lightness to the visor. The glasses will have a multitude of sensors, but most of them will be hidden to offer a better aesthetic. Apple, on the other hand, would have developed two types of headsets. One aimed at consumers, with a material similar to the one the company uses in the Apple Watch sports straps and with built-in speakers, and another aimed at developers. The headbands, yes, will not be interchangeable, as previously rumored.
Apple Glass is expected to include a H2-chip to improve the connection with AirPods Pro 2 and the company’s future headphone models. Apple’s VR headset It would also come with two processors. One of them, the main one, would have a CPU, a GPU, dedicated memory. The second will be a dedicated image signal processor in charge of improving the quality of distorted images captured through the external cameras.
Some previously rumored features coming to Apple Glass
The Information It has also detailed some features that we already knew about thanks to previous leaks. Among them, that heThe Apple Glass will have an external screen so that users in the environment can see the expressions of the person who wears them. Of course, there will also be internal screens: two in this case, one for each eye, and with 4K resolution (both will form a vision in 8K resolution).
Aiming for the eyes, there will also be a camera dedicated to capture more precisely the eye movements of the person, in order to later reflect them in an avatar. The viewer will also feature more than a dozen cameras to capture facial expressions.
Regarding the software, the aforementioned medium affirms that Apple will allow you to run iOS applications on Apple Glass, although they will be displayed in 2D. The glasses are also designed to hold virtual conferences through avatars that will show all the facial expressions and movements that the user makes. In addition, the AR / VR glasses will be intended for the use of apps in a more intuitive way. For example, to view a 3D map on a surface. They have also been designed to display educational resources, and not so much for games, as initially expected.
Apple Glass was scheduled to be released in 2022, according to The Information, but the company decided to delay its announcement for unknown reasons. It is also expected that the virtual reality and augmented reality viewer will have a fairly high price: from 3,000 euros in its most basic configuration. They could be officially revealed throughout 2023.