The next product from Apple is unveiled up and down and across. The Information got access to a whole bunch of technical information regarding the upcoming virtual reality/augmented reality headset that Apple has been developing for years now.
Plenty of chips for a demanding headset
To the latest news, we just knew that the headset would arrive with an operating system called xrOS and a complete software ecosystem. The details obtained by The Information relate more to the technical aspects of the device. It would look like a pair of ski goggles with two 4K screens inside (one for each eye) and a third screen on the outer surface meant to show the facial expressions of the person wearing the helmet in order to “break” the isolation created by experience. It would be Micro-Led tiles that would be used inside the helmet, (the same technology as on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.), and the assembly should offer a field of vision of 120° (compared to 106° on the Meta Quest Pro).
To animate all this, the helmet would be equipped with a plethora of chips of all kinds. An H2 chip first — the same as on the AirPods Pro — to reduce audio latency between headphones and earphones. According to The information, it would also not be possible to connect other Bluetooth headsets because of the excessive latency. Another chip (nicknamed Bora) is entirely dedicated to signal management which will transmit the images captured by the dozen cameras placed around the edge of the helmet in order to offer a satisfactory augmented reality experience. An M2 chip will also be present to manage all computing power needs.
A wheel on the side and a battery on the belt
Question comfort, the helmet should be made of a mixture of aluminum, glass and carbon fiber. A wheel on the right side of the device will easily switch between augmented reality and virtual reality modes. As for the battery, it would be attached to the user’s belt and connected to the helmet by a MagSafe cable to avoid accidents. It was first considered to glue the battery to the helmet, but that made the whole thing too heavy. With this external battery system, Apple hopes to be able to offer 2 hours of autonomy to its headphones – or more if you have multiple batteries on hand.
Unlike the Meta Quest Pro, its most direct competitor, Apple’s headset shouldn’t insist on looks gaming. According to The InformationApple “would see videoconferencing as the flagship application“. The manufacturer would also like to make its helmet a tool for education with educational applications in augmented reality. The only small problem, the helmet is still expected around $ 3,000. Not sure that we will see it tomorrow on the head of every student…