Big Apple AR leak says it will launch next year with M1 Mac-level power

A new report from famed Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo claims Apple's AR/VR headset will come out at the end of 2022 and feature the computing power of Apple's MacBook Air with M1 and 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1.

In a great start to the Black Friday weekend, a note seen by iMore from Kuo states:

Apple will launch AR headsets in 2022, which will use processors with the same level of computing power as Macs.

The report says it will have the same level of computing power as a Mac and can operate independently without a Mac or iPhone as a base. It also says it will support a wide range of apps. In a sweeping prediction of Apple's own answer to the metaverse, Kuo says the AR headset will replace the iPhone in 10 years.

Specifically, Kuo says the headset is coming in Q4 of 22 and will feature two processors, one high-end (similar to M1), and one low-end. The report says the headset will come with two 4K micro-LED displays from Sony, hence the need for an M1. Indeed, Kuo says Apple's AR headset will be significantly more powerful than the iPhone.

When it comes to position in the market, Kuo claims that Apple will limit the growth of the product if it is only positioned as a Mac or iPhone accessory and that an independent headset would be more conducive to growth and have its own ecosystem. Kuo also notes that Apple's goal is to replace the iPhone with AR in 10 years.

If Kuo is on track (and he usually is) with this prediction, it means we have barely 12 months to wait to get our hands on Apple's first-ever headset. Kuo is one of the oldest and most reliable Apple insiders in the game.