One of the things that most impressed early adopters of the Apple Vision Pro was the ability to place virtual apps anywhere in 3D space using the headset's augmented reality capabilities and then lock them into position. Multiple windows are supported, making for quite the futuristic computing experience. Now, owners of the Meta Quest 3 headset can experience something very similar.

New movable windows for multitasking have been added to the entire Meta Quest lineup, but it's the Meta Quest 3's AR capabilities that make for the most Apple Vision Pro-like experience.

The result is a huge upgrade for Meta Quest 3 users that will be immediately familiar to those who have seen what the Apple Vision Pro can do.

Movable panels for multitasking

Meta announced the new software update in a blog post that detailed just what users can expect from version 67.

"The v67 update adds experimental support for moving and rearranging 2D apps in your Home environment," the blog post explains. "Replacing Meta Quest’s default three-panel groupings, you can now grab and move panels around your space to create the most comfortable (or the most optimal) experience for whatever you’re doing, whether idly watching a video on YouTube while folding laundry or listening to music while knocking out some work."

Meta says that users can arrange up to three panels in a new "hinged" layout before placing an additional three more panels anywhere they would like "creating the ultimate multitasking setup."

The new features are rolling out gradually, we're told, and Quest users should hang fire if they don't see anything new just yet. For those who would prefer an Apple Vision Pro, the headset is finally rolling out beyond the United States for the first time after launching in Apple's home country in February.

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It took years of rumors and guesses but the oft-rumored Apple AR/VR headset finally shipped earlier this year and the Apple Vision Pro is now very much a thing. The same happened with the rumored Apple over-ear headphones when AirPods Max shipped before that. And while the Apple Car will now never see the light of day, another long-running rumor could one day ship in the form of Apple Glass — and a new patent suggests that Apple has some interesting plans for the smart glasses.

We've been hearing rumors of Apple Glass since around the time the Apple Vision Pro leaks first started but it was always known that there was a long way to go before anyone could walk around wearing a pair. That remains the case, and with Apple likely focusing on making its spatial computer cheaper we can't imagine its smart glasses are just around the corner. That doesn't mean that plans aren't afoot, however, and a new patent shows that Apple Glass could help people meditate, sleep, and find their way around.

At this point, it's worth remembering that Apple has its engineers patent a ton of ideas and not all patents turn into shipping products or features. But they can often give us an insight into what Apple's thinking might be, and in the case of Apple Glass, it's a rare look at what's going on inside Apple's development teams.

Smarter glasses

According to a newly-granted patent spotted by Patently Apple, Apple's plans for smart glasses include a feature that would use GPS while measuring the orientation of the glasses themselves to offer up information on location and possible navigational routes.

Further, the patent discusses that smart glasses could use opaque lenses to mimic a sleeping mask, making it easier for people to sleep. In that instance, an electrooculography sensor formed using electrodes could be used to monitor the wearer's eye movements and detect whether REM sleep had been achieved. Such measurements could even be taken when the eyes are closed — a vital part of the equation when trying to monitor someone's sleep. Similar technology could also help people meditate, the patent suggests. The patent discusses how gaze-tracking technology could be used in various instances, with such technology already used in the Apple Vision Pro.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect here could be navigation, though. Being able to see augmented reality mapping directions when walking the streets could be a huge feature, for example, and has long been the go-to example of what could make AR glasses so beneficial.

Apple is still likely years away from being able to make Apple Glass in a way that would be beyond what is already available on the market. The price would also likely be a prohibitive factor as well. Apple has already been stung by the reaction to the Apple Vision Pro's $3,499 starting price with many waiting for the headset to get much cheaper before taking the plunge.

• This Apple Glass concept video shows AR glasses might not be a bad idea after all...
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• These Ray-Ban sunglasses have cameras and AI but you should just wait for Apple Glass instead

When the Apple Vision Pro first went on sale in February there were a ton of YouTube videos that showed off what it could and could not do. But one that captured everyone's attention was a concept that showed how it could be used to make vacuuming fun. Having people vacuum up gold coins as if they were Mario on cleaning day sounds like a great idea. And it turns out that Dyson would agree.

The company that's famous for its super-sucky (in a good way) vacuums and weird Dyson Zone headphones has announced what it calls Dyson CleanTrace, a new feature that works with your Dyson Gen5detect vacuum to make cleaning fun in a way that we didn't think we needed. But now that it's here, we think we can all agree that we absolutely did.

The new augmented reality app will show people where they have cleaned when vacuuming their floors and, most importantly, where they have not. It's a special slice of magic that might have seemed silly not all that long ago, but now that we're here? We're all for it, and the fact that you won't have to spend $3,499 on a spatial computer to try it out really is just the icing on the cake.

AR cleaning

So what's the story? In a press release provided to iMore, Dyson admits that "cleaning can be a thankless task," and of that, there's no doubt. Its answer? the Dyson CleanTrace, a combination of an app and a clip for attaching your iPhone to your vacuum.

"The Dyson CleanTrace brings together a combination of technologies for the most powerful, intelligent and thorough clean," the press release reads. "LiDAR technology from a user’s phone allows the Dyson CleanTrace to map your room and overlay cleaning pathways using AR, showing you where you have cleaned and what you have missed." Think that you're done? The app can scan the room when you're finished and then help you identify the spots that you missed. Because we all miss spots — it's just a matter of how big they might be.

Dyson says that the "existing technology within the Dyson Gen5detect then acoustically senses and counts the dust particles, showing proof of a deep clean," and then you're all set.

Data reportedly shows that around 80% of cleaning sessions last less than 10 minutes, with Dyson suggesting that people aren't cleaning for anywhere near as long as they think — people claim they vacuum for an average of 24 minutes per session, the company says. So if you're looking to be absolutely certain that you've done what needs to be done, this new app could well be the answer.

If that all sounds cool — and it should — you'll want to sign up for the Dyson newsletter so you know when the whole thing will be available. It'll be June, but we don't know exactly when or how much anything will cost, unfortunately. Hopefully, we won't have to wait too long before we get some details on that front.

The other catch is that you're going to need a Gen5detect vacuum for any of this to work, so keep that in mind before you get too excited.

More from iMore

• The Apple Vision Pro: When technology can't keep up with ambition but offers a glimpse into the future
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With Apple Vision Pro here, the focus on mixed reality experiences in the Apple ecosystem is stronger than ever. Yet for everyone who lives outside of the U.S., or doesn’t have $3,499 to spend on a headset, what options do you have when it comes to augmented and mixed reality? Well, one such offering is the TCL NXTWEAR glasses. The company recently unveiled the new S+ version of its smart glasses, but for the last few weeks, I’ve been hands-on with their predecessor, the S, to see what all the fuss is about. 

In short, these are an impressive pair of smart glasses that any iPhone or iPad user will love. They’re not flawless and there are definitely some drawbacks to this kind of tech, but for a fraction of the price of Apple Vision Pro, you can have plenty of fun playing games and watching movies in your very own private cinema, all packed into a device not much bigger than your average pair of sunglasses.

TCL NXTWEAR S: Price and Availability

The TCL NXTWEAR S are available on Amazon in both the U.S. and the UK. In the U.S. they’ll set you back $349, however in the UK they’re more than £540. I can’t see any good reason for the price discrepancy, especially when UK customers can pick up the new NXTWEAR S+ for £399 instead.

TCL NXTWEAR S: The good

The TCL NXTWEAR S stats don’t wow on paper, offering dual Micro OLED displays that simulate watching a 201-inch screen from 6 meters, or around 140 inches at 4 meters. They also only offer 400 nits of brightness, and 1920 x 1080p. However, despite these stats, the viewing experience is tremendous. I was properly blown away by how good regular 2D content looks when viewing TVs and movies on Netflix and Apple TV Plus. 

Wearing TCL NXTWEAR is basically akin to sitting on the back row of a medium-sized cinema, everything feels quite far away, but not so far as to detract from the viewing experience. I fired up some Breaking Bad and was thoroughly impressed, and there didn’t feel like a huge difference between the NXTWEAR and my home 4K TV, or the Retina display on my iPad. The colors were all sharp and felt very accurate, too. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a much more colorful show, and everything felt bright and vibrant. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not an 8K QLED TV, or indeed the dual 4K Micro-OLED power of Vision Pro, but at 400 bucks it doesn’t need to be. The NXTWEAR S are a really fun breath of fresh air that have changed how I think about content on my iPhone and iPad completely. I often struggle to watch content on my iPad when traveling, I hate looking down at my iPad for long periods of time. On my recent trip to London, I took NXTWEAR with me and was able to enjoy content on the train and in my hotel completely free of neck or back strain.

The NXTWEAR S are so easy to use, too. They ship with a USB-C cable, which means that if you’ve got one of Apple’s best iPhones, the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro, you simply plug them in, and off you go. The other end of the cable is attached to the glasses via a pogo-pin connector, and once both are connected the glasses will come on, immediately displaying a mirror of your iPhone or iPad screen. The glasses take power from your iPhone or iPad, which means there are no battery constraints beyond what your source device can handle. However, you won’t be able to charge and view at the same time, as the NXTWEAR S occupies the USB-C port on your device. I didn’t find the NXTWEAR caused significant battery drain over time, so this shouldn’t be too much of an issue, however. 

In the box, you get a premium carry case that’s just about big enough for your glasses and the cable. There are also some lens attachments that you can use to attach your prescription glasses. However, this strikes me as something of a DIY solution, as you’ll need to separate your lenses from your glasses to use them. There are no premium Apple Vision Pro ZEISS inserts to speak of here. You also get a darker outer cover for the glasses which I’d definitely recommend. They make the glasses look much more stylish and normal and darken the passthrough for a more immersive viewing experience.

TCL NXTWEAR S: What's not so good

The NXTWEAR S aren’t without their drawbacks. Most notably, these are Android-first glasses, which means iPhone can’t access the 3D experiences available through the Android app. That drastically limits their usefulness to USB-C screen mirroring. This is still a fun way to use them, but only with Android will you get the full experience. 

The styling of the NXTWEAR S leaves a little to be desired, they are quite clunky and it’ll be obvious to onlookers that you’re not wearing a normal pair of sunglasses. That being said, they’re much more discrete than Apple Vision Pro. 

While the NXTWEAR S glasses aren’t heavy, they do start to produce fatigue after a decent amount of time. After a 47-minute Breaking Bad episode, my nose was sore from the pressure of wearing them, but I didn’t notice until I took them off and it subsided pretty quickly. 

The screen is ever-so-slightly limited when it comes to viewing, in that the very bottom corners of regular 16:9 content get cut off by the edges of the display. For wider experiences like Dune, this wasn’t an issue for me, and it’s not too noticeable, but it is a quirk of the display configuration. 

I think the biggest limitation of these glasses is probably the audio. While they boast stereo sound, it’s nothing to write home about. On the plus side, it doesn’t disturb people around you unless you really crank the volume, which is controlled by a wheel on the left-hand side. However, at higher volumes, the sound is almost distorted, and definitely not a great experience. The sound is very shallow and thin, and while bearable for dialogue-heavy content, you wouldn’t want to watch Bladerunner 2049 with it. To that end, you really need a good pair of headphones to compliment the NXTWEAR S. I tried viewing with the AirPods Pro 2 and it transformed the experience. Not only does the noise-canceling add to the immersion, but the sound quality and spatial audio really connect you to the viewing experience in a way the onboard audio just can’t. As such, for a truly immersive experience with NXTWEAR S, you’ll need to add a pair of noise-canceling headphones to your shopping list. 

TCL NXTWEAR S: Competition

Last year we had a look at the TCL RayNEO Air 2. From the same company as the NXTWEAR, they have slightly different styling and some of the same drawbacks. There’s also the aforementioned NXTWEAR S+, which builds on the S with a 120Hz refresh rate and a slightly larger viewing space. XREAL also offers its Air 2 Pro AR Glasses. Meta’s Ray-Ban Wayfarer smart glasses, while cheaper, don’t offer the immersive viewing experience of the NXTWEAR S. 

TCL NXTWEAR S: Should you buy them?

TCL NXTWEAR S: Verdict

The NXTWEAR S smart glasses are pretty cool, and I’ve really enjoyed using them to view content on my iPhone. They won’t be for everyone, but for those who love quirky, futuristic tech they’d make a great gift or hobby purchase, just don’t expect IMAX-level viewing or Dolby Atmos Audio. 

All Apple Vision Pro apps give something unique to the wearer, that feels different thanks to Apple's interesting and totally unique headset. Though some apps available are mostly straight ports of existing apps and some are designed specifically for the headset, the act of using them while wearing Apple Vision Pro makes them feel different in a way that other devices can't quite capture. 

The Apple Vision Pro has now been out for a month in the US, with an expected launch at some point in the future for the rest of the world. When people outside the US start to get the headset, there should be thousands of specifically designed apps to use but it's still a little limited right now. 

 Thanks to tech like eye tracking, HDR support, and some fantastic screens, Apple Vision Pro is one of the most interesting pieces of tech that Apple has launched in years. It's a spatial headset, which means apps work in your physical surroundings. Thanks to this unique setup, apps might take a little while longer to arrive. 

That all said, here are all the Apple Vision Pro apps that are natively supported on the headset right now. 

Every confirmed Apple Vision Pro app so far

The Apple Vision Pro comes with support for Apple's own suite of apps like Safari, Mail, FaceTime, Keynote, Notes, and Mindfulness. The Photos app comes with the ability to run Spatial Video and Apple TV + allows you to stream the best Apple TV Plus movies to whatever size screen you like. Freeform jumps to Vision Pro too — it's all about collaboration, giving you and members of your team space to sketch ideas, show off plans, and create mood boards. If you are looking to visually represent an idea quickly, this is an excellent choice. 

As well as this, you can play the best Apple Arcade games as the entire library can be played on a virtual screen at any time. 

As for third-party Vision Pro apps, here's what's been publicly announced so far:

A Spatial Tale — A fun and intuitive way to explore fairytales in your living room, A Spatial Tale animate scenes from fairytales and teaches you languages while it does it. 

Adobe Lightroom — Need to make some quick image edits? Adobe Lightroom lets you quickly touch up photos taken on your devices, and that's soon to include images shot on Vision Pro, too. It'll be interesting to see if these image edits take 3D composition into account, too.

Bills To Budget — A quick and efficient way to keep track of all your bills, your pay schedule, and general budget, Bills To Budget will be a great addition to your everyday headset use.

Cisco Webex — Cisco Webex is a video conferencing app with some smart functions like a whiteboard for team collaboration and calendar functionality, to plan meetings with multiple team members. 

Disney + — Through Disney +, you can stream almost everything Disney owns, from Pixar to Marvel to Star Wars. There are also some great original movies, documentaries, and even everyone's favorite dysfunctional animated family, The Simpsons. 

Fantastical — An award-winning calendar app, Fantastical combines an accessible UI with weather notifications, preset templates to plan your day, and functionality to add social media apps. 

Fin — Fin is a financial app that helps you easily keep track of your budget, with easy-to-read data and the Vision Pro release sees a whole host of whoever effect, charts, and accessibility options.

Game Room — Game Room is a unique spatial game allowing you to play a handful of board games with your friends online.

Haptics — Designed for developers, Haptics is an app to test out the haptic feedback on Apple devices in real-time.

HomeBatteries — If you have a smart home, this app checks all of your HomeKit device batteries and shows them in a single convenient place. 

Instructor — Instructor is an app for driving instructors to monitor and track progress as their pupils attempt to pass their driving test. 

JigSpace — JigSpace is an app for creating and sharing 3D presentations. This would be particularly good if you're in a team working on physical objects or for demonstrations when teaching.

Lowe's Style Studio — This is an app from Lowe's that allows you to decorate and customize your home in real-time, where you can buy the furniture you would like all from the comfort of your home. 

Max — HBO's streaming service, Max, includes HBO original films, TV shows, and documentaries, alongside brand-new movies. It recently just received the Barbie movie so watching that on the big screen of the Vision Pro sounds like a treat.

Microsoft 365 — This is less an app and more a whole suite of apps from Microsoft including Word, Excel, Outlook, Defender, OneDrive, and more. 

Navi — Navi is a live translation tool that visualizes the translation directly in front of you. It can directly detect someone's language and put appropriate subtitles to help you understand them. 

NowPlaying — NowPlaying is a music trivia app that gives you fun facts about your favorite artists and even connects with Apple Music to find what you like.

NQSubBlock — NQSubBlock is a content blocker that removes intrusive ads from Newsquest websites to allow you to more effectively read the news.

Orbit Meditation — Orbit Meditation is an AI-guide meditation app designed around the immersive nature of Apple Vision Pro.

Planner 5D — Planner 5D is a perfect fit for the Apple Vision Pro as it allows you to imagine 2D and 3D objectives in your space to help decorate your home.

Peppercorn — Peppercorn is a shopping list app, meal planner, and recipe finder all wrapped in one. If you don't know what you're having for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this is a great choice.

Play — Play is an effective way of creating a 'Watch Later' for all types of content like YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV, and more.

PCalc — Simple in concept but likely not in execution, given how complex the Vision Pro is, PCalc is a calculator app that is sure to be valuable in those work meetings. 

Sky Guide — Though it's yet to be publically demoed despite making an appearance in Apple's Vision Pro showcase video and press materials, we're expecting Sky Guide to be able to present the night sky constellations through the headset in your home, opening up the cosmos from the comfort of your sofa. It's already available on iPhone and iPad.

Slack — The ultimate communication platform for teams, Slack comes with the ability to make different chat rooms for different topics, has integration with Google services, and has plenty of ways to customize your experience to be more efficient. 

Shutters — An easy way to access all of your blinds in a single click. With this app, you can open them or close them, as well as check their battery. 

Spatial Noise — Spatial Noise gives you the ability to add ambient sound around you, where you can pick up their location in the room as if they're in your physical space. 

Subjects — Subjects is a school planner, allowing you to plan out your timetable, homework, grades, and more. It's designed to be easy to use and even easier to navigate.

Super Fruit Ninja — Taking the classic Fruit Ninja formula and letting you play it in your very own living room, the Apple Vision Pro will take advantage of both eye and hand-tracking to let you really feel the fruit you slice your way through.

Territory — Territory is an app for switching storefronts on your device for developers to check how their apps are ranking for certain keywords in different regions.

TV launcher — TV Launcher is the best way to watch live TV on Apple Vision Pro, as it gives you access to hundreds of channels in just one click.

TV Remote — As the name implies, this is a TV remote app that works on LG, Samsung, Roku, Sony TV, and more.

What the Golf? — A companion to What the Car?, which is currently on Apple Arcade, What the Golf? is a fun, charming, and brilliant little puzzle game all about golf. Using a club, your own body, and a host of other items, you have to get the ball in the hole but it's not nearly that simple. 

Zoom — Finally arriving on Apple TV just last month, Zoom had a huge surge in users back in 2020 and soon became one of the most popular video-chatting services out there. This should help you organize meetings or game nights with your friends. 

Apple Vision Apps in development

We had the chance to chat with developers working on Vision Pro apps and here are four we know are in development right now: 

Obscura — Obscura is an app designed to get you the most out of your camera, with some very smart controls and settings. In Vision Pro, this could pair with spatial videos excellently. 

Delta — Delta is an emulation app that can transport you into a digital environment like a museum or a park. 

Game Track — Games Track is a tracking system for keeping an eye on all those games you haven't yet made the time to play through. In Vision Pro, you can finally start to tackle that backlog. 

Broadcasts — Broadcasts can be used to stream audio from tonnes of radio stations across the world, which can perfectly accompany whatever Vision Pro environment you find yourself in. 

Apple Vision Pro apps we're hoping to see

Though it is an AR headset designed to work in everyday life and not a traditional VR headset intended for games, we still hope to see a few fun titles on there. The likes of Beat Saber could work great in the confines of your living room and even room-scale experiences like Thrill of the Fight or Tea for God could be enhanced by the Vision Pro's impressive Apple Silicon chip. With how much support Apple has thrown behind Apple to put out both Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 on iPhone 15 Pro, it would be great to see a VR Resident Evil in Apple Vision Pro too. 

Unfortunately, there isn't a native Netflix app from launch but you can run your iPad version of Netflix on it. Hopefully, we'll see the app arrive in the future. Alongside this, apps like YouTube and TikTok will be welcome additions for when you need an entertainment fix. 

Though the headset seems to have some excellent productivity apps so far, it would be nice to see a reason for creatives to check it out too, with optimization for Logic Pro or Procreate. Drawing apps, in particular, could be great for their ability to replicate the feeling of drawing on a real easel. With such a big launch, 2024 seems set to be a big year for Apple fans. 

While it's true that Apple's Vision Pro won't be the world's first augmented reality headset when it finally arrives on store shelves, it's fair to say that it will be an important product in the category. Just like there were smartwatches before the Apple Watches and tablets before the iPad — and smartphones before the iPhone, for that matter — it's Apple's entry into a market that tends to give it an air of legitimacy. And it's what makes other companies take a cold, hard look at whether they too should be involved.

That's something that's happening more and more in the world of spatial computing, the buzzy word that's been given to mixed reality, or AR/VR if you prefer. But whatever you call it, spatial reality refers to headsets that combine augmented reality with virtual reality elements to create a new experience the likes of which an iPhone or an iPad simply can't compete. It has the potential to be the next big change in the way we interact with technology and information, and the Vision Pro is Apple's first salvo.

But it isn't alone in launching new spatial computing gear, and Qualcomm has announced its own entry into the market. Not with a headset itself, as such, but with the underlying technology that other companies can then use to create their own wares. In much the same way Qualcomm Snapdragon chips power Samsung phones, the same is set to be the case with spatial computing. Enter, Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2.

So much excitement

There is little doubt that the Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 name won't mean an awful lot to many people, but it will mean a lot to those who are in the business of finding the innards to power their own products. Two such companies, Google and Samsung, are already on board with Qualcomm's new spatial reality reference hardware and are keen to make everyone aware of how excited they are — as shown by the press release Qualcomm sent to media.

“Samsung is thrilled to collaborate with Qualcomm Technologies and Google in revolutionizing the mobile industry once more." Inkang Song, vice president and head of technology strategy team at Samsung Electronics, said in that press release. "With Samsung's mobile expertise and our joint commitment, we aim to create the best-in-class XR experience for Galaxy users.”

Google was similarly thrilled. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies and Samsung on the future of immersive and spatial XR,” said Shahram Izadi, vice president of AR at Google. “We’re excited for the Android ecosystem to take advantage of Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2’s capabilities and enable new experiences.”

The details

The thing is, Qualcomm might have something for them to be excited about here. The Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2 supports 4.3K resolution displays per eye and can power 12 or more concurrent cameras to create what could be some impressive mixed reality experiences, software permitting. We're also told to expect more GPU and CPU performance compared to the previous iteration of Qualcomm's platform, too.

But in reality — pun semi-intended — all three companies might be missing the point. The spatial computing market won't be won with specs. It'll be won with experiences, and whether or not Google or Samsung can build experiences to make Qualcomm's specs sing very much remains to be seen.

If you're an iPhone owner, you're probably already waiting on that Vision Pro headset. Rumored for a late-January release, it'll cost a small fortune. But Apple is reportedly already working on a cheaper one. Which bells and whistles will be removed to hit a price point remains to be seen, but you can bet the software will be even better than the OG Vision Pro.

Can the same be said for whatever winds up running Snapdragon XR2+ Gen 2? Competition is good for everyone, so let's hope it can.

More from iMore

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• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro
• Where to buy Apple Vision Pro (when it comes out)

When Apple announced the Vision Pro headset during an event on June 5 last year as part of the wider WWDC fun, it showed off a range of new features that it will have to offer. Some of those features were more impressive than others, but the EyeSight one is definitely a feature that got plenty of attention. It allows people to see a representation of the Vision Pro wearer's eyes via an external display, and it's sure to be an interesting one to see in real life. But it now appears that the user's eyes weren't the only things that Apple had in mind, at least originally.

A new patent has cropped up that appears to point to some additional features for that external display, which Apple hasn't announced but could return to in a future software update. The new features are all shown in a patent that has former chief designer Jony Ive's name on it, suggesting that this may well be one of the last devices that had his input — if not the last one.

The patent itself doesn't specifically mention the Vision Pro headset or the EyeSight feature, but it's clear that Apple's examples could be part of a future Vision Pro implementation, whether that requires a new hardware release or a simple software update.

Vision Pro possibilities

The patent, which was first spotted by Patently Apple, includes a number of drawings that depict various things that the Vision Pro headset's external display could show at different times. The drawings include some weird and wonderful things including the weather, what appears to be a stock price chart, and more. More usefully, a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign is one example, something that could come in handy whenever the Vision Pro's wearer is working or simply doesn't want to be bothered while in an augmented reality world.

However, as is always the case, it's important to remember that patents don't necessarily equate to shipping products or even features. It's notable that this patent has Jony Ive's name on it of course, but we have to imagine that these features would have been shown off in June of last year if they were going to be part of the finished product.

As for that product, recent rumors suggest that we might see the Vision Pro finally go on sale as soon as the end of January. However, the as-yet untested source of that information means that we will have to wait for more information before we can say with any certainty that January 27 will indeed be the big day.

The Vision Pro headset is set to cost $3,499 and will only be available via physical Apple Stores to allow retail workers to correctly configure it. It's said that an incorrect headset fit will negatively impact the way the Vision Pro performs, something that Apple will want to avoid for such an important device. The Vision Pro headset is Apple's first entry into a new product category in some time — the last was the arrival of the Apple Watch in 2014. Apple will no doubt be more than happy if the AR/VR headset can garner even a portion of the Apple Watch's success.

That might only happen if and when the rumored cheaper Vision Pro headset goes on sale — something that could see the $3,499 asking price slashed considerably in an attempt to turn the premium product into something more suited to mainstream buyers.

More from iMore

• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro
• Apple Vision Pro: Specs, price, and everything else you need to know
• Where to buy Apple Vision Pro (when it comes out)

When Apple revealed its Vision Pro headset at WWDC 2023, many members of the iMore staff shared two sentiments:

1. That thing looks awesome
2. There’s no way I’m going to wear that on my head all day long

Both are valid points! Apple Vision Pro is the culmination of years of research and development by Apple, the company’s next big hope as it looks to dominate the next two decades of computing in the same way its iPhone and Mac do now. And it has some incredible power to reach that goal, from a Mac-grade chip to a photo-real screen and innovative input tracking methods. There’s loads to be excited about.

I couldn’t help but be sceptical of Apple’s overarching goal, however: Positioning Vision Pro as something not only for recreational use but also a work-and-play-and-communication-and-fitness and everything else inbetween tool. Even if the company didn’t explicitly say so, it has to be picturing the Vision Pro — and its inevitable successors — as something that you’d spend several hours each day using. To justify its price tag ($3,499), and drum up revenue through on-device software and services purchases, people will need to rely on it and reach for it with the same readiness they do their iPhones.

And as anyone that has used a VR headset like the Valve Index or Meta Quest knows, that’s not always an attractive proposition. Even with its socially-conscious EyeSight mode, and as lightweight a design as Apple can build against the compromise of the tech packed within, any bulky headset like the Vision Pro will be fatiguing and a barrier to long-term regular use. The dream of a virtual working world may be an exciting one, but the physical reality can be less alluring.

Could that dream ever be a reality? Is there any way we could ditch our MacBooks and monitors, and spend all day inside a device like Vision Pro?

With a headset… probably not. But with something more like traditional spectacles? I’m ready to argue yes, having spent the last week with the TCL RayNeo Air 2 smart glasses. They’re not perfect, as my full review reveals. But they do offer a tantalizing view of a future where lightweight glasses are at the core of our computing experience, and virtual screens replace the TVs and monitors in our homes.

My time with the smart glasses

The TCL RayNeo Air 2 aren’t the first smart glasses I’ve tried, and like other rival devices in the category, they too have their flaws. Legibility at the extremities of the microOLED displays can be difficult, and they have only the most rudimentary AR features — not a patch on what even Apple’s brief Vision Pro demo teased.

But they’re still the best smart glasses I’ve tried, even removed from the fact that the current competition isn’t that hot. Their 1080p virtual display, appearing to hover in front of your face through the transparent lenses of the glasses, is incredibly sharp and vibrant (at least when centered correctly). And the lightweight design, powered not by an onboard battery but by the USB-C device you hook them to, meant I could feasibly wear them for hours on end without issue.

With a simple, single-cable connection to my devices of choice, I was quite happy to reach for the RayNeo Air 2 and use them in lieu of the host device’s own screen. And the transparent display, plus the familiar industrial design that apes a pair of Wayfarers more than a Lawnmower Man prop, meant I could interact with the world around me without taking them off, or feeling tethered by a cumbersome weight on my noggin. 

Portable enough to take in bed, with discreet speakers to prevent annoying my better half, I even managed to play a few games late at night without disturbing my bedmate, while they’re light enough to take out with me on-the-go with little hassle, and no noticeable extra strain on my backpack straps

They’re basic in many respects — essentially just a screen-mirroring device, rather than full-blown augmented reality providers. But they perfectly prove the concept: One day, something like this could easily replace the screens we currently depend upon. They're a solid example of the potential rewards such a future could offer.

Baby steps to an Apple AR future

Now, I know comparing the TCL RayNeo Air 2 to the Vision Pro is like arguing the merits of apples and oranges — similar families, but vastly different in the experiences they deliver. In fact, it’s more like comparing apples to raisins — the Vision Pro, as its price tag suggests, is set to be on a whole other level than what the relatively affordable ($379) RayNeo Air 2 offers.

But even with the gulf in functionality, I can’t help but feel that from an industrial design point of view, the RayNeo Air 2 is a more likely vision of what the AR future needs to look like than Apple’s model.

Apple is aware of this, of course; rumor has it that the original intention (and likely one that persists in an R&D lab somewhere) was for the Vision Pro to be smaller and more reminiscent of traditional glasses than the goggle-like product it’s set to launch next year. But for Apple, floating screens are only part of the experience, and more physical, literal space is needed in its device to fit the powerful chips, sensors, cameras and screens it needs to sell its vision of a ‘Spatial Computing’ future. 

I’m sure Apple is tirelessly looking to miniaturize the tech in Vision Pro to this very end. But that’s a ways off into the future, if possible at all — Moore’s Law’s diminishing returns are already upon us, and even Apple’s own silicon won’t eventually be immune to it, unless Apple has some sort of quantum computing breakthrough.

I wonder then, if in the meantime if not as a total alternative, a halfway house can’t be found? The TCL RayNeo Air 2 showed me that, if made correctly, I’d quite happily wear glasses to work with, provided the screen quality was high enough, comfort was paramount, setup convenient and legibility not a concern. If Apple made a simple pair of screen-mirroring spectacles to the same exacting standards as its other tech, chopped that Vision Pro price tag in half, made it ready to plug into a Mac… OR! a screenless portable Mac — a battery powered Mac mini, half a MacBook, however you want to cut it — offload the processing to another unit and let me just wear a pair of innocuous specs with that half-eaten Apple logo on it, I’d bite. Perhaps not quite as futuristic as the single device Vision Pro ideal. But more practical? More affordable? Maybe.

It wouldn’t be the giant leap for mankind that Apple’s hoping the Vision Pro will be. But perhaps baby steps will do while we’re still learning to walk the AR path.

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"There's never been a product like the Vision Pro." That's the assessment Apple CEO Tim Cook gave investors and members of the press on the company's earnings call last week. But it's what came after that which some people might find most interesting.

"And so we’re purposely bringing it out in our stores only, so we can really put a great deal of attention on the last mile of it,” he added. He continued, saying that Apple will "be offering demos in the stores, and it will be a very different process than the normal grab-and-go kind of process.”

If that sounds like buying a Vision Pro in early 2024 will require more time to buy than your average Apple product, you're probably right. And there's no need to read between any lines based on Cook's statement — the Vision Pro won't be sold online, at least not at first. You'll have to buy one in-store and go through what sounds like a more involved buying process. That sounds like a bit of a nightmare for Apple Store employees but for customers? It's the right approach. And I'd wager it's the best one for Apple itself, too.

A product like no other

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has been saying for a little while that Apple intends to require shoppers to make an in-store appointment to try and then buy the Vision Pro. He reiterated that over the weekend, adding that there "also will be special Vision Pro areas in its flagship stores for curious customers." Gurman goes on, adding that those looking to buy a Vision Pro outside the United States will have to wait beyond that early 2024 timeframe — the UK and Canada will be the first to offer the headset towards the end of 2024.

That all sounds very much like a slow, measured release for a product that will start from $3,499 (we still don't know what that actually means, or what you get for that money) but could well garner plenty of attention in stores. Much like the Apple Watch did at launch, the Vision Pro will grab the attention of anyone who enters an Apple Store that has it, and we can be sure that Apple's point of sale advertising will be plentiful (and colorful) to make sure everyone is well aware it's there. And in a largely post-pandemic world, trying the headset on will be a relatively easy thing for those who want to take it for a spin whether they intend to splash the cash, or not.

And it's that try-on experience that will make Vision Pro's Apple Store debut so vital. Because as Cook said, there's never been a product like it. If there was one recurring theme from those who spent time with the headset at June's WWDC unveiling, it was that the headset was considerably better than they expected. It's that hands-on time that will sell Vision Pro. Of that, I've no doubt.

It's about the buyers, not the tryers-on

But the real benefit of having the Vision Pro be an in-store only affair isn't so the headset-curious can take it for a test drive. It's so that those who slap down their $3,499 can get the best, personalized shopping experience around. The Vision Pro will be among the most expensive items in the store and its success depends on people getting the most out of it.

Having not used a Vision Pro headset myself, I don't know how discoverable it is. How easily will people find its cool features? How quickly will they know to pinch here, scroll there? How intuitive is the visionOS experience? With an in-store setup, Apple Store employees can make sure buyers know what they're getting and more importantly, how to get the most out of it. And when that happens, and buyers start waxing poetic about how great the Vision Pro is? That's when these things start selling.

A cheaper model won't hurt, either.

More from iMore

The Vision Pro headset is now finally official after it was announced in June 2023, but it's only the start. The mixed reality headset is sure to be an impressive, if expensive, bit of kit. But Apple is thought to be working on something a little less obtrusive. And it might now have gotten a little closer.

Apple is said to be working on AR glasses, dubbed Apple Glass for obvious reasons, that will allow people to wear something more akin to normal glasses but with an AR component. However, to make that kind of product work a strong connection to something like an iPhone is likely to be needed — and a cable just won't cut it.

Now, the FCC has taken steps to allow technology companies to use a new wireless band that could make products like Apple Glass more likely, allowing them to connect to other devices at a higher bandwidth than is currently possible.

6GHz to the rescue

Writing in an FCC meeting agenda published on its website, Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel outlined what will be discussed at the October 2023 meeting. One of the points will be a discussion about "unleashing wireless innovation."

"In 2020, the Commission took a major step toward meeting the growing demand for next-generation Wi-Fi when it opened up 1,200 gigahertz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band for expanded unlicensed use," Rosenworcel explained. "To enable new applications and services using these airwaves, the Commission will consider a proposal to allow Very Low Power devices to operate in two portions of the 6 GHz band. Permitting this added flexibility in the 6 GHz band could empower enhanced learning opportunities, advance healthcare opportunities, and bring new entertainment experiences."

Those new experiences are likely to include headsets and AR glasses from Apple and other companies.

We're still likely to be a few years away from Apple Glass launching, and the Vision Pro won't arrive until early 2024. After that, Apple will likely need to concentrate on making that headset available for less than the $3,500 price of entry we'll see next year before it can turn its attention to making AR glasses we can all wear on our faces.

“The best camera is the one that’s with you,” photographer Jay Maisel famously once said. And for millions of people around the world, that camera will be the one on the back of the iPhone in their pocket – for now, anyway.

With the launch of the Vision Pro headset, Apple will set loose the most significantly different camera imaging system it has ever made. The company’s ‘Spatial Computing’ wearable will include an advanced camera array capable of capturing 3D stills and videos; these clips and shots add greater depth to an image over traditional ‘flat’ 2D media, according to Apple, leading to more immersive recreations of those moments captured in time.

Apple’s serious about this 3D photo and video push — there’s a dedicated camera shutter hardware button on the Vision Pro, and the headset’s WWDC 2023 reveal showcase had a whole section dedicated to capturing what Apple’s calling spatial video and spatial photos.

“Apple Vision Pro lets users capture, relive, and immerse themselves in favorite memories with Spatial Audio,” says Apple of the feature. 

“Every spatial photo and video transports users back to a moment in time, like a celebration with friends or a special family gathering. Users can access their entire photo library on iCloud, and view their photos and videos at a life-size scale with brilliant color and spectacular detail.”

• Apple Vision Pro: Everything you need to know about Apple's new headset

But the staged WWDC clip of a father capturing videos of his kids while wearing the headset was the most derided part of an otherwise impressive Vision Pro unveiling, and a slightly dystopian view of distanced parenting norms to come. It looked and felt creepy, and circling back to Jay Maisel, it’s hard to imagine people taking the Vision Pro (with its slight battery life) out and about with them each day. Those looking to take spatial photos of their beach-side holiday will be wary of toting their $3,499 headset down to the sand — and would end up with some very interesting facial tan lines if they did.

Look at the Meta Quest headsets: Despite millions of sales, how many have you seen in public? If Apple expects 3D video and photography libraries for Vision Pro to swell in size, something else is going to have to take that media-capturing burden.

That’s where the rumored iPhone Ultra might just come in.

An Ultra camera shake up

For months, there’s been speculation that the iPhone 15 Pro, expected to launch at the next Apple event on September 12, 2023, will in fact be called the iPhone Ultra, in keeping with the premium Apple Watch Ultra wearable launched last year (and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 likely to arrive next week).

Despite many leaks in support of this assertion, it’s a theory that’s fallen out of favor, with the Ultra now expected to be an even more premium iPhone that will launch next year above the current iPhone range. So you’ll end up with a 2024 launch line-up that looks like iPhone 16 < iPhone 16 Pro < iPhone Ultra.

Rumors circulating on Chinese social media site Weibo, as first spotted by MacRumors, point to an advanced 3D photography array being present on the upcoming 2024 handset. In addition to the wide, ultra-wide and telephoto camera lenses, alongside the LiDAR scanner and True Tone Flash on the rear of an iPhone (not to mention the rumored Periscope lens the iPhone 15 Pro Max is said to have), another 3D-focused lens would be required.

What form that takes remains to be seen, but it could necessitate yet another camera bump on the rear of the handset, one spaced far enough away from a partnered lens to create natural and believable depth when two images are combined.

It’s a delicate art to pull off.

“3D photography hasn’t really taken off for a couple of reasons,” explains Mark Wilson, pro photographer and TechRadar.com News Editor.

“It’s still widely seen as a gimmick, which is understandable given that most people’s experience of it was those old View-Master toys. There are also unflattering parallels with 3D TV. But tech limitations have also restricted it to being a low-quality experience,” Wilson told iMore. “Stereoscopic photography goes back to the 1800s, but we’re now seeing major advances like NeRFs (neural radiance fields) that could take 3D captures to a new level.” 

VisionOS, the underlying Spatial Computing software platform, has some example spatial photos to examine in its earliest beta release, presumably taken with the headset’s own camera system. Developers with early access have revealed how the headset takes two HEIC images from slightly varying positions to match the distance between a user’s eyes; it presents them in tandem to create the 3D effect. Presumably an iPhone Ultra camera array would be able to replicate this method.

3D — the undead zombie of entertainment technology

The elephant in the room is that this would be far from the first attempt at making a 3D-media-capturing phone — it’s just that there’s never been a successful one. To my memory, LG was first out of the gates with the LG Optimus 3D back in 2011, which featured a 3D screen and interface as well as the ability to capture 3D stills and three-dimensional video up to 720p in resolution. It was a flop, but a valiant one given the resurgence of interest in 3D TV at the time.

Then there was of course Amazon’s Fire Phone, released in 2014. Its take on 3D was slightly different: Rather than capturing 3D imagery, it used its 3D sensing cameras to present a 3D, head-tracked interface on the phone screen itself. It’s perhaps the biggest smartphone failure of all time, with Amazon selling just a few thousand handsets and resulting in part of a $170 million write-down for the company.

It’s not a like-for-like comparison, but I bring up the Fire Phone despite its functional differences to help emphasise a point: 3D, in all its forms, has never amounted to more than a bit of a fad. Whether it’s the Avatar-led cinema boom, or the Nintendo 3DS’s glasses-free 3D screen, visual media makers are on what feels like an eternal cycle to present 3D as the next hot ‘new’ thing every few years.

Now it’s Apple’s turn to take it for a spin.

“The Apple Vision Pro is a promising step for the 3D viewing experience, but a lot more needs to be done,” Wilson said. 

“Apple needs to make 3D photography a point-and-shoot experience by adding next-gen LiDAR scanners and extra sensors to its iPhones and iPads. It also needs to open up spatial capture to third-party apps. If that’s all combined with more affordable, approachable headsets or glasses, then 3D photography could well have a revival. 2D photography won’t go away as an art form, but I could see 3D captures becoming an important way to capture our memories in more powerful ways.”

As only a function of a wider immersive ‘Spatial Computing’ ecosystem, it stands a better chance of long-term survival than other examples of 3D media, perhaps. But to feed that application of Vision Pro fully would require a significant change for iPhone photography. 

If the premium nature of the iPhone Ultra is true, you could be looking at needing a $1,500 phone to fuel the 3D library of your $3,499 headset — and that just doesn’t scream ‘mass adoption’ to me. Given the yo-yoing fortunes of, and interest in, 3D video and photography over the years, I’m not convinced that should be the core photography play any eventual iPhone Ultra should take. But it may prove the inevitable direction to get a 3D ecosystem off the ground.

A new report into Apple's revolutionary Vision Pro headset has revealed the company is already testing advanced displays for not one, but two new future models including a cheaper option. 

In a report seen by iMore, The Information's Wayne Ma says that Apple "is currently testing advanced displays made by two Chinese suppliers for possible inclusion in future models of its Vision Pro mixed-reality headsets." 

The company unveiled its awesome Vision Pro headset at WWDC 2023, coining a new era of "spatial computing." The first iteration, which will cost $3,500 when it goes on sale next year, uses Micro-OLED displays for ultra-dense and detailed displays with millions of pixels, the equivalent of a 4K TV for each eye. 

Vision Pro, but cheaper

Ma reiterates Apple " is evaluating BOE’s and SeeYa’s displays for future models of both the Vision Pro and a cheaper headset internally code-named N109," which have previously been reported as in the works. The report claims there's no guarantee that either BOE or SeeYa will be able to meet Apple's stringent quality standards, but says that at the very least teasing new suppliers could force existing manufacturers to bring their prices down, just like the iPhone. Those changes could be key to making Vision Pro more affordable for future customers because there's no doubt that a $3,500 headset is going to prove a tough sell to all-but the most dedicated early adopters. Despite the high price tag, Vision Pro exudes potential thanks to innovative controls and an ultra-premium design. 

Before Vision Pro, we've got a whole host of more mainstream Apple devices to look forward to, including the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, expected at the next Apple event in September. Apple's best iPhone yet will deliver USB-C, new chips for the Pro models, and more. 

Apple announced the Vision Pro at WWDC on June 5, 2023. That means that as I write this, that announcement was two weeks and a day ago. And I still can't quite decide how I feel about it.

In fact, I think that going into WWDC my mind was clearer on how I felt about the headset than it is today, and some might argue that Apple's already winning there. My expectations were low to begin with. But now I'm less sure of my convictions. Maybe that snazzy unveiling did a number on me.

But then, maybe it didn't. Because as much as I'm now way more bullish on the Apple Vision Pro than I was before I saw it, I'm not sold. Not yet. Maybe.

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure

If that sounds like the ramblings of someone in the midst of an AR/VR headset-inspired crisis, there might be a reason for that.

Going into WWDC I'd already written Vision Pro, nee Reality Pro, off. I knew it was going to cost upwards of $3,000 for example. And I knew that my past experience with VR headsets was underwhelming to say the least. My expectations were through the floor, and whatever leaks came via Mark Gurman and Bloomberg weren't enough to pique my interest. Who wants to strap a headset on to do productivity stuff, anyway?

But having half watched the unveiling while trying to write about it at the same time, things started to get a little muddled. Because maybe I would like to do productivity with that thing on my head. Because, despite my better judgment, it actually looks like it could be pretty great.

Taking my MacBook Pro's display and making it float in 3D space? I'm in. Sold, I'll take two. And that's before we get into all the cool Apple TV Plus content that we will watch on the Vision Pro. And the games, too.

But...

But there's always a but.

Sure, we expected the first Vision Pro to be expensive. But few were ready for the $3,500 asking price. And it's an immediate splash of cold water on any excitement the headset's unveiling might have garnered.

Realistically, Vision Pro is a bit like those CES presentations that we see every January. They're of products that can be made, theoretically. And they're usually highly impressive. But few actually make it to market, and they don't have to. That isn't what it's about. It's about showing what's possible and who knows, in a year or two, those products might turn into something useful or at least cheap enough for the mass market.

Vision Pro is just the same. Apple's demonstrations show not just what Vision Pro can do, but what future models will also be capable of as well. It's those models that I'm excited about because they'll be what I actually buy. They're the ones Apple will sell plenty of, I expect, and those are the headsets that will help sell the apps that developers are already undoubtedly hard at work on.

But for now, Vision Pro is in a weird spot. It's awesome, and the possibilities are almost endless. Apple can come up with things we never even realized that we wanted. But it's also too expensive and in some ways, too limited. The external battery pack and two-hour runtime are two examples of that.

But a future model? That's the one I'm excited about. And I know that for certain.

Apple did the unthinkable for me at WWDC 2023: it made me look at my TV and think, “will this be the last one I ever buy?”

I’m thinking the same thing about my soundbar. My laptop. Now, there’s nothing wrong with any of these devices, but after the glimpse into the future that was Apple’s WWDC 2023 keynote, I can’t help but think about what my living room and home office of the future will look like. Hopefully they’ll at least be tidier.

Of course, I’m talking about the Apple Vision Pro headset. Now, I should say I’ve not had the chance to try Apple’s first “spatial computing” device first-hand, but my mind is already  brimming with ideas as to how it’s going to change my relationship with technology, entertainment, and work.

With the nausea, discomfort, and whatever the metaverse is, I’ve never seriously considered a VR or AR headset before. Not until the Apple Vision Pro. I’m no Apple obsessive either: I’ve switched from Android to iPhone and back again. I got my first Apple Watch only last Christmas. Nevertheless, the Vision Pro feels closer to reality than sci-fi than any other device of its kind. I can, so to speak, see it.

However, I’m talking about the Vision Pro of the future. The one that properly breaks through to the mainstream - 2028’s Vision Series 5 or SE, perhaps. At $3499 and with endless refinements still to be made, the Pro releasing next year will only find itself in the homes of the keenest tech and Apple enthusiasts, with the deepest pockets. The Vision that becomes ubiquitous - synonymous with mixed reality headsets just as the iPad is for tablets - must be lighter, more comfortable, have a more capacious external battery pack, and be more powerful. Siri needs to be smarter.

When that time comes, perhaps using the Apple Vision Pro in five years time will look a little like this…

The living room

Could the living room of the future not have a TV in it? For as long as I can remember, the living room has been the TV room; we go there to watch TV. 

With the Vision Pro of the future, we’ll be able to watch shows and movies at any size and in whatever room we like, so why should an entire room be devoted to it? Even though Mark Zuckerberg thinks the Apple Vision Pro is anti-social, perhaps future, screen-free living rooms will actually be more sociable. Could it be a space designed for in-person conversation, rather than together-but-separate entertainment, instead? Once you’ve finished Severance season 2 ...and 3 on Apple TV Plus, naturally.

Whatever space you choose to watch your entertainment, you’ll still be able to do it together with a future Vision Pro. You’ll have watch parties with friends in a different place, which’ll be less weird once Apple’s uncanny valley Personas have been upgraded. One day, sitting together without a headset to watch a movie will feel endearingly retro. You’ll need to have multiple headsets to watch a show together in the same space, but if a future Vision Pro can theoretically replace existing devices, maybe this will feel, even, dare I say, affordable. Also, Apple’s Eyesight passthrough tech is already sophisticated enough to give you a good sense of people physically close to you.

Apple has already partnered with Disney Plus to give us a sense of what entertainment on the Vision Pro can look like, but the success of the tech in this use case will naturally depend on how much third parties invest in their AR experiences. Of course, filmmakers will always extol the virtues of communal experiences in movie theaters, too, but the trend towards watching the latest releases at home has only accelerated in recent years. The Vision Pro won’t be the end of cinema, but it will possibly become increasingly niche.

The home office

A future Vision device will complement flexible working, something that has become much more common since the pandemic. You’ll have even fewer reasons to justify being in a single, specific place outside your home to do your job, but with a mainstream Vision headset you’ll be able to do it in any room, with as many screens and windows as you like. And as unnerving as Apple’s Personas seem at first, video conferencing that way is much more professional than Meta’s Sims-style avatars.

2024’s Vision Pro will be able to detect when you’re looking at a Mac so you can get straight to work on there, but future versions may be powerful enough that you don’t need a Mac at all. Maybe there’ll be a Vision headset that prioritises power over mobility for people who want to edit video in Final Cut Pro AR, just like there could be a more mobile, portable option for outside the house - Vision Air, anyone?

Needless to say, there will be some jobs for which a mixed reality device will not be the only answer. It’s difficult to imagine a device that packs the power of a Mac Pro and is comfortable to wear for long hours at a time, and a virtual keyboard will never match the tactility and responsiveness of a physical one. All that said, though, the Vision Pro will eventually have a meaningful impact on the office for many people.

Photography

I’ll address the ski-goggle-shaped elephant in the room: yes, it was jarring to see a man record his child’s birthday party with a headset in the Apple’s keynote. Will it always be? Possibly not. Next year’s Vision Pro will feature Apple’s first 3D camera, and if its spatial audio recording and panoramic shots aren’t immersive then, they will be one day.

Having seen an iPhone (sometimes an iPad) recording far too much of most gigs I’ve ever been to, it’s not inconceivable that people would be willing to look absurd to capture their most important memories. What if you’re recording a milestone moment, like a wedding or graduation? What if this could be the last time you see this person? Having the chance to feel closer to an important person or treasured memory certainly makes me question how I record snapshots of my life for posterity.

Combined with advancements in AI meaning we could be uploading the data of our loved ones to the cloud as early next year, the Vision Pro could utterly transform how we remember our lives. It’s impossible to predict how, but all I know is it’s intoxicating, concerning, and creepy all at the same time.

A Vision of the future

Of course, these predictions of the future rely on a dizzying number of assumptions, and to paraphrase Linus Sebastian, you should always buy something based on what it is today, rather than what it could be tomorrow. But while I believe a mainstream Vision headset can only enhance the way we work and play, it will never replace every device for everyone. However, for the average person who prizes convenience, versatility, and immersion, Vision devices will be everywhere, whether that’s in five years’ time, or more.

In other words, while the 2024 Apple Vision Pro won’t be the future, Apple has got closer than anybody else in defining what it will look like.

Apple recently entered a new product category but with a product placed towards the higher end of it. The $3,500 Apple Vision Pro is very sophisticated and very expensive. Arguably launched to begin tailoring the mixed reality experience for the masses, all of us have been hoping for a cheaper headset to come, and it looks like Apple still has plans for one.

Mark Gurman, in his latest Power On newsletter, reported that Apple still has plans for a more affordable Vision headset. He had previously talked about a more affordable Apple headset, and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has recently reported the same. It appears those plans are still in place.

Cheaper Apple Vision VR headset by 2025

Gurman says Apple still has plans for a cheaper headset, a non-pro Vision, and it's aiming to have it in the market by the end of 2025.

Gurman noted the areas in which Apple could potentially cut costs to lower the price of the headset. He wrote, "Apple could also probably get away with a simpler headband design, require AirPods for spatial audio instead of the strap with speakers in the Vision Pro, move to a physical versus automatic IPD — distance between eye pupils — adjustment and remove features like the 3D camera. Combined with a more refined production process, economies of scale and a cheaper frame, I’d imagine Apple could knock several hundred dollars off the price. "

At the same time, there are some areas Gurman believes Apple won't compromise in, saying "But there are a few areas I believe Apple will not compromise on in a cheaper Apple Vision. The external screen, known as EyeSight, to show a wearer's eyes, as well as the eye- and hand-tracking system, are as core to the Apple Vision as a touchscreen is to an iPhone. I would expect a cheaper model to keep those features."

The headset is set for a late 2025 launch for now, which means we'll see at least three iterations of the best iPhone before it arrives. Apple is already working on a second-generation Vision Pro, so we'll have multiple offerings in the future.

And just like that, Apple is back! With a classic “One more thing” announcement from Tim Cook at WWDC 2023, Apple is once again revolutionising personal computing. The Apple Vision Pro has reignited the buzz about Apple that had died off of late. Not that it ever went anywhere really, but once Vision Pro was announced the Apple share price instantly jumped 3 dollars (before settling back down a few days later) and the media couldn’t stop shouting about it.

You can tell that the Vision Pro has been a long time in development simply by looking at how well it’s made and what it can do. It has emerged showing the sort of finesse and quality that you’d usually associate with version 3 of a product. It does look absolutely amazing, and I can’t wait to try one. 

It’s like Apple launched the iPhone starting with the 3GS model instead of the original. But that comes at a price, and in this case that price is $3,499, which means I’m not going to be buying one of these on a whim.

Game Changing VR

Perhaps Apple is being clever here. By making the Vision Pro unaffordable for most people it can keep production runs low, so it can keep up with demand, while also stuffing it with more tech than a consumer version of the product actually needs so it can see what works. Do you really need creepy digital versions of your eyes staring out of the headset so people know you’re looking at them? Probably not, even if Apple says they are already getting an upgrade. If you took a lot of these unnecessary features out you could easily make a much cheaper Vision without the “Pro” in the name. 

But for now Apple gets to test the product out in the real world on those early adopters for a bit longer before it goes mainstream. It gets to see how people actually use it and which features they really want before it releases a cheaper consumer version in a year’s time.

After its launch the Vision will probably settle into the same comfortable yearly upgrade cycle that the iPhone does, with Pro and standard versions mirroring the Air and Pro versions of the MacBook. In terms of hardware, I’m sure we’ll see the device become more and more slimline over the years. The ultimate goal for the Vision has to be to get it down to something the size and weight of a normal pair of glasses, and to work out a more elegant solution to the battery problem, which looks a bit like a digital colostomy bag right now. 

When it comes to software, the sky's the limit for the Vision Pro. A small army of developers got their first glimpse of the headset at WWDC this June, and armed with the new development kit they’re probably already creating some stunning things to do with it. We already know that you’ll be able to share your Apple Vision Pro thanks to a guest mode and the potential for gaming is unparalleled. We also know that the accessibility features of Vision Pro could be a game changer for everyone. Bring it on!

Now the headset is finally here, I’m wondering which of those other long-rumoured Apple products Tim Cook will one day announce. Everything seems possible again. I’m tempted to believe that the Apple Car will definitely materialise at some point now. That’s going to be equally amazing, and if it’s self-driving then you will probably be able to wear a Vision Pro while you’re in the driver's seat and use a virtual steering wheel at the same time! 

The Apple Vision Pro headset is here, and it’s a very futuristic vision of next-generation computing… with a very old-fashioned method of powering the thing.

Like many VR headsets before it, Apple’s ‘Spatial Computing’ device is a wearable that straps over your head, placing high-resolution screens in front of your eyes to mix digital elements with the real world around you. And like the many VR headsets before it, it takes some very carefully managed industrial design ideas to make that a comfortable proposition.

I’ve strapped into loads of these sorts of headsets in my time as a tech journalist, and seen designs play out with varying degrees of success.

There are those with too much weight on their front section, which either slide off your nose or put uncomfortable pressure on it. There are those that try to place the weight directly on top of your head, which can be uncomfortable for your neck. And there are those that try to distribute weight primarily at the back of your head, which then require a great deal of tightening clamping force to stop them slipping around and causing your vision to blur, as well as increasing the sense of claustrophobia such headsets can produce.

VR headsets are complicated products, and there’s not very much you can offload to redistribute that weight. The screens, sensors, cameras and speakers can’t really be anywhere else except on the device. And though generational improvements to these devices mean some components get smaller and more efficient, progress also demands more components be added. And Vision Pro has a lot going on — two processing chips, 12 cameras, five sensors, six microphones and much, much more.

The compromise

So the inevitable happens. The battery is one of the few remaining elements that adds considerable weight and can live elsewhere. And so the Vision Pro has a wire coming off the side of it, down to your pocket, where a battery pack that appears to be about the size of an iPhone lives.

But that’s a good thing — even if I’m sure it’d send Jony Ive and Steve Jobs into a rage! 

It’s not an aesthetically pleasing solution, but it is an ergonomically smart one. Anyone familiar with the Meta Quest 2 has likely found themselves hooking up an external battery pack at some point, and it’s relatively painless — if it could be as a replacement for additional weight in Meta’s headset, it’d maybe even be ideal. (Meta also offers an ‘Elite’ strap for Quest 2 that adds an additional battery pack into a band at the rear of your head. This works reasonably well and acts as a counterweight to that device's front gasket. But the ultimate goal is to remove as much weight as possible from your head.)

Provided Apple has managed to take considerable weight off the headset and keep it competitively light compared to the headsets we’ve already used, Vision Pro could be transformational for comfort, and for the length of time you can use the headset before fatigue kicks in. But we won’t know that for sure until Apple shares the weight of the headset itself and until enough people have put its headband and gasket to the test beyond Apple’s tightly-controlled demo area. Early reports from the likes of Marques Brownlee suggest it may still be one of the heavier headsets.

Now, granted, I wasn’t one of the chosen lucky few to get out to Cupertino and strap Vision Pro onto my head. But having tested dozens of VR and AR headsets over the years, and dealt with cumbersome weight distribution and awkward designs, I can still say with confidence that the design choice is a valid one. It may not be a looker, but in terms of ergonomics, it’s sensible.

A bigger juicebox

But maybe… perhaps not sensible enough? According to Apple’s press release, you can expect to only squeeze two hours of constant use out of the Apple Vision Pro headset and battery pack before a recharge is needed. 

That’s… not very long at all. And while I would caution against anyone wearing a headset for much longer than that anyway (enjoy the real world too, folks!), that would be barely enough time to do many of the things Apple showcased in its launch, whether that’s enjoying it on a long-haul flight, watching a live sporting event, or even something as simple as settling down for a movie — you can bet the Apple TV Plus Napoleon film that featured heavily in the Vision Pro marketing is going to run substantially longer than 120 minutes.

Apple suggests that ‘all-day use’ is possible when Vision Pro is ‘plugged in’, but that very much goes against the free-and-easy mobility that the demo reels suggested. It’s telling that at no point in the reveal clip do you see someone plugged into a wall outlet, as that’s not the ideal product vision for anyone, Apple marketing teams included. It’s a good job you can use Vision Pro to beam an IMAX-like screen anywhere you like — as ‘anywhere you like’ may be restricted to ‘the cramped corner of the room with the free plug socket.’

More pocket power

And so that concession from the headline. I do think the battery pack is a wise move, but when you’ve already made that design compromise, why not go the whole way and make the thing that bit bigger, and capable of greater capacity? 

At the point where you’ve got a powerpack in your pocket you’ve already lost the truly-wireless battle, so why not double its size, double its capacity, and stick a belt clip on it? You’ve taken the weight off our heads with the belief that our pockets can handle it — I’d be shocked if those pockets couldn’t handle a little bit more.

The worst-kept secret in all of tech, Apple Vision Pro, was finally revealed at WWDC 2023. Introducing Apple Vision Pro the result of years of work and R&D from the Cupertino company (5,000 patents!) and the first truly new product from Apple in years — and perhaps its most ambitious venture to date.

Apple Vision Pro is an augmented reality headset with straps and an external battery pack that can capture photos and videos, show movies, and more. It's a fully 3D interface with no controllers, and it features stunning control of apps in the space around you, even casting shadows on the real world.  

Apple Vision Pro will cost an eye-watering $3,499 and is coming to the US early next year.

Apple Vision Pro can be used in "environments" for watching movies in a forest, for example, using the Digital Crown to adjust the level of immersion. Vision Pro relies solely on your eyes, hands, and voice to control it. 

It features apps including Apple TV, Photos, Mail, Messages, Music, Freeform, Safari, and more. It also has its own App Store, and of course, can be controlled using dictation and Siri. 

Apple says that a foundational goal was to ensure you weren't disconnected from reality, and to that end it has a screen that can display your eyes, a technology that Apple calls EyeSight. 

Vision Pro can show people who are nearby in the midst of your AR experience. Apple says the headset can be used for work, and that it synchronizes perfectly with your iPhone and iPad. You can browse large web pages with Safari and use multiple windows on a large, immersive desktop. You can even look at 3D objects in Messages while continuing to engage with the world around you.

It has a virtual Magic Keyboard and Magic TrackPad, and you can also use your Mac wirelessly with the Vision Pro headset, giving you a massive, private 4K display and running other apps alongside it. You can also use Vision Pro to collaborate on documents, and it has spatial FaceTime!

Apple says users of its new headset can view panoramas in life-size as taken from an iPhone, and Vision Pro can take 3D photos with a camera that can then be viewed at a later date, as well as shooting Spatial Audio. 

Vision Pro can also transform your space into a massive cinema with dimmed light and Spatial Audio, with viewing of up to 100 feet using the environment settings. Vision Pro also supports 3D movies with depth and motion.  

Beyond just work, Vision Pro is designed for play. It supports gaming on a ginormous screen, with 100 Apple Arcade titles available. It doesn't have immersive VR games (yet). 

Disney is also on board with some immersive Apple Vision Pro experiences. The Disney Plus app is coming to Apple Vision Pro with special environments for shows like the Mandalorian, incredible immersive sports viewing, and more. 

Apple Vision Pro design

Apple Vision Pro is a single piece of 3D glass, acting as a lens. It contains cameras with a lightweight frame, featuring a Digital Crown and a button for capturing 3D photos. The custom aluminum alloy wraps around your face and is compact, featuring all of the sensors and a high-performance computer complete with a quiet fan.

The band is a soft, comfortable textile. There are different shapes and sizes of frame and feature built-in audio pods for Spatial Audio, so you won't need separate headphones. There's an adjustment dial, and thanks to the Zeiss company, optical inserts that magnetically attach to inserts will support those who need prescription glasses. It has all-day use when plugged in or a separate external battery that's good for two hours. 

The new Vision Pro features 23 million pixels on its micro OLED display, with more pixels than a 4K tv per eye. The audiopods have dual drivers for creating Spatial Audio, matched to your room and tweaked with personalized settings. 

Apple Vision Pro is powered by the M2 Apple silicon chip, and also features a special new R1 chip for real-time sensor processing, handling the input from the cameras, sensors, and microphones.

The 3D display projects a user's eyes, making the headset look transparent. Excitingly, some iPhone and iPad apps will run natively on Apple Vision Pro, and 3D games built using Unity will also get native support, paving the way for some stunning games. 

Apple Vision Pro also has Optic ID for biometric authentication of Apple Pay and password autofill. 

It's been a tumultuous development cycle for Apple VR, with reports of uncertain direction, manufacturing difficulties, and concern over what would constitute the device's so-called 'killer-app' swirling around the product for months. But in true Apple fashion what has been revealed here is, at the very least, a supremely engineered product, one that makes the competition look like a first draft by comparison.

Such a premium product was always going to command a high price, and a real battle will be on to see whether it or the recently revealed, much more affordable Meta Quest 3 proves the most popular. And that's before finding out whether mass market appeal for VR exists beyond a hardcore gaming niche.

Regardless, it's a confident reveal from Apple — even if faith in the VR market and the much-maligned metaverse remains rocky.

We're covering all the WWDC 2023 announcements live and as they happen. Don't miss all our Apple VR, iOS 17, macOS 14, iPadOS 17, and watchOS 10 analysis so far.

And that's a wrap on WWDC 2023!  After months of speculation, Apple has revealed latest and greatest software for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac and Apple TV. And most excitingly of all, we've been introduced to the Apple Vision Pro headset and applications for Apple's new 'Spatial Computing' push, too. 

Want a rundown of all the news as it happened? Scroll down for a blow-by-blow recap of WWDC 2023.

WWDC 2023: The big announcements

• WWDC 2023: Everything you need to know
• Apple Vision Pro: everything you need to know about Apple's Spatial Computing device
• iOS 17: what’s coming next to iPhone? Improvements to contact cards, autocorrect and more!
• macOS 14 Sonoma: Big on Widgets and some smart Safari updates
• iPadOS 17: supercharging your iPad for 2023 and beyond with Widget and PDF improvements
• WatchOS 10: More Widgets, mindfulness and sports improvements
• 15-inch MacBook Air rumors: bigscreen thrills, lightweight package
• Mac Pro: the long-awaited return of the king of Macs brings Apple silicon to the party

Latest WWDC 2023 updates

Aaaaaaand... we're off! Gerald Lynch, iMore Editor-in-Chief in the hot seat for this year's WWDC 2023 liveblog. We've been gearing up for months here at iMore for this special event, capturing every rumor we could find on the latest software and hardware releases expected from Apple at the show.

The excitement is brewing, so get involved over at the iMore Forums. We’ve got a fantastic community of Apple fans discussing all-things Cupertino over there everyday. Now’s the perfect time to sign up. And if you want to drop me a fun liveblog tip, hit me up over at @geegeemidnight on Twitter.

There has been lots of speculation as to what we're going to get from this year's event. Held again at Apple Park, the company's sprawling Cupertino campus, we're hearing Tim Cook and co. will present a mammoth two hour+ presentation, expected to be the companies longest-ever keynote showcase. 

And with so much to see, that's no surprise. Here's a handy pre-show guess-list from @TechcOfficial9 over on Twitter, which pretty much sums up everything we're likely to find out about today.

So to break that down (and offer you some expert iMore analysis, naturally...) that's updates to all the following:

- Apple VR and the Reality Pro headset 
- iOS 17
- macOS 14 
- iPadOS 17
- watchOS 10

... and more!

It's all about the devs

It's right there in the name — 'WWDC' stands for Worldwide Developer Conference, and while we're excited to find out more about new features coming to iPhone, iPad, iOS and macOS, and the potential for new hardware, the event is really about empowering the coders and designers working on software for all those devices.

And not just this generation of coders! Tim Cook has been tweeting ahead of the big event about meeting students from across the globe working on accessibility projects:

The App Store is down!

As is customary when Apple is about to make big announcements, it has taken its App Store retail website down for maintenance. That gives it time to make the place look all nice and fresh when the new gear arrives.

But this is a very early pull of the plug by Apple this year, hours away from the expected kick off of WWDC 2023, which suggests much bigger changes to the store than you'd usually see.

Almost as if a whole new product category was being introduced, right? *cough*VR*cough*...

BREAKING NEWS: Apple store down ahead of WWDC 2023

Apple VR to take center stage

There hasn't been a more long-rumored, nor often-leaked device in Apple's entire history than Apple VR — save for the car-crash development that the Apple Car has been...

But unlike the Apple Car, Apple VR is almost certainly a #RealThing and is likely to be the crown jewel in today's WWDC 2023 keynote.

• Apple VR headset: Everything you need to know about Apple Reality Pro

So what can we expect about Reality Pro — if that's what it's truly set to be called? Here's a run down of the key (rumored!) specs so far:

- microLED panels (1.41-inch diagonally)
- 4K pixels per eye
- 5000-plus nits of brightness
-Built-in cooling
- Augmented reality and virtual reality modes
- Digital crown for jumping between VR and AR modes
- xrOS operating system with ports of iPhone and iPad apps, including FaceTime
- Front-facing screen for mirroring wearer's eyes
- Chipset comparable to M2 MacBook silicon
- Potential $3,000 price tag.

Take all these with a pinch of salt until any official reveal, but rest-assured — it's going to be a high-end, expensive device.

First hands-on images of Apple VR are in!*

Looks like Apple Music star Elton John is first to walk down the yellow brick road in VR!

*only kidding folks, this is an old photo in case you were in any doubt. Snazzy threads as ever though, Elton

Eye-in-the-sky drone reveals VR demo area

What IS true though is that Apple has cordoned off part of its Apple Park campus specifically for Apple VR headset demoes:

• Apple VR headset demo area spied by crafty Cupertino drone operator

It appears similar to the large outdoor tent area that Apple constructed for its Apple Watch debut. According to the report,

"Drone footage of Apple Park has been shared that clearly shows two areas built specifically for WWDC. One of which is a covered Keynote viewing area where developers and the media will be the first to see what Apple has been working on. On the left of the image, the other site is said to be where Apple will host demos of the Apple VR headset."

How to Watch WWDC 2023

Of course, with all this new-fangled gadgetry in our pockets you don't need a drone to spy on the event when the keynote itself kicks off. The whole thing will be streamed live across every conceivable video platform in existence.

Apple's WWDC 2023 keynote will be live today,  June 5, at 10 am PT/ 1 pm ET/ 6 pm BST. Find out how to watch below: 

• How to watch Apple's WWDC 2023 keynote - Apple VR, iOS 17, and more

Could the Hollywood writers' strike unexpectedly affect WWDC 2023?

This just in from our very own Tammy Rogers:

"The WGA, or Writers Guild of America, has been on strike for the last few months, looking for fairer treatment during the industry's current streaming phenomenon. 

"The writers are (understandably) not happy about studios' work on streaming platforms. Series now have fewer episodes than ever and much lower residuals than ever before, leaving writers far worse off than they have been before. Apple TV Plus is no stranger to the issue, with several of its shows being affected by the strikes as they continue.

"While the Writers Guild will not be making its way to the WWDC 2023 event at Apple Park itself, its members WILL be picketing Apple Stores, including the Visitors Center at Apple Park. Members will be handing out pamphlets to customers and members of the public – the guild is calling this the 'Apple Day of Action.'"

• Full story: WWDC 2023 could feature a surprise guest - striking Hollywood writers

Could Apple VR land at a more affordable price than expected?

Now folks, we're using 'affordable' here in relative terms, but a new report has landed that suggests that maybe the Apple VR headset won't be quite as expensive as initially thought.

Here's Oli with the details:

"If $3,000 was too expensive, how does around $2,000 sound? Or $1,999 to be exact.

"That's how much Korean blog Naver (and the user yeix1123) claims that the headset will cost. It remains to be seen how accurate that is, and we'd have to urge caution before anyone gets their hopes too high. The source, spotted by MacRumors, isn't confirmed of course, and with $3,000 having been the price we've expected for so long now it would be a surprise if this 33% lower price turns out to be accurate.

"However, while the Reality Pro Headset price tag might now reach such heights as $3,000, it still won't be cheap. But will it be cheap enough to get people to buy it?"

• Full story: Apple's Reality Pro VR headset might not cost the eye-watering sum we thought

Whether there's an Apple VR headset or not however, it's the almost-certain unveiling of iOS 17 that's going to affect the most people out there. The underlying operating system of the most popular phone on in the world, millions of people will see the benefit (or annoyances!) of whatever changes Apple has in mind for iOS 17.

Though there have been fewer leaks on the topic than we'd have expected to see at this point, a few interesting things have slipped through. Firstly, there's the suggestion that an extra emphasis on home management may make its way to iPhone with iOS 17's alleged new landscape docked lockscreen. Then, straight from Apple itself, is the pre-launch news on a raft of accessibility features coming to iOS 17. With iOS 16 opening the floodgates to increased customization on iPhone, expect iOS 17 to expand on that with new homescreen styles and widgets, too.

• Find out more: iOS 17: Rumors, features, release date, and everything you need to know

A new, bigger, MacBook Air?

One of the most persistent hardware rumors surrounding WWDC 2023 is the expectation that Apple will introduce an all-new size for its ever-popular MacBook Air range.

• 15-inch MacBook Air (2023) rumors: Everything you need to know

Looking to bridge the gap between ultra-portability and large-screen productivity, it's thought that Apple is expanding the screen size of the MacBook Air up from 13-inches to 15-inches.

That screen size change aside however, don't expect many, if even any differences between it and the M2 MacBook Air which launched to widespread acclaim last year at WWDC 2022. So that means that same squared-off fanless design, Apple silicon, TouchID power button, MagSafe charging and two Thunderbolt ports. We awarded it 5 stars (I own one, I thought it was so good!). 

So if it ain't broke, don't fix it — embiggen it!

Who wants to see what's in the WWDC goodie bag?

Swag alert! Here's what's being given to those lucky enough to be in attendance at Apple Park for the big keynote address today:

Inside the bag, there's a set of enamel pins that include custom Apple logo designs, the "face holding back tears" emoji, an iPhone 3G, the Finder app icon, and the Apple Park spaceship. There's also a thermos with the WWDC23 logo on it and a nice blacked-out hat.

Having been at Apple Park for last year's event, the new protocol post-Covid is to hold the keynote outside. More airflow, more room for more attendees, etc etc. That said, you're in direct sunlight too, and the cap I was given was a life-saver, so don't knock it!

• Full story: The WWDC 2023 goodie bag is cool, if you need a hat

How about macOS 14?

If there's one update I'm personally most looking forward to, aside from any VR news, it's macOS. I'm a huge macOS fan, and it's the beating heart of WWDC, bringing all new features to MacBook Air, iMac, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini and... well, basically everything with 'Mac' in its name.

• macOS 14: Everything you need to know

So what can we expect this year? Last year brought divisive additions like Stage Manager for multitasking on Mac and a new-look system preferences area, but this year we're hoping to get wider support for Widgets (maybe outside of the Notification Center), a Translation app for Mac, Health and Watch app integration for iPhone-free Apple Watch monitoring, and, of course, VR integration. Some tweaks to how Stage Manager arranges windows would be good, too.

macOS 14 potential names

... and of course there's the name too, which is always a fun guessing game ahead of a macOS release. Apple loves to name its macOS releases after landmarks and locations in its home State of California, and goes to lengths to trademark places that could be used down the line for macOS updates. Here's a list of spots it's not used it, but has trademarked:

Diablo
Condor
Tiburon
Farallon
Miramar
Rincon
Pacific
Redwood
Shasta
Grizzly
Skyline
Redtail
Sonoma
Sequoia
Mammoth

Mammoth FTW! 

How about what we WON'T see at WWDC 2023

We know there's a load of software updates coming. We know there's probably a few new Macs, and fingers crossed that the VR headset turns up — if only for the sake of our past selves on iMore who've been reporting on the damn thing for months! But what about what's not going to make an appearance at the show. Daryl's had some fun with this one...

• 3 things you won't see announced at the Apple event WWDC keynote today

Siri needs a sirious overhaul

On a more pressing note, however... what's going on with Siri?

Apple's voice helper has long felt unloved. It's just about good enough at answering smartphone requests and pulling in contact details for phone calls. But it's not quite the 'do-everything-with-your-voice' feature that it's often been presented as.

Voice helpers like Siri — including the rival Alexa — are now facing a more existential threat, in the shape of AI-powered language model chatbots like ChatGPT. Yes, they serve very different purposes — chat bots, perhaps thankfully, haven't been integrated into the smart home yet. But they're far more convincing in their ability to ascertain a user's intent, even if the resulting query answers that come back aren't always accurate. 

With the stock market shooting for the moon whenever the word AI is mentioned, Apple would do well at WWDC 2023 to give a glimpse at an AI-fuelled future for Siri.

• Want more? Read: At WWDC, we need to talk about Siri

HTC is ready for a new VR challenger

HTC lead the way when it came to modern VR development with its HTC Vive headsets. Now Cher Wang, HTC Vive co-founder and chairwoman is welcoming a bit of healthy competition from its new rival Apple:

Looks like Timmy C is awake and ready for the big day...

Don't skip breakfast, Tim!

BREAKING NEWS: Last-minute Apple Reality Pro headset leak details expected specs and more

Some 11th-hour news coming on what to expect from the Apple Reality Pro headset later today. According to reasonably-reliable leaker @URedditor, the Reality Pro headset will have multiple cameras including what could potentially be a TruDepth Camera for Face ID authentication. Other cameras include two low-light infrared illuminators and two RGB cameras. Two Apple chips (a main processor, and another handling co-processing duties) are said to be present, alongside multiple sensors including a compass, magnetometer, and ambient light sensor. Accelerometers and gyroscopes are in there too.

The same leak also suggests that "there's also some sort of audio accessory" for the Apple VR although it isn't clear what that might be — it may well be something as simple as some built-in speakers. Not long to go until we find out for real!

BREAKING NEWS: Apple Reality Pro headset shipments may not start until 2024

A new report from top insider Ming-Chi Kuo claims that while Apple will unveil the Reality Pro VR headset at WWDC 2023 today, the headset won't be made available for purchase until much later this year, with shipments kicking off in late 2023 or perhaps even 2024.  

Here's where the lucky WWDC 23 attendees will be seated as the event unfolds today!

Why on earth does the Apple store go down before every event? Well, we're not really sure why anymore. Does Apple really need to do this? Or is it just to generate hype? iMore's Daryl Baxter has had enough!

It's 2023 and the Apple Store goes down yet again before WWDC starts - why?

Frittatas for everyone!

That would make for an interesting morning... 

BREAKING NEWS: APPLE SHARES HIT NEW RECORD HIGH HOURS BEFORE APPLE VR ARRIVES AT WWDC

Apple stonks are up in anticipation of what's going to be announced at WWDC, with AAPL now up 40% since the start of 2023. 

T-minus 45 minutes to go! Here's a quick refresher on what we're expecting to see:

- Apple VR and the Reality Pro headset 
- iOS 17
- macOS 14 
- iPadOS 17
- watchOS 10

... and some other items too. Wanting to follow along with the event live? Here's how to watch the WWDC 2023 keynote wherever you are.

The 15-inch MacBook Air could prove very popular

Apple's rumored 15-inch MacBook Air will be announced at the WWDC 2023 opening keynote very shortly (assuming those rumors are true!) and one analyst has been explaining how well they expect it to do.

DigiTimes research analyst Jim Hsiao states that he expects "the notebook's shipments to reach 2.5–3 million units in 2023."

The report goes on to say that "the upstream supply chain pointed out that the new MacBook Air has already entered volume production, but only received minor upgrades in hardware." The 15-inch MacBook Air is expected to feature the same M2 chips as the existing 13-inch model, with the display size being the only difference between the two machines.

However, the report does note that bigger changes are coming — just not yet.

"The product line is likely to get brand new machines or a major hardware enhancement in 2024 or 2025," the report says while citing an unnamed source in the supply chain.

• Full story: Apple's 15-inch MacBook Air shipments could reach 3 million in 2023

It's nearly kick off time, with just 30 minutes to go until the WWDC 2023 keynote begins. If you want to comment on our coverage, share your hopes and dreams (preferably for WWDC but heck, why not life too?), or just show off your meme game, join us over at the iMore Forums. It's basically Christmas Day in Apple land, so it's the perfect time to sign up.

It's time to talk Watch

We've talked VR, Mac, macOS 14 and iOS 17, so let's turn our attention to (and kill some time with!) the Apple Watch. We're expecting to find out a lot more about watchOS 10 today.

So what are the top rumors surrounding Apple's timepiece? Following the success of the Apple Watch Ultra launch, there's a lot of new Watch owners looking to get an upgrade to their pricey wristwatches. Leaks around watchOS have been slim going into WWDC, but we're hearing there will be a greater focus on widgets than have previously featured on Watch. Also, there's rumors circulating that Apple Watch and macOS interoperability will improve, meaning your Apple Watch won't be so dependent on an accompanying iPhone.

As for things we're hoping for, we'd like to see the Fitness app offer better 'rest day' functionality, better integration with third-party watch faces and the return of the Time Travel feature!

• WatchOS 10: counting the seconds to the wearable upgrade

12 minutes to go and the pre-show playlist has kicked off. This one's 'We Saw the Sun!' by Lil Yachty.

See kids? I've still got it.*

*(Still got Shazam, that is)

Could a Marvel VR announcement be on the cards?

Quite possibly. As spotted by Ben over at XDA Developers, Marvel cinematic universe head honcho Kevin Feige is in attendance at Apple Park today. And over his right shoulder is Gerard Butler's Apple-universe doppleganger, too. For Sparta!

....and we're off!

Tim Cook has taken to the stage at Apple Park to address the gathered media and devs. Hey Tim!

First up. Bubbles! There's a clip playing of a guy rushing around the streets, chasing a bubble that refuses to burst. It's like an alternative reality. A virtual one, even, where anything is possible...

... is the point we guess?

Tim's back under the Apple Park rainbow arch, talking the 15 year history of the App Store. 

"Our teams are continuing to innovate, building breakthrough experiences for our customers. It's something only Apple can do, and today we're going to make some of our biggest announcements EVER."

Pulling no punches here Tim, that's a bold start.

First up...

Mac! A recap on the 13-inch MacBook Air, which is the world's best-selling Mac. But the big new device, as expected is the 15-inch MacBook Air.

"The world's best 15-inch laptop."

11.5mm thin, making it the world's thinnest 15-incher, and weighs just over 3 pounds. MagSafe, two Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack. 15.3 inch screen with 5mm borders. 500 nits of brightness, 1 billion colors. 1080p camera, 3 mic array. Available in four shades. 

But it's the M2 chip making its return, rather than an M3 upgrade.

Apple's claiming 50% more battery life and 40% thinner than the comparable 15-inch Intel laptop. Always take those notes with a pinch of salt.

Available to pre-order now, it'll start at $1,299. Good price for that.

Next it's the return of Mac Studio. Wasn't sure if we'd see another one this soon, but it's been a big hit with creatives apparently.

"The Mac Studio's first big update," it's getting an M2 Max chip, with 21% faster performance than M1 Max. 4X faster than comparable Intel Mac.

It's also getting an M2 Ultra  chip, doubling performance of M1 Ultra.

192GB of memory supported by M2 Ultra, 134 billion transistors, with as many as 24-CPU cores and 76 GPU cores. 2nd gen 5nm tech in there. Looking very, very powerful.

50% faster video processing, 3X faster photo processing, 22 streams of 8K Pro-Res streams simultaneously for the MAc Studio with M2 Ultra. Beastly. Higher HDMI bandwidth, capable of driving 6 Pro Display HDR screens.

Oooh,  return of the Mac! It's the Mac Pro now with Apple Silicon. M2 Ultra, plus expandable innards. It's the dream!

New Mac Pro can have as much as 192GB RAM, the equivalent of seven Afterburner cards, capable of ingesting 24 4K camera feeds and encode them in real time. 8 built in Thunderbolt ports (6 front, two on top), six gen-4 PCIE expansion ports. Networking, storage, audio and video upgrades are yours to be had! This sounds ace.

Mac Studio with M2 Max = $1999

Mac Pro = $6999

... in their entry configurations. Both up for pre-order this week. All Macs are now on Apple silicon. Woohoo!

Now back to Tim...

Who hands straight over to Craig Federighi, Hair Force One himself! Into iOS 17.

Three apps getting major updates: Phone, Facetime and Messages. 

For Phone, Apple's adding personalised contact posters that you make yourself, that show up on the recipient's phone, nice! Made in a similar way to a lockscreen, and updates a person's contact card, too. For devs, it all works with CallKit.

Live Voicemail next. Offers a live transcription of the voicemail message being left, letting you more easily ghost cold-callers without missing key important calls from family. Live transcriptions handled on device to preserve privacy.

FaceTime will now let you leave a recorded video message too if you can't answer.

Now Messages, improved search filters with multiple terms, a catch-up arrow lets you jump to the latest stuff, and you can swipe to reply inline on a bubble.

There's a new 'Check in' feature coming too, letting someone get safety-concious location updates with trusted friends.

Stickers now live in a drawer and can be made from animated live photos. Lots of time being spent on this, suggests it's going to perhaps be a quiet year for iOS 17?

BREAKING NEWS: macOS 14 Sonoma revealed — widgets finally arrive

(This one's leaked ahead of it being revealed on stage - stick with that breaking news post above to be ahead of the keynote itself!)

AirDrop is up now, with loads of options for making sharing easier, including proximity alerts. Rattling through this fast is our Craig! Autocorrect improvements now, with sentence-level autocorrects. *ducking hell! This looks like a really much needed addition. Predictive will be faster, and based on personalised phrashing per person. Dictation gets a neural-level improvement too.

Next up, something brand new, Journal, a brand new app coming to iPhone later this year. Uses on-device machine learning based on the things you've done in that day, from workouts to locations to songs played and photos snapped, and you can add these into your Journal postings. Include 'reflection' prompts to encourage mindfulness and gratitude.

Another new one...StandBy. It's that rumored always-on homescreen dock! Personalised, you can use it as a clock, photo shuffler, calendar, HomeKit control and more. As Smart Stack widgets, they'll update contextually based on what you need — from meeting times to food delivery updates.

Siri update! No more need to say 'Hey!' -- just 'Siri' alone will wake the voice assistant. Not a big update for Siri there in the face of AI's progress.

Now it's iPadOS 17 time. Widgets are coming to lockscreen... WITH INTERACTIVITY! Finally — something Android tablet users have appreciated for years.

*Widget interactivity is coming to Home Screens too.

iPadOS lockscreens can now be customized just like with iPhone's iOS 16 update, too. Widgets, font detailing, wallpapers with customisation in mind, all incoming.

Live Activities have come to the lockscreen too, taking cues from the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island - track delivery details, multiple timers and more. 

Also, Health is coming to iPadOS. Nice big-screen views of your health data, with HealthKit integration on iPad for devs.

Now the good stuff... PDF workflow improvements. Machine learning lets PDF entry fields by auto-completed now, reply with a completed form in Mail, and PDFs now live as full files in Notes, letting you annotate multiple PDFs in the same note, ready to tweak with the Apple Pencil. Live collaboration across devices between users.

Stage Manager gets a nod too -- you'll be able to have more control over window resizing on iPadOS. And that's iPadOS 17!

Now we're on macOS (which has already leaked here: macOS 14 Sonoma revealed at WWDC 2023 — widgets finally arrive

So what's on the way? First up, slow-motion video screensavers. But it's macOS Widgets that we've long wanted, and they're on their way!

Widgets adapt based on what you're doing on the Mac at that given time, and live in a Widget Gallery. They can be placed essentially anywhere you like on desktop, and don't even need to be installed on the Mac provided you're using the same ones you have on your iPhone on the same Wi-Fi network.

Next up, Gaming on Mac. Apple usually drops the ball here. Will it be any different this year? First up is the introduction of Game Mode.

Dramatically lowers audio and input latency with AirPods, Xbox and PS5 control pads. Works with any game you play on Mac. A new Game Porting Toolkit is designed to make porting to Mac far simpler. Could this finally improve the amount of gaming titles available on Mac compared to PC?

Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear creator, now up. He's been to Apple Park and is delivering his own segment here. His company will be bringing Death Stranding Directors Cut natively to Mac. It's a great game, but already available on PlayStation and PC, but it's a good sign for the future if Kojima is back on board for Mac gamers. The footage looks top-notch here, so it'll at least be a solid port (if a late one). Heading to the Mac App Store 'soon'.

Safari up next. "The world's fastest browser" now gets improved Private browsing, which blocks trackers from loading and removes URL trackers. You can also share passwords -- as Passkeys -- across Family Sharing.

Safari gets profiles too, so you can set up work and personal accounts. Web Apps area new feature that let you add most-used pages to your Mac Dock, turning the page into an 'app-like experience'. That's neat, and needs no extra work from Devs. Very handy for Stage Manager and Mission Control. It even supports notifications. This is a very nice feature.

And that's macOS Sonoma!

Audio and Home up now, with what's new for AirPods. And some Black Sabbath! *duck yeah!

Adaptive Audio is the new feature coming to AirPods. It combines features of noise cancelling and transparency, based on the conditions of your surroundings. Distracting noises are reduced (like leaf blowers) while important sounds (bike bells, nearby voices) come through.

Start speaking and transparency modes automatically kick in, dial down your music and dial up nearby voices. Automatic switching across devices is improved too.

AirPlay now up! On-device intelligence will offer prompts for regularly-used AirPlay sessions based on you needs at that moment. AirPlay in Hotels will make it easier to share content when your at a hotel with devices that support it. Hotels will start rolling out the feature this year.

SharePlay for CarPlay on the way too. It rhymes! 

tvOS 17 up now with a redesigned Control Center. Siri Remote if lost can be found by your iPhone. But most importantly, FaceTime is coming to Apple TV using Continuity Camera. It'll wirelessly connect your iPhone or iPad's cameras, and you can take a call on one device and hand it over to another. SharePlay lets you all watch a show together too, with picture-in-picture effect.

And that's Audio and Home updates wrapped up. Some really nice quality of life stuff in there.

Next up, watchOS 10, with my brother-from-another-mother Kevin Lynch talking us through the updates.

"Comprehensive redesign" Kev's calling this one, and it's got a very slick intro video. It's a biggie!

It's Widgets for Apple Watch! Using Smart Stacks, turning the digital crown will blend Widgets into your watch face, while contextual information will bring most useful widgets to the fore first.

Apps on WatchOS 10 are getting major redesigns. Here's the clock app

Here's a new-look Activity app...

...and some third-party apps using this new design language:

Here's some new Watch faces too: Palette, plus a new animated Snoopy watch face which looks just awesome. I'll be using that one for sure.

WatchOS Activities now include Cycling. Speed and cadence sensors, as well as power meters can be connected via Bluetooth. Apple Watch will estimate Functional Threshold Power, an important metric for peak performance cyclists.

Updates to Hiking and Compass in watchOS 10 too. Cellular location waypoints will tell you where on your route you've got connection, while Altimeter data will give you topographical height details. A topographical map feature is coming too.

Updates for Tennis and Golf players coming too, using movement data from your wrist to help improve your game.

Health on watchOS 10 and iOS 17 now. Mental Health helping-apps up now, with new mindfulness logging functions in the Mindfullness app. You can use the digital crown to literally dial in your mood with Apple Watch, but you can do the same if you've only got an iPhone too.

Standardised assessments used in clinics will help you assess if you're suffering from depression and anxiety too — though, remember, will never be a replacement from a screening with your doctor. Take care of yourselves!

Myopia, vision detrimentation, is next on the list Apple wants to help with. It'll take advantage of ambient light enjoyed during a day – an important factor for avoiding the onset of myopia. And distance from your screen can hurt too, so Apple will prompt you if you're sitting too close to your iPhone or iPad screen.

And that's watchOS 10. How's everyone doing? Still with me? My fingers are like sausages now.

It's got to be VR time now... right?

ONE MORE THING! It's happening!

It's here! Tim Cook introducing Apple Vision Pro!

"Vision Pro is a new kind of computer that seamlessly blends the new world with the digital world". It's AR at the forefront folks, it's see-through, controlled only by hands, eyes and voice.

"Watch your movies, shows and sports on a giant screen."

I see a battery pack cable there. This is exciting! Not a battery cable, the whole thing I mean...

Apple Vision Pro uses a fully three-dimensional interface, with a home view of circular apps that sit in front you of 'truly present in your room'. They cast shadows to help you understand scale and distance.

Place apps anywhere you want in your space, at any size. The OS here does seem as though it's going to lean into computing more than pure entertainment.

Environments can extend and transform the space around an app, captured volumetrically, expanding an environment around you or your screen.

Input up next, reliant solely on eyes, hands and voice. No controller. Simply gestures and voice commands, with eyes acting as the focus point.

"You're never isolated from the people around you." Your eyes are displayed when someone is nearby. So...

CORRECTION: that frontpiece is NOT see through, but is a display on the front of the Vision Pro headset. It's a smart display, adapting to when people are nearby, so you can see what's going on in a room, and a person near you can see your eyes as they approach.

Everything you do on Apple Vision Pro is synced over iCloud, so your apps stay synced with changes from Mac, iPhone or iPad.

Link up your Mac, and it'll work side-by-side with your Mac. See your display through Vision Pro, and add additional screens to the side too. We had a feeling this was coming.

FaceTime for Apple Vision Pro. Not 3D avatar stuff, but floating tiles. This one's a little more prosaic, doesn't feel quite as revolutionary an approach to video calls as was rumored. What would the caller see here?

Photos in Vision Pro look very cool. You can almost 'step-into' videos and images. But the headset itself is also a 3D camera, letting you make recordings with depth for playback later. We're talking Spatial Photos and Spatial Videos now.

Looks like 3D movies might be making a comeback then! Though being able to watch TV 'on a mountainside' does sound very fun. Lots of this is dependant on the quality of the screen, and the comfort of the headset though.

Walt Disney making content for Apple Vision Pro, with CEO Bob Iger taking to the stage now. This feels like a concept reel though rather than what's actually landing anytime soon — video of Disney Plus content merging with character lookups, riding a Star Wars sandspeeder, getting a tabletop-view of an NBA game, bringing a virtual Mickey Mouse to your living room, etc etc.

That's the sizzle, now we're onto the tech details, with Richard Howarth, VP of Industrial Design. "The result of decades of collective experience" across, Mac, iPhone and Apple Watch, he says.

The entire front of the product is glass, with sensors and lenses embedded, and an immersion-controlling digital crown.

Thermal design 'quietly' draws air into the system, with a soft textile band designed for comfort across thousands of head shapes. It's a modular system, so you can get different parts for different fits. Speakers offer spatial audio, built into the headband. 

Those who need glasses will need to order custom Zeiss inserts — your specs ain't going to fit, and there's a cable-attached battery pack for your pocket. Two downsides there.

So what's going on inside? Apple Vision Pro makes use of a micro OLED backpane pushing 23 million pixels across two panels. More pixels than a 4K TV per eye, with a sophisticated three-element lens that wraps around and magnifies the postage stamp-sized displays. Text and messages should be crisp as a result.

Personalised sound delivered from integrated audio drivers, with spatial audio figuring out the shape of your room for what Apple's calling 'Audio Ray tracing'. Eye trackers on the inside too.

It's all powered by that M2 chip you'll find in a MacBook, running in parallel with a new chip, the R1, which processes data from all the sensors to reduce latency and help battle nauseating effects by speedy response rates to your movements.

EyeSight makes use of lenticular lens to shape your face naturally through that outward display to make for as natural as possible a recreation of your face. A scan of your face will create a Persona - that's what's shown on the outside of the screen, and what's shown to those who call you on FaceTime while you're in the headset. It's basically an avatar approximation of you.

A quick look at some of the third-party apps made now. There's a look inside a heart, a DJ-deck, a planetarium, an app for looking at car aerodynamics. Microsoft apps like Word and Excel work with the headset, while your digital Persona will work with apps like teams and Zoom, too.

Thousands of iPad and iPhone apps will port immediately over to the device too, in flat panes.

And, of course, there's a VisionOS App Store, too.

Optic ID is the security system, with on-device encryption, using retina recognition to protect user accounts. "Where you look stays private" too, so you're not offering data on the dodgy Twitter accounts you're just passing over...

With 5,000 patents inside, it's "the most advanced personal electronics device ever". There's the tagline, folks!

Apple Vision Pro starts at $3499, and will go on sale early next year.

Expensive, and a long way off folks. Time to get saving. That price tag is going to be a barrier to entry for many, but that was one hell of a presentation. How much do you get for a kidney on the black market these days?

And it's back to Tim Cook for the wrap up. "There are certain products that shift the way we look at technology and the role it serves in our lives. Apple Vision Pro introduces an entirely new spatial computing platform. And this is just the beginning."

A quick trailer aaaaaand. That's a wrap! Time to dunk my hand in some ice water!

So, what did you make of that? My quick takes on each major announcement:

Apple Vision Pro — exciting, powerful, expensive and a long way off.

iOS 17: a minor update compared to last year, but I like the contact cards and dock view.

macOS 14 Sonoma: Widgets, finally! This one's a winner.

watchOS 10: Not for me, but those additional sports and mindfulness features sound good. I like the widgets again too. More widgets!

iPadOS 17: Widgets the winners here again too.

And I liked the updates to AirPods too, they're great added value to products we already own. I can see the MacBook Air 15-inch model being a hit too.

Apple Vision Pro is the obvious highlight. That was one of the slickest Apple promo reels I've ever seen them do. But so much of that experience is hard to really capture over a video stream. What's it feel like to wear? How sharp are those screens? What's the latency between movement and video feedback? 

The 'mixed reality' elements weren't underplayed in the rumors that's for sure — Apple didn't use the term virtual reality once by my reckoning, and most of the time the blend of real and digital worlds was present. But I'm not sure about every one of the use cases suggested there — playing with your kids through a headset is not an experience I think Apple should be pushing. That's even worse than through an iPhone camera lens.

And take a look at that battery pack! That thing is not insignificant (though I'll accept it as the compromise for a more ergonomic on-head experience. A pocketable battery isn't all that bad.

But I'm really saddened by the lenses. The suggestion that all those millions of potential users wearing glasses are going to get a sub-par experience without buying additional corrective lenses is a real downer — unless you can squeeze your glasses in. But that doesn't marry up with the Eye Sight experience. So it'll be a tax on the near-or-far sighted I fear, and the proprietary nature of the lenses will hold those in need of them over a barrel in terms of pricing.

It seems Apple is being very selective over who gets to touch Apple Vision Pro too — Kate Kozuch from our buddies at Tom's Guide is in the hands-on area of the event, which sounds decidedly hands-off. People aren't allowed to get close, suggesting (along with that distant release date) that things might not be quite ready for the masses.

There were some great announcements tucked away in WWDC 2023's epic showcase that might slip between the cracks but are worth singing about. Here's a few of my favourites.

AirPods improvements: If you've got AirPods that can handle noise-cancellation or transparency modes, they're getting some smart upgrades for free, it seems. You'll be able to turn on an 'adaptive' mode that will listen to your surroundings and dial up noise-cancellation when annoying sounds come in, or dial up transparency when you need to hear important things like alarms or voices.

Safari Web Apps for Mac: got certain websites that you rely on every day? Safari can now save them as a 'Web App' shortcut in your Mac dock. These work great with Stage Manager and offer a stripped-back Safari interface, launching directly from your dock. They can offer live notifications, too.

Snoopy is getting his own animated Apple Watch face: no more description necessary for how awesome this is.

Game porting for Mac improved: Mac might finally get all the AAA gaming ports it deserves thanks to a new API that streamlines the process of getting games working on Apple's Metal graphics platform.

Want to get in on the new OS action... right now? Though the average iPhone, Mac or Apple Watch user is going to need to wait a while before all those smokin' hot updates land, those with dev accounts can get their devices prepped right now:

• How to download iOS 17 developer beta 1 for iPhone
• How to download iPadOS 17 developer beta 1 for iPad
• How to download watchOS 10 developer beta 1 for Apple Watch
• How to download macOS Sonoma developer beta 1 for Mac

This year's WWDC is now right around the corner and expectations are as high as ever. The annual unveiling of the next iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV software is always enough to draw a crowd, but this year things have been ratcheted up a notch. This year, things are getting virtual.

At least, that's what we've been told to expect. Alongside all that new software and several new Macs (including the first-ever 15-inch MacBook Air), we're told that Reality Pro will finally debut. Apple's first AR/VR headset could be the next Apple Watch or a giant flop, and we'll find out soon enough.

But what will the headset offer and how will people use it? Those are questions we don't really have the answers to just yet, but that isn't going to stop people from pondering them. Us included.

What we know so far

When it comes to concrete facts about the Reality Pro headset, we're sadly lacking. That isn't all that unexpected for a device that has no precedent — this isn't a refresh of an existing product, of course — but it does make predictions difficult.

That isn't to say that we haven't seen leaks, but leaks are always problematic especially when it comes to Apple. Google and other brands leak more than a sieve at times but Apple? Not so much.

That being said, what do we think we know?

Well, bits and pieces. There's talk of multiple cameras on both the inside and outside of the headset for a start. An external hip-mounted battery is another thing, while the actual mounting point that attaches to the user's head is thought to be soft and comfortable, which is good news.

A recent leak by display analyst Ross Young shared more details, specifically about the displays being used inside Reality Pro. And they sound impressive, to say the least.

Young speaks of two 1.41-inch Micro OLED displays both packing a 4,000 PPI rating. That should make for crystal clear and super crisp images, but that's just the start. Young also reckons that we can expect a peak brightness in the region of 5,000 nits which is pretty insane. To put that into perspective, that's brighter than most HD televisions can manage — and these displays are right in front of your eyes.

There will no doubt be engineering reasons that the brightness that will reach your pupils won't be anything like that level of retina-burning proportions, but the high figure does at least confirm one thing — Apple doesn't appear to be playing around.

Nor should it be, considering one of the other tidbits that have been floating around for months. The price.

If those rumors are true, Reality Pro will set buyers back around $3,000 which is a lot of money. Too much? The market will tell, but the gist we're getting is that this version of Reality Pro isn't necessarily about selling units but rather getting the ecosystem of apps lined up and ready for future, cheaper models.

Speaking of apps, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has hinted that Apple will target productivity, gaming, and fitness as three main focuses for the headset. Gaming is an obvious one, but we're told that Apple has designs on making iPad apps run in virtual reality, with all of the company's main productivity and communications apps ready to go.

The wishlist

When it comes to suggesting features we'd like to see from Reality Pro, it's particularly difficult. A new product the likes of which Apple has never shipped before makes it difficult to know what kinds of things it could be capable of, for example.

Despite that, expectations are high — perhaps because of the fact nobody really knows what Apple has up its sleeve.

Could Reality Pro finally mean that Apple's Stage Manager will make sense? It's all but useless on the Mac and slightly more useful on the iPad. But taken in the context of virtual and augmented reality, it might finally come into its own. A way for people to multitask in 3D space. Just imagine having app windows floating around in front of you. Sounds pretty great, doesn't it?

It's also easy to hope that the headset will finally see Apple go all-in on games, too. Some sort of Apple Arcade integration would be interesting, with an all-new class of titles available for the existing subscription. Nobody wants to just see existing games like Angry Birds get a new lick of paint though — let's have brand-new, purpose-built titles.

But really, the biggest hope here is that Apple has something big on its hands. The iPhone's ubiquitous, the Mac is the Mac, and the Apple Watch is already the world's most popular watch. We all want something new, something exciting, and something that will drive technology forward. Some had expected that to be Apple's entry into the foldable phone market, but that's yet to happen. There was (and still is) the Apple Car, too. But could Reality Pro be the next big thing?

Not at $3,000, sure. But Apple's said to already have plans for a future model that costs around half that. And in years we can expect it to cost a quarter or less. And that's when the fun really begins.

For that to happen, we'll need apps — and Apple's WWDC unveiling should hopefully hint that it's going to give developers the tools needed to build some great ones. After all, it's apps that took the iPhone from being a cool phone to a computer in your pocket. Now it's time to put one on our heads as well.

The Timeline

The Reality Pro headset is expected to be announced at WWDC 2023 on June 5, that much we already know. What we don't yet know is when it'll actually go on sale.

If Apple follows the pattern we expect, the headset won't reach stores until much later this year. That's assuming Apple wants to give developers time to build apps for the headset before putting it in the hands and on the heads of paying customers, of course.

Our guess would be a launch around September time, but that will make for a busy month. The iPhone 15 is expected in September, while new Apple Watches will surely be announced as well. One thing's for certain, September could be a very expensive month for some.

If you're planning on picking up a brand-new and shiny Reality Pro headset after it is announced on June 5 (assuming the rumors are true) you're probably going to have a very long wait.

While we were already very much expecting the headset to ship later this year rather than immediately after its WWDC 2023 announcement, a new report suggests that mass production won't get underway until October.

If accurate, that would mean that the headset is unlikely to find its way into the hands of early adopters until around December 2023.

A waiting game

That's according to a research note by Erik Woodring, an Apple analyst at Morgan Stanley. The note, seen by MacRumors, suggests that buyers of the headset will have a long wait on their hands.

"While we expect Apple's AR/VR headset to be unveiled next week, our supply chain checks suggest mass production won't start until October '23, with general availability most likely ahead of the December holidays," Woodring reportedly said.

A delay between announcement and release was always expected, partially to allow developers time to work on Apple's new SDK and get their apps ready. But such a long wait might still surprise some, with there being a very real possibility that the headset could arrive with customers in 2024 depending on availability and any further changes in the supply chain.

Apple's expected to finally announce the headset on June 5 alongside at least two new Macs; the 15-inch MacBook Air and a new M2 variant of the Mac Studio. New software for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV will also likely be previewed. However, they also won't be ready for release to the public at that time. Instead, they're likely to launch in or around September.

Apple is set to enter a whole new product category with its upcoming Reality Pro headset. The mixed-reality headset has been detailed across several leaks and rumors over the last few months. It’s the first time in a while that Apple is entering a new product segment, and that’s what makes it so interesting.

However, I think most of us have been looking at this launch the wrong way. The Apple Reality Pro VR headset isn’t trying to disrupt an existing industry, but it’s instead aiming to create a whole new niche for itself. The Apple Reality Pro VR headset won't replace Meta Quest — it's coming to replace your whole computer instead.

 Apple's lofty VR plans: playing the long game

Apple isn’t a stranger to entering — and revolutionising — existing product markets. We’ve seen the company do this time and again, whether that's changing the face of MP3 players with the iPod or wiping the then-dominant BlackBerry off the face of the Earth with iPhone. Apple tends to wait until it is confident about delivering a product that it believes is the best in the world. That doesn’t mean that it always delivers a fully complete product from the get-go, but it has been good at adapting the product and playing the long game.

Case in point: the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch is the last major product category Apple entered. At launch, it was a very skeletal product, but Apple iterated it well enough to make it not only the best-selling smartwatch but the best-selling watch of all time. Today, the Apple Watch seems almost unbeatable, not just in terms of smartwatches but rising to become the most ubiquitous watch on wrists generally, which wouldn’t have been everybody’s prediction at its 2015 launch.

I think Apple plans to take a similar route with its Reality Pro VR headset. The VR space has existed for a while, but it feels undercooked still, with progress appearing haphazard. We cannot quite say “VR is the future” with as much confidence as we used to a few years ago. Meta and Oculus, while moderately successful in terms of hardware, seems to have succumbed to an untested belief that the world is ready for life within the so-called metaverse. With relatively weak competition, the VR segment is ripe for Apple to disrupt, and it doesn’t even need to get it right on day one.

 Apple's AIO model

This brings me to my point: I don’t think Apple is looking to compete with any existing VR headsets on the market. Nothing so far suggests that Apple will want to compete against the Meta Quest line. For starters, the Apple Reality Pro VR headset is likely to cost between $2,000 to $3,000, which puts it way past the $1,500 launch price (now at $1,000) of the Meta Quest Pro. That’s the first major indicator that the headset will either be a premium option... or a whole different class of VR altogether.

I think the Reality Pro will follow what I call Apple’s AIO model. Apple has done it time and again. The iMac? An all-in-one device, with the chipset and monitor integrated into one unit. The iPhone? We all remember the iconic Steve Jobs keynote introducing the iPhone, calling it “an iPod, a phone, and an internet communicator” all in one. Apple loves reinventing things and making one device to do the work of several, and I think the Reality Pro is going to be exactly that.

We know this will be a pricey model, and we know it will be powered by Apple's own silicon, likely an M2 family chip. The question is — why would it be an M-series chip and not an A-series mobile chip? Surely adding an M2 chip to just a headset seems like overkill? That is, of course, unless Apple has far greater ambitions for the headset beyond being only an entertainment device, but a productivity one, too.

What’s a computer? The Apple silicon conundrum

It’s likely because this won’t just be a headset. Apple is gunning for the Reality Pro to be the ultimate computer and not just an input/output device. The $3,000 price tag makes way more sense if you’re getting a computer you can wear on your forehead instead of just another headset. The M2 chip would make more sense as well if this device is going to do more than just act as a head-mounted display.

Apple has asked the ‘What’s a computer?” question before with the iPad, and I think it’ll ask it again with the Reality Pro. We’ve seen early attempts at AR glasses begin to take off (a space Apple is keen eventually to rule, too), and a big selling point is that you can use them as computer monitor replacements. Apple silicon has a solid mix of performance, power efficiency, and solid thermals — and could work excitingly well, with the right OS and software, within a device integrating all existing computing principles in one.

But are we there yet? Possibly not. The headset we’ll see at WWDC 2023 is likely to be a debutant with some shortfalls, and a far cry from Tim Cook’s original vision, as we’ve been hearing from some reports of late. Cook doesn’t like the idea of being ”tethered to a computer,” so it’s possible that the ultimate goal is to not have a tether at all. Apple silicon’s developmental journey will be an important factor in taking this early VR headset to a point where it’s a 'go anywhere' computer. 

A Hideo Kojima headset? 

Legendary game designer Hideo Kojima has been spotted at Apple Park, sparking rumors that he may be a part of the Reality Pro announcement. While this may or may not be true, it sparks a question — could the Reality Pro ultimately become a standalone gaming computer? 

It will take some serious efforts from Apple to lure game developers to this new platform, but it’s necessary. VR has a deep connection with gaming, and Apple cannot ignore it. I doubt Apple will want the Reality Pro to be a pair of VR goggles you can hook up to your Windows gaming PC, so its other option is to have some solid first-party support. AAA gaming on Mac is something Apple has either struggled with or effectively ignored previously. Could Apple VR have the power to change that? If its Macs continue to fall short of the standard set by gaming PCs, could Reality Pro also be the missing jigsaw piece in Apple's gaming puzzle?

Of course, there’s a chance that it could crash and burn, and we never see any of these things materialize. Apple isn’t immune to failure. However, Apple’s expertise in disrupting market segments and making its own product niches is unparalleled. It’s uniquely equipped to make this pipe dream become a Reality™, and for the sake of VR and all of us that love it — I hope it does.

Tim Cook originally didn't want the Apple VR headset to look like a traditional VR unit. Instead, Cook wanted something a little closer to Google Glass —a pair of smart glasses that sit comfortably on the face, and don't obstruct a user's sight. Something for everyday use, not something that requires you to be rooted in one spot. 

According to a new report by Mark Gurman for Bloomberg however, technical limitations detailed in the extensive and detailed editorial meant Cook has had to admit defeat and release the device that he didn't want – although we might see something closer to the CEO's original vision in the future.

But even the new headset that may well be released could have some issues, and there are already detractors to what some have started to call "Tim Cook's legacy."

Something that can go everywhere

Steve Jobs had a massive lasting impact on Apple and the spaces that it touched. The best iPhone, iPad, and even the Apple Watch all had a tremendous impact on what happened in the tech space, with lasting aftershocks that are felt now. Apple VR is likely just what Cook sees as his iPhone, or his iPad – something that will leave a lasting impression on the industry, and cement his place even further into Apple and tech history.

But development has been a long and difficult one, apparently punctuated by indecision and uncontrollable difficulties like the global pandemic. Though the headset is nearing its debut, there are those at Apple who feel only third-party developer support can 'save' the product, while unrealistic user behaviour expectations — like owners wearing the VR headset to parties! — seems far removed from the current sentiment towards wearable computers like the Meta Quest hardware.

Gurman goes into great detail in his fascinating look at the problems that VR headset has faced, and how Tim Cook never wanted it to look like it does. In fact, Cook even said of the early pioneering VR headsets like the Samsung Gear VR and the HTC Vive, to an audience of students,  “Nobody in here—few people in here—think it’s acceptable to be tethered to a computer walking in here and sitting down. Few people are going to view that it’s acceptable to be enclosed in something, because we’re all social people at heart.” Instead, Cook viewed the AR eyeglass alternative as something that would be truly useful.

His nonchalance to the Apple VR idea led to what some on his team 'perceived as indecision, leading to delays and concerns about obtaining sufficient resources.' Yet the device seems to be coming very, very soon – so those delays may have finally reached a head.

As for Tim's glasses, some amongst Apple joke that it's a hopeless project, worked on to keep him happy. Since then, and with no progress since 2019, the AR glasses are 'all but dead', with many saying it could be four years before we see anything like them.

If Apple really is about to announce the Reality Pro AR/VR headset during its WWDC23 event next month it'll bring to an end of years of development and rumors. Now, it appears that Apple has already been working to get its trademark ducks in a row.

Apple often uses shell companies to apply for trademarks ahead of a product's announcement as a way to try and avoid its plans from becoming public knowledge. That appears to have been the case here, with a Deep Screen trademark having been applied for in multiple countries including the United States.

The trademarks were applied for by a Deep Dive LLC, rather than Apple.

Secretive Apple

Australian references to Deep Screen were spotted by Twitter user @schappi and reported by MacRumors.

It isn't yet clear what the Deep Screen trademark will be used for, but it's thought that Deep Dive LLC is a shell company owned by Apple based on previous trademarks relating to xrOS — the operating system thought to power the Reality Pro headset. However, the Deep Screen name could allude to the immersive experience that the headset is expected to provide.

Interestingly, these new trademarks were applied for in 2017 and 2018 while some have been allowed to lapse — perhaps suggesting that Deep Screen won't be used as a product or feature name after all.

Apple is expected to announce its first AR/VR headset during an event on June 5, but it's unlikely that it will go on sale until much later in the year to allow developers to work on their apps ahead of release.

The June 5 WWDC event is also expected to unveil the 15-inch MacBook Air, while new software for the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV should also debut. While the MacBook Air is likely to be available almost immediately, those software updates aren't going to be ready until around September based on previous release schedules.

All the hype right now is about a product that Apple hasn't even announced, the Reality Pro AR/VR headset. That's expected to change in the next few weeks but it seems like one expert has already seen what Apple has in store.

Palmer Luckey is the founder of Oculus, the VR company that was later bought by Facebook. Luckey appears to have seen an unfinished version of Reality Pro, and he seems to have liked what he saw.

According to him, there's a lot to look forward to come WWDC23 and June 5.

'So good'

Luckey took to Twitter to say confirm that "the Apple headset is so good," but stopped short of giving away too many details. However, as Road To VR notes, he'd already spilled the beans in a May 4 interview via a Twitter Space.

In that interview, Luckey gave a few more details about what he's seen and expects from the new headset.

"The Apple headset is very, very good," Luckey said in the Spaces interview. "I’ve not seen the final headset, but I have seen an earlier version of the headset and it is excellent."

Luckey went on to say that the headset "is going to be a huge deal," noting that "it is going to be expensive" before adding that Apple is going "to make VR into something everybody wants before it’s something that everybody can afford." That's a strategy that Luckey believes to be "pretty smart."

Reality Pro is expected to be announced during WWDC next month but is unlikely to go on sale until later in 2023. That time should allow developers to get their apps ready for the big release to the public, just as Apple did with the Apple Watch so many years ago.

Will Reality Pro become the best VR headset you can buy? At an expected $3,000, it ought to be.

Apple hasn't yet managed to announce its first Reality Pro AR/VR headset, but we can safely assume that it's already looking into what comes next. That, according to one analyst, is not just one headset — but two.

We've heard rumors of Apple planning to replace its first $3,000 headset with two new ones eventually and now that's been reiterated by one Apple supply chain analyst.

According to that analyst, Apple will have high and low-end Reality Pro headsets in or around 2025.

A whole new reality

That analyst is the usually well-connected Ming-Chi Kuo who took to Medium to share details on a few of Apple's upcoming products. Those include the iPhone 16 Pro as well as the Reality Pro headset.

Apple's first Reality Pro is expected to be announced during the WWDC 2023 opening keynote on June 5. It then isn't expected to go on sale until later in the year, but when it does it's expected to cost upwards of $3,000. Now, Kuo has again said that there will be a cheaper version at a later date for those who want it, but not for a little while yet.

"The 2nd generation Apple AR/MR headset is expected to go into mass production in 2025," the analyst writes. "There will be two versions, a high-end and a low-end. Shipments of the 2nd generation in 2025 are expected to be around ten times those of the 1st generation in 2023."

It remains to be seen what that cheaper model will have in terms of features and capabilities and how it will differ from the other model. But the first Reality Pro headset is expected to feature some high-end technology including Mac-like chips, multiple cameras, and impressive displays to create an immersive experience for the wearer. We've seen a few tidbits leak, but we now have to only wait a matter of weeks before the full story comes into focus.

Talk of Apple's unveiling of the oft-rumored Reality Pro AR/VR headset continues to gather a pace as we get ever closer to it finally happening.

While we've new hearing claims of an impending announcement for months, it now looks more likely than ever that Apple will finally take the wraps off its first foray into the world of augmented and virtual reality headsets during the WWDC23 event. The event's opening keynote will take place on June 5, 2023.

A new report by one well-respected analyst has again pointed to that WWDC unveiling, complete with details on who will be responsible for building key parts of the overall package.

A whole new reality

Discussing some of the suppliers of the parts used in the as-yet unconfirmed headset, Kuo said that there will be a number of partners involved in producing what is sure to be Apple's biggest release in recent years.

Luxshare will be tasked with assembling the headset, with others producing key components. The "micro OLED display (exclusive to Sony), dual processors (exclusive to TSMC), casing (Everwin Precision as the main supplier), 12 camera modules (exclusive to Cowell), and external power supply (exclusive to Goretek) are the top 5 most expensive material costs for this new device," Kuo says.

Apple's Reality Pro headset is expected to cost around $3,000 when it goes on sale later this year. While the headset will be announced at WWDC 2023 in June, it's strongly expected that it won't be available for a number of months to allow Apple and its developer partners to get their apps ready. A similar delayed-release allowed developers to get Apple Watch apps ready for the big day, ensuring that early adopters have software to use when their new device arrives.

The WWDC23 event will be streamed online although some developers have been able to score an invitation to Apple Park as well.

If Apple really is going to announce the Apple VR Reality Pro headset during its WWDC23 event in June we can only hope that it'll look like this.

We're talking about a full 3D render of the claimed Reality Pro based on previous rumors of the device that have cropped up in recent weeks and months. That render was created by Marcus Kane and boy does it look good.

Our only concern? That external battery seems like an even worse idea now that we've seen what it could actually be like.

That battery tho

If all of the rumors are true Apple will announce its first entry into the headset market on June 5 at WWDC and then make it available for purchase later in the year once developers have had time to build some apps for it. That means that we probably only have a few weeks to wait before the headset will be unveiled — will it look like this? That battery situation aside, let's hope so.

Kane shared the 3D model on Sketchfab along with annotations of all the different bits and pieces. We get to see the battery of course, as well as the so-called Reality Dial that will allow wearers to control how much of their surroundings they can see while wearing the headset. 

Now that we can see the headset in 3D and move it around we might be starting to get a feel for why it might cost the rumored $3,000 once it finally goes on sale. It looks like every inch the premium product. As well it should when you consider you could buy two of Apple's very best iPhones and still have some money left over for other Apple gear.

You can check the 3D model out for yourself while you wait for WWDC to roll around but don't forget there's more going on at this year's event than just this headset. The 15-inch MacBook Air is heavily rumored, while the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV will all get new software announcements as well.

Pokemon GO has changed. As a service game that launched back in 2016, that’s hardly surprising, but it’s clear that the experience Pokemon GO fans are having in 2023 is very different to what came before.

Anyone who’s stuck around for the past seven years of Pokemon GO will know what a journey it’s been – not quite Pallet Town to the Elite Four, but still a seismic shift in what the initial game was capable of. There’s now several hundred more Pokemon than at launch, a number of PvP features, and a fleshed-out ecosystem of battles, gyms, PokeStops, raids, and live events across the world. There’s never been more on offer, or more reason to jump into the game.

• How to catch Ditto in Pokemon Go
• Pokemon Go Eevee evolutions guide: everything you need to know
• How to get and use evolution items in Pokemon Go

The conversation around Pokemon GO in 2023, though, is less about what the game has achieved and more about whether players are being short-changed – in the wake of recent updates making it more expensive than ever for some users to play.

As the world’s biggest mass AR game, a great example of why Apple has such high hopes for AR in the future, and one tied to the beloved Pokemon franchise, developer Niantic is no doubt keen to keep its player base active – and suitably monetized. But what are the recent changes to Pokemon GO, and should they be a deterrent to anyone wondering about jumping in?

Prepare for trouble, and make it double

There’s been a huge community backlash to the most recent changes to Pokemon GO, namely the price increase and purchase restrictions around Remote Raid passes, which enable players to engage in raids from the comfort of their own home – or any area that doesn’t have one running nearby. (For those who don’t know, raids are time-sensitive events that let you battle and capture briefly-appearing Pokemon, and are a core part of the game’s appeal.)

The cost of a single Remote Raid pass has nearly doubled, from 100 PokéCoins (around $1) to 195, with a pack of three passes now costing 525 PokéCoins (around $5) instead of 300. Players can now only use five of these passes a day, and only hold three at one time, drastically cutting down on the fun of anyone who used these passes regularly to engage with the game.

These passes are generally a huge benefit to those who are less mobile, time-poor, or similarly constrained in how they access raids – without the opportunity to do them much in person, if at all – and the changes have gone down with players like a lead Drifloon.

One Pokemon GO player, Keith, told us that “The remote raid price bump (and daily limit) has seen interest in my local raid group drop off a cliff… I’m spending less money, as are my peer group. I have no time to be traveling to local gyms that previously I could dial into.”

Keith is also convinced the changes will only make cheating more likely – though as a long-term player and Level 50 trainer, he acknowledges that the game is “better than ever, apart from nerfing the ability to play remotely.”

Niantic’s blog post on the matter states that “We plan to keep Remote Raid Passes as part of Pokémon GO. However, we believe this change is necessary for the long-term health of the game, and we do not make it lightly. We feel this is a necessary step toward our goal of preserving and improving the unique experience of playing Pokémon GO.”

However, the key admission in the announcement is this: “Since their introduction in 2020, Remote Raid Passes have come to dominate the experience of playing Pokémon GO in a way we never intended.” It’s likely their sheer popularity that has led Niantic to recalibrate the cost and accessibility of this game mechanic, even if it means restricting a widespread and beloved feature to squeeze out more cash.

The evolution of Pokemon GO

It’s not all bad, of course. Niantic has had seven years to improve the experience of playing Pokemon GO, and countless feature additions and updates have made sure of that. With over one billion downloads to its name, it’s clearly been a huge success – one that similarly AR-powered tie-ins like Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (RIP) have struggled to recreate.

Over the years, PokeStops and gyms have proliferated, berries and clothing options have grown, while later generations of Pokemon beyond the original 150 have been drip-fed into the game’s world. Pokemon GO has even been used to unveil brand-new Pokemon for the first time, showing just how much influence the AR game has within the broader Pokemon ecosystem.

Other updates, meanwhile, have been focused on passive rewards, or making key parts of the game easier to access. In 2018, Niantic released a feature called Adventure Sync, which uses your phone’s GPS or pedometer counts from fitness apps to count your real-life movement towards egg hatching and other perks in-game, even when not using the Pokemon GO app directly. 

This was also the year that Pokemon Let’s Go: Pikachu and Eevee released to market, featuring Pokemon GO integration – by which time the AR app had collated more than $2 billion in revenue, and cemented itself as a full-on cultural phenomenon.

In the years since, players have also had access to PvP player battles, and Mega Evolutions, as well as the Remote Raid passes currently being fought over. The companion social app Campfire also offers a way to connect with other trainers, send messages to friends, and find people to fight Raid Battles with. Region-specific Pokemon give an incentive to travel and take Pokemon GO with you on your journeys abroad, while the Postcard Book scratches the itch for those after more collectibles.

The core Pokemon GO experience – catching, battling, hatching, evolving – is still here, but it now has countless other layers of interactions over it, making this AR game more social and integrated with the wider world than ever. In that sense, there’s never been a better time to play the game, whether you’re a new player or someone who’s been in it for the long haul.

The long view

Pokemon GO isn’t going anywhere, and given the struggle for other mass AR games to catch on, Niantic will be doing everything it can to keep the game going in the long-term. 

We don’t blame a commercial enterprise for looking after their profit motive – which should help ensure the game isn’t shut down in the near future. But taxing Remote Raid passes is hitting Pokemon GO players in a sensitive spot, and may well be a decision Niantic has to walk back if revenue suddenly drops from a lack of engagement with the feature. Only time will tell on that one.

With Niantic’s AR pet sim, Peridot, also launching in May, there may be other avenues for Pokemon GO players to scratch their AR itch. It’s worth noting that service games are often best value at launch, when they need to grow a community, and add in more expenses over time – so you may find a friendlier service here, for the first couple of years anyway. 

For anyone already deeply invested in the Pokemon GO ecosystem, the Remote Raid restrictions are a pain, and may be enough of a wake-up call for some to think about shifting to other games. And the smaller the community gets, the worse experience new players will have when trying to find others to battle, trade, and connect with through the app. But given the unique position Pokemon GO holds in the world of AR games, and how embedded it is in the bestselling Pokemon franchise, it doesn’t feel like a sinking ship just yet.

Apple's AR/VR Reality Pro headset has been strongly tipped for an announcement during the WWDC23 event in June. Now, a new report backs that up by saying that the supply chain has all of its ducks in a row ahead of the big day.

While Apple isn't expected to make the headset available immediately, a new report suggests that the supply chain is ready to get things moving. It says that the project is now in the "final spring" and that it's ready to enter the supply chain stage of production.

While Apple has yet to confirm that the headset exists, it's thought that the WWDC23 unveiling will take place a matter of months before Reality Pro hits store shelves around the world.

Apple's headset reality

That's according to a report by the Economic Daily News which reports that GIS is the company that has been chosen to handle lens lamination for the headset and that it "is the closest to the final product shipment."

Based on that information the report confirms the expectation that Apple will announce the headset during WWDC which will see its annual keynote take place on June 5, 2023.

While GIS refused to comment on any individual customer, including Apple, it did reportedly say that it has "entered the metaverse market this year," according to the report. It's also said that it will start shipping to customers in the second quarter. It's that Apple is one of those customers.

The report goes on to say that GIS will be the one tasked with fitting the lenses for the Reality Pro while Luxshare will be the company tasked with putting everything else together.

The Reality Pro headset is expected to cost as much as $3,000 and have an external battery. But it won't connect to any other device which means you won't need to buy the best Mac Apple sells just to use it.

You'd need to have been hiding under a rock to have missed the fact that Apple is working on an AR/VR headset. It's been working on it for years. Now, it's closer than ever to being released.

Expected to be called Reality Pro according to previous reports by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the headset is now almost nailed on for a WWDC23 announcement in June. But it doesn't sound like it'll actually be made available for people to buy for a good long while yet. In fact, it seems most likely that early adopters will have to wait a few months for its release.

And, frankly. that's the only way that Apple could have played this thing. Let me explain why.

There's (not yet) an app for that

We heard recently that Apple is working on a new suite of apps for the Reality Pro headset. Those apps are thought to be based on iPad apps but retooled to work properly in an augmented reality environment. That sounds pretty cool, but once you've read your books in AR and done some work in Pages or what have you, what else can you do?

That's a question that will most likely be answered by third-party developers and their apps. Those apps don't exist yet and, in reality, they won't for a good long while yet. Apple isn't announcing the Reality Pro headset at WWDC by accident. It wants to get the headset in front of developers so that they can start working on building the apps that it hopes will flood the App Store later this year. And it's those apps that will make or break the entire headset.

If the Reality Pro headset is indeed priced at a whopping $3,000 or more it's going to need to do more than let you read your books or watch videos. It needs apps from your favorite developer. And they need to be good.

Devs need time

Even the best iPhone is nothing without apps. It won't matter how good the headset is if there's nothing to do with it.

This brings us to why we have a delay between the announcement and release.

Apple needs to make sure that developers have time to not only come up with AR/VR ideas but also implement them. They'll struggle to get them tested because the hardware won't be available, but we can expect Apple to ship an emulator as part of an Xcode update. But good app development takes time. Months, in fact.

With that in mind, it's no surprise that Apple reportedly wants to announce the Reality Pro headset in June and then ship it months later. It's something it did with the Apple Watch, after all, and that had an App Store full of apps on day one. Were they great? Not all of them, no. Hopefully, Apple (and developers) have learned from the past. More time and better tools would surely be welcomed by developers.

The problem with time

The problem Apple has is that, while the headset has leaked to some extent, we know almost nothing about how it actually works. That will all change on June 5.

As soon as Apple announces its headset the copycats will be out in force, working to mimic Apple's design and features. Reality Pro needs to hit store shelves before that happens wherever possible.

That's the problem Apple faces but I think it made the right choice. Let people buy the headset with no apps and it'll be returned in record numbers. But sell it to them with an App Store fit to burst with apps doing amazing things and it's a different story entirely.

With the years-long Apple AR/VR headset about to finally be put to bed, we're all expecting Reality Pro to be announced at WWDC23 in June. But a new report suggests that anyone expecting to be keeping their head warm with this thing shortly afterward will likely be left disappointed.

WWDC23's opening keynote is on June 5 of course, but it sounds like iOS 17 and the other software updates won't be the only announcements that take months to ship.

If the report is accurate we can expect to wait a good long while before Apple's $3,000 headset is available to buy.

Better wait than never

That report comes via the usually well-connected Mark Gurman. Writing for Bloomberg, Gurman says that "the roughly $3,000 headset is set to debut at an event in June, with the product going on sale months later."

It's thought that Apple is already hard at work trying to get first-party apps ready for the new headset and it's thought to be retooling existing iPad apps for the job. But the delay between announcement and release could well be to allow third-party developers to get their ducks in a row as well.

The headset will of course need an App Store full of apps if it is to succeed anywhere near the level of an iPhone or an Apple Watch, and by announcing at WWDC and launching months down the line Apple buys developers time. Time to build the apps that early adopters will need when their headset lands on their doorstep.

Apple is expected to give the headset all of the tools needed to make a great place for apps to be, too. It's getting high-resolution displays, multiple cameras, and silicon to rival even the best Macs.

At least we should get so many of our questions answered when Apple announces the headset in June — starting with whether it really is going to charge $3,000 for it or not.

The manufacturer of Apple's upcoming VR headset, Reality Pro, has been removed from the device's supply chain, according to a report from DigiTimes. 

Pegatron, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, was previously stated as the exclusive partner of Apple's upcoming Reality Pro VR headset. The report from DigiTimes states that Apple has requested that Pegatron hand manufacturing and final assembly to the Chinese supplier, Luxshare.

The Chinese manufacturer, Luxshare, taking over the project, marks the first time in history that a Chinese company will be fully responsible for manufacturing an Apple product at launch.

Luxshare is no stranger to Apple, and it currently manufactures AirPods, iPhones, and Apple Watch models.

A new Apple VR headset manufacturer

DigiTimes states that the change in manufacturer could be related to Pegatron selling its factory in Shanghai to Luxshare and moving some production away from China.

While losing the manufacturing of an Apple product could be detrimental to a company like Pegatron, the rumors of a high price point and low volume of initial models of the Reality Pro VR headset means that it might not be all bad for the Taiwanese company.

The Reality Pro VR headset is rumored to be revealed at WWDC 2023 and will be a major product launch for Apple as it delves into the world of virtual reality headsets. Reports state that Apple VR is likely to cost a very large sum of money, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggesting the headset will cost between $2,000 and $3,000.

With WWDC on June 5 quickly approaching, we only have a little longer to wait to see what Apple has been working on, including iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS 14. Although, these reports of changing manufacturers could lead to further product delays despite CEO Tim Cook wanting to accelerate the release schedule even if engineers and designers believe otherwise. 

Apple CEO Tim Cook has spoken at length about his views on augmented reality and its associated hardware in a new cover feature for GQ magazine. And it represents a relative reversal of sentiment towards the product category for the Apple boss.

The headlining subject of GQ’s Global Creativity Awards 2023 cover feature, Cook discussed why Apple could eventually be interested in working on an augmented reality device.

“If you think about the technology itself with augmented reality, just to take one side of the AR/VR piece, the idea that you could overlay the physical world with things from the digital world could greatly enhance people's communication, people's connection. It could empower people to achieve things they couldn't achieve before.”

While Cook also spoke about avoiding the pitfalls of too much time spent looking at screens, augmented reality devices appear to be a potential exception, with the ‘pass-through’ nature of the devices allowing for better collaboration options for people. 

“We might be able to collaborate on something much easier if we were sitting here brainstorming about it and all of a sudden we could pull up something digitally and both see it and begin to collaborate on it and create with it. And so it's the idea that there is this environment that may be even better than just the real world—to overlay the virtual world on top of it might be an even better world. And so this is exciting. If it could accelerate creativity, if it could just help you do things that you do all day long and you didn’t really think about doing them in a different way.”

A turning tide for head mounted wearables?

Cook’s apparent enthusiasm for AR here runs counter to earlier statements he made. Speaking to The New Yorker in 2015, Cook called the now-retired Google Glass AR glasses a “flop”, and steered away from Apple ever launching an alternative. But that appears to have changed, with Cook ready to accept he may have been wrong — a lesson he’s taken from former Apple boss Steve Jobs.

“My thinking always evolves. Steve taught me well: never to get married to your convictions of yesterday. To always, if presented with something new that says you were wrong, admit it and go forward instead of continuing to hunker down and say why you're right.”

Though much of the conversation focuses on augmented reality, it’s expected that Apple’s next big product launch will only at best touch upon AR features — the rumored Apple Reality Pro headset will instead center around VR experiences, a more proven product category, if still a niche one. Though the likes of Sony, Meta, and HTC have all put out good VR hardware, it remains far from a mainstream hit, with the virtual reality hardware market small fry today in comparison to Apple’s other billions-making hardware pursuits. But acknowledging that Apple has always faced scrutiny whenever it's entered a new product area, Cook stressed that Apple often outperformed long-standing rivals in difficult spaces — though of course fell short of confirming any VR product is even in the works.

“If you do something that's on the edge, it will always have skeptics,” he said.

“Can we make a significant contribution, in some kind of way, something that other people are not doing? Can we own the primary technology? I'm not interested in putting together pieces of somebody else's stuff. Because we want to control the primary technology.”

Though it would appear some of those skeptics may in fact be internal employees at Apple, expect a bullish confidence at WWDC 2023 then, where the Apple VR headset is almost certain to make its debut.

Apple's mixed reality headset is in a bit of a mess. Or its AR/VR headset. Or you can call it the Reality Pro if you like. But whatever you call it, it seems to be a product without a market. And that's causing Apple problems even before it goes on sale.

We've been hearing rumors on top of rumors for what feels like forever now. For months we've been told to expect Apple to unveil the headset at its annual developer conference, WWDC. Now that we know for sure that WWDC23 will kick off on June 5, we're being told that might not happen after all.

And you know what? That's absolutely fine with me.

Creeping doubts

The latest report comes from the usually-reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who says that Apple "isn't very optimistic about the AR/MR headset announcement." If you're Apple, that isn't where you want to be going into what could be your biggest product launch since the Apple Watch in 2015.

Kuo goes on to say that Apple is worried that the headset won't create its next "iPhone moment," an observation that seems to have legs. We've heard recently of Apple employees being concerned that the headset either isn't ready or that we as customers might not be ready for it. Whichever it is, neither prospect is a promising one.

The Kuo report continues, saying that Apple has pushed back its mass production plans by a couple of months, possibly throwing that WWDC unveiling into doubt. It always seemed unlikely that Apple would make the headset available immediately, so that might not be an issue. Apple can give developers time to build the apps that will power this thing.

Reality Pro has some very real problems before it even launches, though. Ignoring the fact that Apple might not be sold on its own product, there's the price. At $3,000 it's a hard sell at the best of times. In the middle of global financial uncertainty, it's a non-starter for many. And that's before you remember that nobody seems to be shouting about any real need for the headset in the first place.

It might be different if everyone wanted Reality Pro but couldn't afford it. That creates buzz. But as Kuo says, the reception has so far been lukewarm at least.

"The main concerns for Apple not being very optimistic regarding the market feedback to the AR/MR headset announcement include the economic downturn, compromises on some hardware specifications," Kuo says.

Who is Reality Pro for, exactly?

At this point, it still isn't clear who Apple will market Reality Pro to. At $3,000 it isn't going to be for the larger iPhone-buying public. Even those who buy the best iPhone every year are going to balk at that price — trust me, I'm one of them.

Rumors have so far said that Apple will aim for retail experiences, but it's far from clear what that will look like or whether it's enough to make the project viable.

In reality, is this headset something Apple is best repurposing for product demonstrations in Apple Stores? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe we'll know more when we actually see what this thing is.

Maybe, once Tim Cook or whoever takes to the stage and shows what Reality Pro can do, it'll all click and we'll be scrambling down the back of the sofa to scrape that $3,000 together.

Or maybe we won't.

The next AirPower?

With that all said, is it time that Apple cut its losses? Or at least, as we've been told might be the case with the AirPower charging pad, time to pause everything until a better time.

That time could be when technology gets cheaper. Or Apple can improve the rumored two-hour battery life. Or, who knows, when people can actually see a use for it.

Apple has no qualms about canceling a product, or at least delaying it until it is fully confident in what it's about to ship. We've seen that in the aforementioned AirPower. And this is Apple, let's remember. Not a startup that needs to get something onto store shelves to pay the bills. It isn't a company struggling to keep its head above water, looking for that next big thing, either.

Sure, its other products could always use a boost and services might not always be the cash cow they are. But does Apple need to bet on something like this?

The Apple of 25 years ago, perhaps.

You don't need to be following the Apple rumor mill too closely to know that the company is working on a mixed-reality headset, likely called Reality Pro. We've already been treated to leaks about the product, but we've now been shown the best yet.

While we're still waiting for a leak that actually shows the outside of a real headset, we did get to see some components recently. But the quality of the images wasn't great and now we've been treated to some high-resolution ones.

If this leak is real, it appears to confirm that the Reality Pro headset will look similar to a set of goggles or a traditional AR/VR headset. It also fits with renders we've seen, too.

Two eyes, two displays, two ribbon cables

The new images were shared by leaker Sonny Dickson and appear to show ribbon cables shaped in such a way that they will fit around people's eyes. It's likely that the cables are built to connect the two 4K displays to a board of some kind, likely the one that will provide them with imagery that will then form the basis of the AR and VR experience.

Apple is expected to ship the headset with Mac-like chips, suggesting that we can expect a high-fidelity experience. Multiple cameras will also be employed, but it's difficult to know how they will be incorporated into the headset without actually seeing it.

As for when we'll see it, nobody really knows for sure. Some believe that it will debut at WWDC23 in June, but that's unlikely to be when it will go on sale for the rumored $3,000 asking price. Recent reports indicate the headset has been pushed back and that a WWDC unveiling is now less likely. 

That same event will see the unveiling of iOS 17, the software that will be installed on the new iPhone 15 lineup when it goes on sale this fall. It'll also power the iPhone 15 Pro Max, a device that will become the best iPhone yet thanks to rumored features that include a telephoto camera and, hopefully, an Action button.

If Apple really is finally going to unveil the Reality Pro mixed reality headset this June, there could be some new tie-ins with the iPhone and iPad that will really change the way they're used.

Apple has been rumored to be working on this AR/VR headset for years now, and we've seen plenty of patents that have all pointed to the product's creation. Now, as we get closer to an expected WWDC 2023 unveiling, a new patent points to something special being on the horizon.

If you've ever looked at your distinctly 2D iPhone or iPad display and wished that it was a little more futuristic, this might well be the patent for you.

Patently impressive

The patent, which was spied by Patently Apple alongside another seemingly related to the headset, appears to suggest that an iPhone or iPad's display could be recreated in a 3D world. Or, at least, a portion of it.

The report says that one example shown in the patent suggests that "user interface objects" could be placed within a specific zone on-screen. They would then appear in the 3D world to anyone who is wearing the Reality Pro headset. Anything that remains outside that zone doesn't follow suit, giving users a way to choose what is 3D and what isn't.

The same patent suggests that the headset wearer could rotate their head to change the way on-screen elements appear in 3D space, while the user's hands could also be used to interact with them.

If that all sounds a bit Minority Report to you, you aren't alone. It isn't immediately clear whether you'd need a special iPhone or iPad for this to work — only the top-of-the-line best iPads, like the Pros or iPhone Pros would work, perhaps? — but that seems unlikely. Instead, it seems possible that this would be an extension of existing Continuity features and Universal Access.

However, as with all patents, it's important to remember that Apple applies for many of them every year. It's granted a ton, too, and not all of them result in products or features.

Still, take a look at the rather dense patent for yourself and see what you think — even if Reality Pro does cost that rumored $3,000, we think this technology sounds pretty impressive.

Apple is roundly expected to announce its first mixed reality headset this year. Now, the headset that's been dubbed Reality Pro is at the center of a new report that claims even some of those inside Apple aren't fully sold on the project.

According to that report, some inside Apple aren't convinced about the mixed reality headset's potential, especially given the high price that people will be expected to pay. In fact, some have even reportedly left the Reality Pro project altogether because of their doubts.

But Apple is expected to push ahead, with the report also adding fuel to the release window fire — Apple will announce the headset in June 2023, it says.

Mixed up reality

The New York Times report claims that "there are concerns about the device’s roughly $3,000 price, doubts about its utility, and worries about its unproven market."

While some employees are said to have left voluntarily, others were reportedly fired over a perceived lack of progress — we've been hearing rumors of Apple working on this headset or something like it for years.

While 2023 is already set to be a big year thanks to the release of what is expected to be its best iPhone yet, the iPhone 15 Pro, attention right now is very much on the Reality Pro headset.

The headset is expected to cost around $3,000 thanks to the technology involved. Mac-like chips will power it, while cameras will scan its surroundings and two 4K displays will show users what they need to see. But in a world full of failed headsets, asking people to spend $3,000 on one made by Apple could be a hard sell.

Apple also isn't normally the one entering a market that is yet to mature. Instead, it prefers to join later as it did with the iPad in 2010 and the Apple Watch in 2015. By contrast, the rest of the AR and VR industry seems to be waiting on Apple to create a market that not everyone is convinced exists. Not least those inside Apple.

Apple is very much expected to enter the mixed-reality headset market before 2023 draws to a close. And while some might expect the competition to be running scared, that isn't the case. At least, not for HTC.

HTC is perhaps one of the biggest players already entrenched in that same market, but CEO and co-founder Cher Wang isn't worried about Apple's arrival. In fact, she thinks that the so-called Reality Pro headset will be a boon for business.

Wang also says that she expects Apple to release its headset in the second half of 2023, adding that the middle of the year is the earliest it's likely to arrive.

Augmented sales

Wang was speaking with CNBC during last week's Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona, Spain. And while HTC and its Vive headset could be squarely in Apple's crosshairs, the CEO isn't worried.

Wang goes on to say that Apple's entry into the space is just vindication that it's doing something right. “It’s really proven that our direction is correct,” Want told CNBC. “Competition is always good.”

It's thought that with Apple and other companies joining the fray, the overall mixed reality headset market will be legitimized, increasing interest and sales as a result.

Not that the two companies are likely to be in direct competition. Not initially, anyway. Apple is expected to sell the Reality Pro for at least $3,000 whereas HTC's new XR Elite is considerably cheaper — just $1099

Thankfully given the high price, the Reality Pro isn't expected to be tethered, meaning you won't need to buy the best iPhone Apple makes just to use it. Or any iPhone, for that matter.

Apple is reported to be working on a cheaper version of its headset, too. It's thought to be a little ways off from being ready, but a price of around $1500 does seem more reasonable at least.

It looks like Apple has submitted a patent that will enable an as-yet-unreleased Apple Pencil to be used as a game controller in VR, reports Patently Apple. The patent details how a "Virtual character will be controlled with a variety of taps, twists, rolls, and other gestures." This could apply to a number of games on the Apple VR, and definitely sounds intriguing.

The patent further goes on to demonstrate a number of different sensors in the new Apple Pencil that would enable the control gestures. There are increased touch surfaces that rely on haptics and other movements to control different aspects of games, as it seems you'll be able to use the Apple Pencil to interact with physical objects in the game as well.

More Apple VR patents

The Apple Pencil control methods weren't the only thing in the latest patent. There's also more about gaze control, which will let you control games with your eye movements. This could be really exciting for racing games, or first-person games, where you could look around more and interact with objects in the game without moving around as much.

There are always Apple VR rumors, but as yet, any truly substantial news from Apple about the headset is yet to surface. It's looking more and more likely that there will be an Apple VR headset at some point soon, although what it looks like and how much it will cost are still unknown. Patents like this show that the Apple VR dream remains alive and well, albeit one that's not in our hands quite yet.

If you want to know more about Apple VR, then make sure you check out all the Apple VR rumors. Whatever happens, we can't wait to see what the headset looks like, and what this new patent means for games that we might play on it.

Apple's rumored Reality Pro headset will offer a way for users to build their own apps and then make them available on the App Store, according to a new report. Notably, those users won't actually need to know how to code in order to do it.

There was already an expectation that Apple would give people a way to build apps for the unannounced mixed reality headset, but a new report adds that there will be a mechanism for people to do so even without the knowledge normally associated with creating apps for the best iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

Perhaps even more interesting is the way that people will create those apps. According to the report, Apple will allow development using Siri.

Hey Siri, make me an app

The Information reports that Apple intends to offer Siri as an “easy way for users” to build their own apps using real-world items. "The tool, for example, could allow users to build an app with virtual animals moving around a room and over or around real-life objects without the need to design the animal from scratch, program its animations, and calculate its movement in a 3D space with obstacles," the report claims.

Apple's headset is currently rumored for a release later this year, possibly this spring, with a price as high as $3,000 already touted. It still isn't entirely clear how Apple intends to market the product itself, although allowing people to build their own apps in this way is something that hadn't previously been considered.

What we do know is that the headset will be an impressive one from a technological point. Multiple cameras will track the wearer's hands and body, while high-resolution displays will ensure a user experience that promises to be something special. As well it will need to be given that rumored asking price.

Apple's oft-rumored mixed reality headset, dubbed Reality Pro by some, has been outed in the preview of a new Windows app for people who need to manage their devices.

The new Apple Devices app was released to the Microsoft Store yesterday, and one Twitter user has already discovered that it includes references to the headset's software -- months ahead of an expected announcement.

A mixed-up reality

The Apple Devices app is designed to pick up some iPhone and iPad hardware management that the iTunes app historically has handled. Apple has already ditched iTunes on the Mac and is doing something similar on Windows, but owners still need a way to update and restore their devices. That's where the new app comes in.

But this new release also appears to have a secret: Twitter user @aaronp613 discovered references to "Reality OS" and "xrOS," terms describing the software Apple's mixed reality headset will use.

The app doesn't reference the Reality Pro headset itself, and it's possible that the name (put forward in August by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman) might change before the product finally ships this fall. But for now, it seems we know what the headset's software is likely to be called.

The latest rumors claim that Apple will announce the Reality Pro headset soon, possibly during a spring Apple event. It's possible Apple will allow developers to test the headset and begin coding apps for it in June when the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is expected to take place.

Reports suggest that the first iteration of the headset might have issues, including the need for a large, waist-mounted battery pack. If that's the case, quirks such as that coupled with the expected $3,000+ price might make the first-generation model one to miss.

Apple has long been rumored to have designs on launching augmented reality (AR) glasses beyond the mixed reality headset that's expected next year. Now, a new patent suggests the company has found a simple solution for people who need prescription lenses.

That patent describes clip-on prescription lenses that would also include information about that prescription, allowing the glasses to make adjustments to ensure that on-screen data remains legible.

It's all coming into focus

The patent, discovered by Patently Apple, describes a clip-on with machine-readable markings to allow the so-called Apple Glass to identify what has been attached. That information could include the prescription itself or other information entirely.

The Apple Glass system would likely need to be aware of the prescription placed in front of it to adjust various systems. So there is also provision for the left and right lenses carrying different prescriptions, with the machine-readable markings also making that clear.

The same patent also suggests that Apple Glass could be made aware that the wearer is colorblind or has other specific needs so that appropriate accommodations can be made.

Apple Glass, expected to be similar to the failed Google Glass but with more advanced technology, is many years away from being ready to ship. However, the arrival of next year's mixed reality headset is seen as the precursor for Apple Glass, as are various AR-based features already available for iPhone users.

While rumors relating to Apple Glass and the mixed reality headset have often been intertwined over the years, rumors specific to AR glasses began back in 2016. Then, Bloomberg reported that Apple was " weighing an expansion into digital glasses, a risky but potentially lucrative area of wearable computing."

What you need to know

• Apple's mixed reality headset could sport Samsung displays.
• A new report claims that Samsung has been lined up as a potential micro OLED display provider.
• Apple is expected to launch the new headset in or around the first part of 2023.

Samsung has reportedly increased its interest in working with micro OLED displays following a request from Apple and other companies.

While Samsung was said to have limited interest in the technology, with "only a few research staff" working on it, The Elec says that has now changed with Apple and Meta among the companies enquiring about whether Samsung could produce displays. Low profitability was thought to have been the main reason Samsung wasn't interested initially, but with the Apple AR/VR headset expected to arrive next year and a second generation model penciled in for 2025, Samsung is now paying attention.

LG Display is already said to be planning to provide micro OLED displays to Apple and it's thought that could have applied more pressure on Samsung.

Little concrete information is known about Apple's headset plans, although a launch in or around the first part of 2023 now seems most likely. The headset is also expected to be costly in its first iteration, with prices north of $3,000 likely. An updated 2025 model is rumored to have a cheaper version as part of the roadmap, but plans could change between now and then.

What you need to know

• Apple is expected to release a second generation mixed reality headset in 2025.
• The first offering is set to be announced next year and cost more than $3,000.
• The second release is expected to have a cheaper option available but no price has been given.

Apple might have a mixed reality headset that people can actually afford ready to go by 2025 if a new report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo turns out to be accurate.

Writing on Medium, Kuo notes that the second-generation mixed reality headset will come in two flavors — one of which will be a more affordable option for those who skipped the first release. It's thought that component suppliers will be ready to start shipping their wares by the second half of 2024 in order to get ready for release.

The first generation mixed reality headset is expected to be announced as soon as the first part of next year, but it's also expected to sport a price that will put most off. An asking price starting around $3,000 seems to be the consensus, with Kuo claiming that shipments of the headset could reach 10 million units by 2025 or 2026. The cheaper option from 2025 is likely to help out there, although Kuo doesn't mention what the differences between the pair might be.

That $3,000 asking price is expected to be caused by the use of new Apple silicon chips as well as a pair of 8K displays as well as a number of cameras including a LiDAR scanner to allow the heads to map its surroundings. Such scanners are already included on devices like the latest iPhone 13 Pro and iPad Pro.

It still isn't 100% clear what the new headset will be capable of, with many expecting Apple to announce its existence during last month's WWDC to allow developers to get apps ready. If a launch does take place in the first half of 2023, developers will need to wait months before the next WWDC rolls around in June.

What you need to know

• LG is reportedly working to get ready to provide microLED screens for a second-generation mixed reality headset.
• Sony will reportedly provide the microLED panels for the first-generation device.
• Apple is expected to announce its first headset next year.

Apple's oft-rumored mixed reality headset could make use of new microLED displays, according to a new report. That same report claims that LG Display is readying itself to produce parts for Apple's second-generation hardware and is set to place its own orders for the hardware required to do so. The first-gen offering will reportedly use Sony hardware.

Today's report comes via The Elec, with the outlet claiming that LG Display "is expected to order a deposition equipment to make MicroOLED from Sunic System." The move will allow LG Display to battle it out for the second version of the rumored headset — Apple has long been rumored to have designs on launching its mixed reality heasdet as soon as early next year, a timescale that would require that its component suppliers and assemblers have their ducks in a row already. To that end, the report notes that Sony is the one tasked with building microLED panels this time out.

The microLED technology "mounts the OLED on a silicon substrate" whereas other methods involve using glass. For that reason, it's thought that microLED could be widely used in devices such as Apple's mixed reality headset. The use of microLED could allow for lower power usage and increased brightness, although the latter is unlikely to be a key requirement for a display that will be mounted so close to the users' eyes. The lower power requirements could be beneficial given reports that at least one of Apple's M1 chips will be included in the design.

This isn't the first time that we've heard of Apple's likely use of microLED technology in its headset — reports from a few months ago pointed to something similar.

Some rumors had Apple outing the headset during the WWDC22 event last week, but that didn't happen. It's now thought that the headset will see its debut in the first few months of 2023 with a price tag of at least $2,000.

What you need to know

• Apple is reportedly working with movie directors to create content for its upcoming mixed reality headset.
• A new report claims that Apple will begin readying developers for the device's release during WWDC22.

Apple's oft-rumored mixed reality headset might or might not get its debut at WWDC22, but we do now have more of an insight into what Apple has been working on. According to a new report, Apple has tapped Hollywood directors to work on developing video content for the product.

While it is still unclear what Apple sees the mixed reality headset as primarily being used for, a new report by The New York Times claims that Apple has already been working with Prehistoric World director Jon Favreau on projects. Specifically, the Marvel executive producer is thought to have designs on bringing dinosaurs from the Apple TV+ show and into the virtual world.

Notably, the same report claims that Apple "plans to unveil software tools that would allow apps to add new camera and voice functionality, laying the groundwork for a hands-free interface that customers will eventually be able to navigate on the headset" during its WWDC22 event this week. It isn't thought that we should expect Apple to show off hardware, however.

Apple's mixed reality bet is expected to be its next big product category following the arrival of iPhone and Apple Watch — two areas where it wasn't the first to market but became dominant once it launched a competing product. Apple is expected to be ready to ship the headset next year.

What you need to know

• Apple's mixed reality headset could have a display on the outside, showing how the wearer's face looks during use.
• Apple was reportedly concerned that wearing a headset would cut people off from the outside world.

Rumors of Apple working on some kind of mixed reality headset are far from fresh but a new report has shared more information about how the project has struggled to ship a product. According to that report, and to deal with concerns from people on the team, Apple may be putting an external display on the headset so that people can see what you look like.

The story, reported by The Information goes that the headset team found themselves having to deal with concerns put forward by members of Jony Ive's design team, not least the fact that people wearing a headset are cut off from the outside world — people can't see them, and they can't see what is going on around them.

But there was a solution — not to be deterred, Rockwell and his team set about finding a solution. That solution involved putting cameras on the outside of the device so that the wearer can see what's happening around them. But to deal with allowing others to see what's happening behind the headset, a new solution needed to be devised. That solution required an external display that would show people what the headset's wearer looked like — facial expressions and all.

That might not sound like something a lot of people would want and we have to imagine that is a feature that could be disabled as required, but its mere existence is interesting. Of course, we might never get to see it — design alterations happen and features change, after all.

The current belief is that Apple will announce its mixed reality headset at some point next year, but it'll have a price to make the eyes water. At up to $3,000, you have to wonder whether that external display is behind the high price.

What you need to know

• A new report claims Apple is set to enter the next round of testing ahead of mass production.
• Mass production is expected in August or September.
• A headset is now thought to be ready for market by the end of the year.

Apple's rumored AR/VR headset is once again said to be on for a launch towards the back end of 2022, according to a new report.

Following previous claims by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman that Apple's mixed reality headset headset could be pushed to 2023, a report from DigiTimes yesterday said that the company had been able to complete production tests of the product. Now, in an expanded version of that report seen by MacRumors, DigiTimes now says that Apple plans to get the product out the door before 2022 draws to a close.

To do that, it will need to complete the next stage of production validation testing sooner rather than later — especially if claims of a mass production run from August or September are accurate.

The headset is rumored to be a costly one with prices north of $2,000 expected to be accurate. The headset isn't thought to be a product that will be sold in huge quantities, at least initially. However, this entire product is rather seen by some as a stepping stone as Apple continues work on Apple Glass — a product that will be more like an advanced Google Glass product than the VR headsets we're more accustomed to seeing.

If Apple is indeed set to launch this new headset by the end of the year we can likely expect some sort of announcement at this year's WWDC event. If developers will be able to build apps for use on the headset, they'll need to be told about it months before it ships.

WWDC, Apple's annual developer conference, normally takes place in June.

What you need to know

• Apple has reportedly finished production tests of its rumored mixed reality headset.
• More information should be available when DigiTimes publishes its full report tomorrow.
• Apple's headset is expected to arrive before the end of 2022.

Apple's heavily rumored mixed reality headset is said to be moving closer to an unveiling with a new report claiming that the unannounced headset has passed the latest round of production tests.

Amid rumors that Apple could announce its mixed reality headset headset this year — a claim made by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and later qualified with the news that things could be delayed until next year — DigiTimes reports that the company's production tests are progressing well. The DigiTimes report was a sneak peak at a more full report that will be made available tomorrow, however, meaning hard information is lacking for now.

However, the preview does suggest that sources in the suppliers of headset components have pointed to a launch by the end of this year after the EVT 2 stage of testing was completed. That round of testing is designed to make sure that manufacturers can produce products to Apple's specification and requirements, at least on a small scale.

While there have been rumors swirling around the idea of an AR/VR headset for years, little concrete information is known at this point. We've seen mentions of realityOS in recent App Store logs and features like speedy Apple silicon and 4K displays are heavily rumored.

Unfortunately, it does sound likely that Apple's first mixed reality headset will be a costly one — reports of prices north of $2,000 have been floating around for months which suggests this won't be a huge seller for Apple, at least initially.