The Apple AR/VR headset is rumored to need an iPhone connection to run
More device details emerge
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
The long-rumoredApple augmented/virtual reality headsetisn’t going to be a standalone device, and will require a connection to an iPhone to operate, according to the latest information to leak out online.
Sources speaking toThe Information(via9to5Mac) say that the headset will need a connection to another device in order to run – the exact wording is “a phone or a similar device”, so it sounds like iPads or even Macs could work as well.
It sounds as though a lot of the heavy lifting in terms of the processing and visuals is going to be done on the companion device, something older VR headsets such as theSamsung Gear VRorGoogle Cardboarddid too. That should mean the headset itself should cost less and can be more lightweight.
Chips with everything
The Information report says that theAppleAR/VR headset is going to have a chipset of its own, but that it won’t be a particularly powerful one – it’ll lack the artificial intelligence capabilities of the processors found in iPhones, iPads and Macs, apparently.
Another tidbit from the article is that the image sensor inside the device is “unusually large”, though we’ll have to wait and see how this impacts the overall size and design of the headset that’s in the pipeline.
At the moment it seems as though this headset is separate to theApple Glassesthat have also been rumored for years: these are said to be coming after the main AR/VR headset, and are said to be along the lines ofGoogle Glassrather than theOculus Quest 2.
Analysis: Apple’s next big venture
Apple hasn’t launched itself into a new product category since the introduction of theApple Watchback in 2015, but we know that company CEOTim Cookis a big fan of what augmented reality can offer – he’sgone on recordsaying that it “has the ability to amplify human performance”.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
More recently,it’s been rumoredthat Cook wants to stick around for the launch of one more major device before stepping down as Apple chief, and an AR/VR headset would certainly fit the bill.
While there are some fine virtual reality headsets on the market, including thePlayStation VRand theOculus Quest 2, it remains something of a niche market. Apple would hope to change that, much as it did with theApple Watchand smartwatches.
While details of the headset are thin on the ground – and it hasn’t even been confirmed by Apple – we do know that the company will want toget the hardware and software rightbefore unveiling anything new. At this stage a 2021 launch looks unlikely, but we might see the device at some point in 2022.
Dave is a freelance tech journalist who has been writing about gadgets, apps and the web for more than two decades. Based out of Stockport, England, on TechRadar you’ll find him covering news, features and reviews, particularly for phones, tablets and wearables. Working to ensure our breaking news coverage is the best in the business over weekends, David also has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci and a few other places besides, as well as being many years editing the likes of PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook.
Latest Meta Quest 3 update includes a major visual overhaul, and improved PCVR
Samsung teases XR hardware for 2025 – we think it’ll be AR glasses, and here’s why
Anker Nebula Mars 3 review: A powerful and truly portable projector
