Although Apple has been mum, rumors swirl about a 2021 release of AR/VR headsets and smart glasses.

While they are still surrounded by rumors and unknowns, various patents submitted by Apple indicate that the company’s research on augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR) headsets and AR glasses may be happening sooner rather than later. Although the giant tech company has been mum, factors point to a potential 2021 or 2022 release.
With the release of ARKit in 2018, Apple made it known that its AR/VR research was thriving. Although the various patent applications for the upcoming products only provide a little insight into what they may be capable of or look like, the filings do offer some indications of what people can expect.

Headset
All signs point to Apple’s headset being a mixed-reality option with real-world data being captured by outward-facing cameras built into the headset. According to the patent, “In some embodiments, the world sensors may include one or more “video see through” cameras (e.g., RGB (visible light) video cameras) that capture high-quality video of the user’s environment that may be used to provide the user with a virtual view of their real environment.”
Although there have been numerous secretive prototypes, insiders have indicated that the headset may be similar to Facebook’s Oculus Quest but designed to be more comfortable by using lighter materials. Its high-resolution cameras and display will allow users to “read small type” and “see other people standing in front of and behind virtual objects.” To map dimensions, edges and surfaces, it will be outfitted with a display and a chip that is likely faster than the M1 processor used in the company’s MacBooks.
As for how it operates, the headset may have a dedicated box, similar to a PC tower, instead of requiring a computer or smartphone. It would feature 60 GHz WiGig, a high-speed short-range wireless technology, and would be powered by a custom-made Apple processor. A camera would have to be installed in the room where the headset would be used for it to function. Of course, based on the secrecy of Apple, this prototype may have already been changed to something else.
Regardless of the technology, when it is released, users will likely be able to count on a system that is friendly with the company’s App Store and be an ideal option for gaming, content streaming, and potentially videoconferencing. Of course, Siri will also be involved in its operation.
Smart Glasses

Perhaps even more secretive, Apple’s smart glasses may take longer to hit the market, but some analysts are predicting a release in 2022 or 2023. Similar to the AR/VR headset, there have been a slurry of associated patents. Current prototypes indicate that the glasses will have the aesthetic of high-end sunglasses with frames big enough to contain the required chips and battery.
If the latest rumors are accurate, they will use Sony’s OLED microdisplays, which have an exceptionally high response rate and contrast, as well as vibrant colors, high luminance and low reflectance. They are ultralightweight and have thin, integrated drivers. Reportedly, the glasses will have a 0.5-inch display and 1280×960 resolution.
Apple is known for its sleek, stylish designs, and consumers can expect that when these glasses eventually roll out, they will be slim, lightweight and use a reality operating system. For now, people will have to continue following the rumors and hope that these new products come to fruition before too long.
Interested in other AR/VR innovations? Check out Invisible Computing: Mojo Vision Is Developing an AR Contact Lens and Low-Cost Power Efficient Haptic Device for VR Invented at Carnegie Mellon.