Apple’s firstmixed-reality headsethasn’t even been released, yet the company is already working on a second-generation model that will bring even more power and performance to the table, according to a new report. That suggests we might not have long to wait before the successor device hits the shelves.
That chip, however, is “not powerful enough to output graphics at a level Apple would ideally like,” according to Gurman. The reporter gives the example of FaceTime calls conducted using the Reality Pro headset, which will only be able to create realistic VR renditions of participants in one-on-one calls, defaulting to simplerMemojiin larger meetings.
Apple has also been putting anincreasing focus on gaming, and it’s likely that the Reality Pro’s graphics output isn’t going to be strong enough to fully support that new direction.
A more powerful successor
And if Apple has started work on that next model, as Gurman asserts, the gap between the first and second Reality Pro headsets might not be that long. If you are interested in the device and want top-notch performance, it might therefore be worth waiting a little longer for the follow-up product.
This second-gen model is distinct from the cheaper headset Apple also has up its sleeve. That device — purportedly called Reality One — will likely use lower-end chips and display tech to lower the$3,000 price tagthe Reality Pro is expected to come with.
Gurman believes Apple originally intended the Reality Pro to be much more powerful, for instance by including a “separate hub” that could output better performance and beam content across a room to the headset. Jony Ive allegedly vetoed that idea before leaving the company in 2019, however.
No iPhone necessary
Gurman also outlined Apple’s plans to let userstype in midairon a virtual keyboard while using the headset. While that’s available in current prototypes, it’s apparently rather temperamental. We’ll have to see how well it functions when the device is released, which is expected to happen at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
It’s been a bumpy road for Apple’s mixed-reality headset, with reports of troublesome features anddelayed launch windowslittering the way. That said, Apple is patenting somepretty neat ideasfor its headset, which could help it stand apart from the competition. We’ll have to see whether or not it impresses when it enters the spotlight at WWDC this summer.
