Apple, the tech giant, is expected to unveil its first high-end mixed-reality headset this spring, according to a news publishing house. The device, which may be called the Reality Pro, has been in development for years and is set to be demonstrated in the upcoming months, ahead of the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. This move marks Apple’s significant foray into the metaverse, a virtual world where people can interact with each other and digital objects in a shared space.
The hybrid augmented reality/virtual reality headset is expected to be a standalone device that can handle intense VR experiences and overlay digital visuals on top of users’ views of their surroundings without needing a computer or phone. The Reality Pro is a high-end, expensive VR headset costing $3,000, much more than other VR headsets like the Quest 2 ($399) and more than twice as expensive as Meta’s Quest Pro ($1,499).
The Reality Pro will be introduced later this year, along with new iPhones and other updated Apple products, following the spring unveiling. The operating system for the headset is rumoured to be called “xrOS.” However, many questions still need to be answered regarding the device’s functionality and whether Apple is constructing a theoretical metaverse.
The metaverse concept is a hub for work, leisure, gaming, and social activities. One of the key companies actively working towards delivering the metaverse is Meta. There may be a difference in perspective between tech giants like Apple and Web3 developers about the future of the internet. Avatars, clothing, accessories, and other user-owned NFT assets, such as open and interoperable areas that overlap and share functionality, are examples of the kind of creations that artists envision for the Web3 environment.
Meta and other companies may use Web3 technologies to create the metaverse. Mark Zuckerberg believes the metaverse will benefit everyone if it is open and able to connect with other systems. However, this metaverse’s approach is through shared standards between tech companies and developers rather than Web3 infrastructure.
The release of Apple’s Reality Pro headset will create a lot of excitement before and after it is officially announced, just like every other notable recent Apple product. It will greatly impact how widely headsets and the metaverse are used. It remains to be seen how Apple’s approach to the metaverse will differ from others in the industry and how consumers will receive it.
The launch of Apple’s mixed reality headset is a significant step for the company in entering the metaverse market. Its high-end technology and price tag make it an important player in the industry, and it will be interesting to see how it develops and evolves in the coming months and years.
