Apple is set to debut its Vision Pro mixed reality (MR) headset in March next year, Bloomberg reported on Monday.
According to Mark Gurman, the publication’s senior tech analyst, the Cupertino-based firm had originally planned to open the head-mounted display (HMD) in January, but faced issues with distribution and finalising device testing.
Apple successfully built its own processors, but the company’s in-house technologies team has a lot more to design, including cameras and screens. @MarkGurman breaks it down in this week’s Power On https://t.co/0mLfO5gx3v
— Bloomberg (@business) November 19, 2023
Despite this, Apple remains on schedule to release its long-awaited premium headset as executives from the company previously confirmed it would be released in 2024.
However, the device will still set shoppers back an eye-watering $3,499 as initially revealed at the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June this year.
It will initially enter markets in the United States and release later in Canada and the United Kingdom. Gurman and other analysts expect Apple to promote the Vision Pro headset in March at its spring event.
It will also feature the following:
- M2 Silicon processor and R1 graphic processing unit (GPU)
- 23m pixel display with micro-OLED lenses
- 4096 x 5464 pixel resolution with high-dynamic range (HDR) and wide colour gamut (WCG)
- Head, hand, and eye tracking sensors for controllerless interfacing
With the Vision Pro, Apple will use its groundbreaking visionOS operating system, allowing users to access Apple’s suite of apps in a 3D interface. It will also include more than 100 Apple Arcade games and titles at the device’s initial launch.
However, the device will also feature a tethered battery separate from the HMD, providing a total of two hours of continual use, or plug directly into a power socket to use all day.
Unity Partnerships and Further Updates
At the Unite 2023 event, Unity offered its full support for the Apple Vision Pro’s PolySpatial tool, essential for developing spatial experiences on the headset’s Shared Space platform.
Unity also announced at the Unite 2023 last week it would debut its visionOS Beta for Unity’s Pro, Enterprise, and Industry customer bases.
Additional partnerships include sports match streaming from the National Basketball Association (NBA), allowing basketball fans to receive front-row seats at their favourite team’s performances.
According to previous reports, Apple aims to prioritise its customer experience ahead of the device’s release. It is expected that the tech giant requires in-store appointments with experts to test, configure, and then purchase the headset, similar to how people can configure Apple Watches, MacBooks, and iPhones.
The company also issued developer kits shortly after the WWDC 2023, allowing select groups of people and media to test-run the device ahead of its release. However, third-party distributors may not receive it after rolling out the device across global markets.
