A high-end mixed-reality headset, Apple’s first significant foray into the metaverse, is expected to make its public debut this spring after years of research.
In advance of its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which usually takes place in June, the tech giant is expected to demonstrate its hybrid headset in the upcoming months, according to a news publishing house. Apps for the device, which may be called the Reality Pro, are already being created by some independent developers.
The hybrid augmented reality/virtual reality headset will be introduced later this year, along with new iPhones and other updated Apple products, following the spring unveiling. Even though it is rumored to be internally called “Borealis,” the operating system for the headset will be called xrOS.
The Reality Pro headset is anticipated to be a high-end device with a price tag as high as $3,000, making it significantly more expensive than the Quest 2 VR headset ($399) and more than twice as expensive as Meta’s latest Quest Pro mixed reality headset ($1,499).
In this instance, the Apple Reality Pro is anticipated to be a potent standalone headset that can handle intense VR experiences and overlay digital visuals on top of users’ views of their surroundings without needing a computer or phone. This is regarded as Apple’s most significant step toward the metaverse.
There are still many unanswered questions regarding the functionality of Apple’s mixed reality headgear and whether the company is constructing a theoretical metaverse. However, it will undoubtedly create a lot of excitement before and after it is officially announced, just like every other notable recent Apple product. This will have a big impact on how widely headsets and the metaverse are used.
One of the key companies actively working toward delivering the concept of the metaverse as a hub for work, leisure, gaming, and social activities is Meta. However, there may be a difference of perspective between tech behemoths and Web3 developers regarding 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. An open and interoperable metaverse is “better for everyone,” according to Mark Zuckerberg, founder, and CEO of Meta, who made this claim in October. However, this metaverse’s approach is through shared standards between tech companies and developers rather than Web3 infrastructure.