Apple’s patent for an augmented reality (AR) headset was spotted last week, indicating that the company is, at the very least, thinking about making an AR headset. Now, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has chimed in, saying that said product has already been slated for production.
According to 9to5Mac, Kuo says that production will begin sometime between the fourth quarter of this year. With mass production expected to commence sometime during the second quarter of 2020.
Kuo also says that Apple’s AR headset will be heavily dependent on a user’s iPhone being in very close proximity with it (i.e. inside a user’s pocket). Specifically, the headset itself will serve only as a display, while all the computing and calculations will be handled by the iPhone. On the flip side, it looks like the iPhone won’t have to be mounted on to the display, thus making the headset itself considerably lighter than other mobile head mounted displays (HMD).
The patent from last week also mentioned additional communication capabilities with other devices. Instead of being an extra-added bonus, however, these seem to be a bare necessity based on Kuo’s predictions.
All that said, only Apple can confirm if it really is planning on starting production of an AR headset this year. If Apple follows its trend and announces the upcoming iPhone around the same time as it did the XS, XS Max and XR last year. September could possibly be the month we’ll hear more about it.
(Source: 9to5Mac)
