According to an Apple engineer, the company CEO Tim Cook cares about nothing other than developing true augmented reality (AR) glasses. However, his ambition for the device is hampered by the limitations of current technology.
Developing AR glasses is no simple feat, as these glasses require a number of technologies to be perfected. These include incredibly high-resolution displays, a high-performance chip, as well as a minuscule battery that can provide power for hours a day. Additionally, it is said that Apple is faced with the challenge to provide applications for the device to make it as appealing to consumers as an iPhone. Of course, pricing and availability remain an issue as customers will be turned off by products that are too expensive.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple is currently working on a new headset that will be lighter and cheaper than the existing Vision Pro, which weighs around 1.5 pounds and costs around US$3,499 (~RM15,484). The company is also developing another version of the Vision Pro that can be plugged into the Mac. The wired connection will allow for an ultra-low-latency system, which is necessary for use cases such as views during surgery or flight simulators.
Gurman also noted that Apple is also working on its own glasses with cameras and microphones to rival Meta’s Ray-Bans. The glasses will use Siri and visual intelligence, but Apple has some reservations about allowing the glasses to capture media, which sets them apart from Meta’s product.
According to Gurman, this is only an interim solution as the company seeks to compete with Meta. Last year, the social media conglomerate revealed a prototype for its Orion AR glasses. While they are still a long way from being mass produced, Cook is making Apple AR glasses his utmost priority.
