What makes Apple’s new $499 glasses so special?
Last week, Apple unveiled several new products, including a new Apple Watch and iPhone 14 lineup, as well as the long-awaited augmented reality (AR) headset called the Apple Augmented Reality Headset or Apple VR. This new headset is Apple’s first major step into the AR/VR space, with the company planning to offer a mixed reality experience for users. While the Apple VR headset is not intended to be a mainstream product, it does represent a significant new technology from the company, and here’s what makes it so special.
Advanced sensors and cutting-edge hardware
The Apple VR headset boasts a number of cutting-edge sensors that allow for advanced hand tracking and eye tracking, which allows for a more immersive experience than competitors. The device has several external sensors, including depth sensors and sophistically designed cameras, that are trained on the user’s hands, allowing for highly accurate hand tracking. These sensors also enable the device to offer eye tracking, which the company is currently beta testing. Eye tracking has many uses in VR, including enhancing accessibility for users with disabilities, improving immersion, and saving battery life.
Under the hood, the Apple VR headset also boasts a number of cutting-edge hardware advancements that allow it to outperform competing devices, including super high-resolution micro-OLED screens, manufactured by Sony, that provide 48 pixels per degree viewing, allowing for a retina-quality experience with extraordinary visual fidelity. Sony has been tight-lipped about the project, but it seems they have a close relationship with Apple, with several industry insiders pointing at a partnership. These displays are housed within a sleek, stylish enclosure made out of high-grade, lightweight materials, which offers a balanced feel and comfortable wear.
The Apple ecosystem
While the Apple VR headset is a new product category for Apple, it fits well within the company’s existing Apple ecosystem, which is widely considered the best in the industry. Users will be able to seamlessly sync their VR headset with other Apple devices, including their iPhones, iPads, and Macs, allowing for cross-platform functionality. The device also works with Apple’s Find My network, and will include Apple’s signature privacy and security features, including Sign In with Apple and Apple Pay.
