Report: Apple’s Reality Pro headset won’t require an iPhone, but some features are ‘finicky in testing’
One of the most persistent rumors surrounding Apple’s so-called “iPhone 12” is that the company is working on an AR headset. Indeed, with each new generation of iPhone, Apple seems to inch closer and closer to delivering a truly breakthrough AR experience.
Now, a new report from 9to5Mac claims that Apple is indeed working on an AR headset, codenamed “N 421,” which will be capable of running its own version of iOS. What’s more, the report claims that the headset will not require an iPhone to function, and that some of its features are “finicky in testing.”
If true, this would be a major departure from Apple’s current strategy with ARKit, which relies on the iPhone’s processor and camera to deliver AR experiences. Instead, it seems that Apple is finally ready to take the plunge into true AR, and is even willing to ditch the iPhone in the process.
Of course, it remains to be seen how well such a headset would actually work in practice. After all, one of the main challenges with AR is delivering a compelling experiences that is also easy to use. Apple’s ARKit has shown promise in this regard, but it remains to be seen if the company can take things to the next level with an AR headset.
In any case, it’s clear that Apple is serious about AR, and is probably working on a headset that could revolutionize the way we interact with our iPhones. Only time will tell if the company can actually pull it off, but we’ll be keeping a close eye on this one.
