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The first Apple VR headset hasn’t been announced – in fact, the company hasn’t even confirmed its existence yet. But as always, Apple rumors are swirling and we already have information about a sequel to the unannounced mixed reality device.
Unfortunately, things aren’t going well for the first Reality Pro. According to the latest rumors, Apple has already started work on a follow-up product after failing to get it ready with the first earbuds. Which makes us wonder what the point is (check out Apple’s best deals for current product discounts).
We’re so used to Apple rumors that as soon as a new device hits the market, it quickly moves on to the next one. Rumors about the iPhone 15 began right after the release of the iPhone 14. But in this case, we hear rumors about the second generation of an entirely new category of Apple products even before the official announcement of the first generation.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports in his Power On newsletter (opens in a new tab) that the first Reality Pro, expected to release later this year, doesn’t deliver the performance Apple originally expected, at least when it comes to graphics. This year’s devices will feature the same M2 chip found in the latest MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13, as well as a separate augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) chip, Gurman said.
But by the looks of it, it turned out to be less powerful than Apple had hoped. Gurman said the chip “isn’t powerful enough to deliver graphics at the level that Apple would like.” It also looks like the graphical prowess of Reality Pros won’t be enough for Apple to solidify its entry into the gaming market.
According to Gurman, Apple initially considered including a “separate hub” to improve performance and stream content across the room to headphones. That idea was dropped, and instead Apple is now reportedly working on a second generation Reality Pro with a more powerful processor (probably an M3 or M4) to deliver the required graphics performance.
Instead, the question is whether it makes sense to buy the Pro Reality Mark One. If Apple admits that the graphics aren’t what it’s after and plans to release a follow-up version relatively soon after the original, it looks like it’s worth waiting a bit before shelling out $3,000 for it.
We learned last week that the launch of Reality Pro has been delayed due to hardware and software issues. Another issue mentioned by Gurman relates to the ability to allow users to type in the air on a virtual keyboard. This apparently proved to be quite whimsical in the prototypes.
In the latest Power On newsletter, Gurman also suggested that the Reality Pro may not need to be paired with an iPhone and can download content directly from iCloud. We shouldn’t wait too long to find out. Apple is expected to officially unveil Pro Reality at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
The headset is expected to cost the same as the Microsoft HoloLens 2, around $3,000. Apple is rumored to be working on a cheaper VR headset called the Reality One. This is expected to allow low-cost technologies to be packaged at a lower cost. Both will be relatively late entrants in a market that has become more crowded (see below or check out our guide to the best VR headsets for more).
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Joe is a regular freelance writer and editor for Creative Bloq. He writes news and articles, updates buying guides, and tracks the best creative gear from monitors to accessories and stationery. A writer and translator, he also works as a project manager for Hermana Creatives, a design and branding agency based in London and Buenos Aires, where he leads a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialize in photo content, video content, graphic design and hospitality. . He loves photography, especially nature and health photography, and dances Argentine tango.
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Post time: Mar-01-2023