Apple expected to launch AR Glasses in early 2020
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple is to begin production of its Augmented Reality headset before the end of this year, and launch it in the second quarter of 2020.
![Apple Park AR](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/29688-48119-22828-28113-IMG_1625-l-l.jpg)
We'll finally be able to put down our iPads.
A new report seen by AppleInsider from generally well-informed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple is shortly to begin mass producing its AR Glasses, or Augmented Reality headset. The devices are said to commence manufacturing before the end of 2019, and Kuo says that they will be launched in the second calendar quarter of 2020.
Kuo believes that Apple will also then partner with unnamed third-party firms to produce what he refers to as AR helmets during 2020.
Kuo believes that the AR glasses will act as an iPhone accessory in the way the original Apple Watch did. That would mean the iPhone providing much of the processing power, and allowing the glasses to avoid cumbersome circuitry.
Apple has been working on augmented reality hardware, including the glasses, for several years, and it's now possible to see them fitting in with the company's broad health ambitions.
Previously, Kuo has reported that 2020 will also see an "iPhone SE 2" style device. Along with other sources reporting that the main 2020 iPhone range will include 5G, Kuo has claimed that their new redesign will be reminiscent of the iPhone 4.
![Apple Park AR](https://photos5.appleinsider.com/gallery/29688-48119-22828-28113-IMG_1625-l-l.jpg)
We'll finally be able to put down our iPads.
A new report seen by AppleInsider from generally well-informed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple is shortly to begin mass producing its AR Glasses, or Augmented Reality headset. The devices are said to commence manufacturing before the end of 2019, and Kuo says that they will be launched in the second calendar quarter of 2020.
Kuo believes that Apple will also then partner with unnamed third-party firms to produce what he refers to as AR helmets during 2020.
Kuo believes that the AR glasses will act as an iPhone accessory in the way the original Apple Watch did. That would mean the iPhone providing much of the processing power, and allowing the glasses to avoid cumbersome circuitry.
Apple has been working on augmented reality hardware, including the glasses, for several years, and it's now possible to see them fitting in with the company's broad health ambitions.
Previously, Kuo has reported that 2020 will also see an "iPhone SE 2" style device. Along with other sources reporting that the main 2020 iPhone range will include 5G, Kuo has claimed that their new redesign will be reminiscent of the iPhone 4.
Comments
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id4JBMb9W0E
Most likely a collaborative effort...something like Nike+Apple (looking at historically how their collaborative efforts started).
anyone who doubts what AR is going to do simply doesn’t understand it well enough.
apple had everything in place, the 11 series with reality composer presents content silky smooth.
does it have a long way to go, yes it does. this is going to be a bit apple newton compared to an ipad pro but without that newton...
With that said, I think AR has a bright future. If designed as spectacles, any entry into the eyewear market is going to need a wide range of frame shapes to suit face shapes and tastes. Apple certainly knows this, the Apple Watch has just one shape, yet contains numerous finishes and bands and that's just for the wrist, not something as personally important as the face. Although part of me still doubts that Apple would want to restrict a product this way, there is a reason why clear-lens refractive surgery, LASIK and contact lenses are so popular.
AI, AR, interconnected devices are the future. They won't operate independently but symbiotically. Our modern technology will, in the coming years and decades, begin to look like flip phones, radio and fax machines.
Doing time, sensors, maps overlay, etc, that was done years ago too. The earlier product failed for only one reason: Fear of the embedded camera driven by media articles (if not "others").
If that fear has diminished over the last 6 years then now might be better timing for such a product in the marketplace.
iOS 13 betas have exposed that Apple have two AR headsets in the lab, perhaps one is the glasses and one is the helmet.
The glasses probably have a relatively low data bandwidth to the master phone. Also imagine all the fashion constraints described above, there will be limited frame designs, probably one with 2-3 sizes.
The functionality of the glasses will be to support things such as navigation, information etc. like a Google Glass done better, but with far better AR sensing, ranging etc. Information rich but not media rich applications are possible with the relatively low data rate transmission between a phone and the glasses. Limited mixed-reality capabilities may be possible at the initial launch, but a focus on practical applications with a little fun tossed in, perhaps a spin on those Animoji's.
Full-on AR and MR (mixed reality) with lightweight glasses communicating with a phone would need a very powerful high bandwidth communication channel, maybe that will come later.
The helmet would not use a phone as its co-processor, it would actually be a fully specced device in there. The functionality of the helmet would be entertainment, though it could have niche practical applications. With the helmet full 3D mixed reality applications would be possible, imagine Microsoft Hololens but with an Arcade and Apple TV subscription. It would provide a new paradigm in entertainment and should be thought of as a wearable Playstation rather than an AR headset. It could have both Wifi and 5G connectivity.