doozydozen

mjtomlin said:

Marvin said:

AppleInsider said:

Backing up his previous claim that Apple will launch its first augmented reality headset at the end of 2022, Ming-Chi Kuo says it will be a standalone device.

Recent rumors have pointed to the first Apple AR headset being an accompaniment to the iPhone, much as the Apple Watch is. Specifically, it has been believed that the headset would offload most of its processing to the iPhone.

Now, however, in a note to investors, Kuo has said that the headset will have a main processor that is the equivalent of the M1. What's more, it will have a second processor that handles all sensor-related computing, for example with eye tracking and gaze detection.

Kuo further claims that the device will support a "comprehensive range of applications rather than specific applications." So rather than being, effectively, bespoke for certain AR purposes, it could perhaps enable a headset App Store.

"Apple's goal is to replace the iPhone with AR in ten years," continues Kuo, "representing the demand... [for headsets will] exceed at least one billion... in ten years."

If they can manage to get an M1-class chip in a standalone unit, that would be great but the iPhone has in the region of a 10Wh battery and that battery is too big to fit on a head wearable. Oculus Quest 2 has a 14Wh battery and that is a bulky unit. Airpods Max headphones use a 2.4Wh battery. I think realistically they'd be limited to 5Wh or less for a comfortable wearable.

Straps are commonly worn on glasses and it would be much more comfortable to fit processing hardware into the strap. That could be something different than a smartphone like a product similar to an Airpods Pro case and could even carry Airpods so they share the same battery.

Odd that you completely left out the watch when talking about battery capacity. If there's any device that you would look at as far feature set and power usage, it would be the watch.