10 Cutting Edge Features to Expect From Apple’s Upcoming AR/VR Headset

Apple next year is planning to enter a new product category, launching its first mixed reality headset. Rumors indicate that the upcoming headset will support both AR and VR technology, and that it will have features that will outshine competing products.

Render created by Ian Zelbo based on rumored information
With the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, Apple’s hardware and software led it to dominate those categories within a few short years after entering a new market, and it’s likely the same thing will happen with augmented and virtual reality. We’ve rounded up 10 features rumored for the AR/VR headset that will set it apart from competitors.

4K Micro-OLED Displays

Apple is using two high-resolution 4K micro-OLED displays from Sony that are said to have up to 3,000 pixels per inch. Comparatively, Meta’s new top of the line Quest Pro has LCD displays, so Apple is going to be offering much more advanced display technology.

Micro-OLED displays are built directly onto chip wafers rather than a glass substrate, allowing for a thinner, smaller, and lighter display that’s also more power efficient compared to LCDs and other alternatives.

Apple’s design will block out peripheral light, and display quality will be adjusted for peripheral vision to cut down on the processing power necessary to run the device. Apple will be able to reduce graphical fidelity at the peripherals of the headset through the eye tracking functionality being implemented.

More Than a Dozen Cameras

Apple is outfitting its AR/VR headset with more than a dozen cameras, which will capture motion to translate real world movement to virtual movement. It is said to have two downward-facing cameras to capture leg movement specifically, which will be a unique feature that will allow for more accurate motion tracking.

The cameras will be able to map the environment, detecting surfaces, edges, and dimensions in rooms with accuracy, as well as people and other objects. The cameras may also be able to do things like enhance small type, and they’ll be able to track body movements.

Iris Scanning

For privacy and security, the AR/VR headset will integrate an iris scanner that can read the pattern of the user’s eye, allowing for an iris scan to be used in lieu of a password and for payment authentication.

Iris scanning on the AR/VR headset will be akin to Face ID and Touch ID on the ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, and Mac. It could allow two people to use the same headset, and it is a feature that is not available on competing headsets like Meta’s new Quest Pro.

Facial Expression Tracking

The cameras in the AR/VR headset will be able to interpret facial expressions, translating them to virtual avatars. So if you smile or scowl in real life, your virtual avatar will make the same expression in various apps, similar to how the TrueDepth camera system works with Memoji and Animoji on the ‌iPhone‌ and ‌iPad‌.

Thin and Light Design

Apple is aiming for comfort, and the AR/VR headset is rumored to be made from mesh fabric and aluminum, making it much lighter and thinner than other mixed reality headsets that are available on the market. Apple wants the weight to be around 200 grams, which is much lighter than the 722 gram Quest Pro from Meta.

In March 2021, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said current prototypes were around 200 to 300 grams.

Control Methods

3D sensing modules will detect hand gestures for control purposes, and there will be skin detection. Apple will allow for voice control and the AR/VR headset will support Siri like other Apple devices. Apple has tested a thimble-like device worn on the finger, but it is not yet clear what kind of input methods we’ll get with the new device.

Interchangeable Headbands

The mesh fabric behind the eyepieces will make the headset comfortable to wear, and it will have swappable Apple Watch-like headbands to choose from.

One headband is rumored to provide spatial audio like technology for a surround sound-like experience, while another provides extra battery life. It’s not clear if these will make it to launch, but headbands with different capabilities are definitely a possibility.

Unique App Experiences

The headset is going to run a new operating system called rOS, aka “Reality OS.” Apple is designing unique apps made specifically for a virtual reality experience. Apple is said to be planning for a VR FaceTime-like experience with Animoji, where you might see a 3D Animoji or Memoji character version of a person instead of the person itself.

The aforementioned facial expression detection would allow the headset to read facial expressions and features, matching that in real time for a lifelike chatting experience. Apple is working with media partners for content that can be watched in VR, and existing services like Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade are expected to integrate with the headset.

A recent rumor of unknown reliability has indicated that Apple is working on a new version of the Messages app that could feature a new home view and chat rooms specifically for virtual and augmented reality chat features.

Apple Silicon Chip

Rumors suggest that Apple is going to use two Mac-level M2 processors for the AR/VR headset, which will give it more built-in compute power than competing products. Apple will use a high-end main processor and a lower-end processor that will manage the various sensors in the device.

Independent Operation

With two Apple silicon chips inside, the headset will not need to rely on a connection to an ‌iPhone‌ or a Mac for power, and it will be able to function on its own.

Read More

For more on everything that we’ve heard about Apple’s work on the AR/VR headset, we have a dedicated roundup that aggregates all of the rumors.Related Roundup: Apple GlassesRelated Forum: Apple Glasses, AR and VR
This article, “10 Cutting Edge Features to Expect From Apple’s Upcoming AR/VR Headset” first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Latest posts

Ditch the bulky watch at night, as Garmin launches its dedicated sleep band

Garmin launched its new smart band, the Index Sleep Monitor.

Amazon Prime Day 2025: dates CONFIRMED, plus early deals and what to expect

Amazon's biggest sale of the year has been announced, and I'm gathering all of the info you need to prepare,

Samsung’s long-awaited XR headset may finally have a launch date

Samsung's XR headset will allegedly launch sometime in September, during Samsung's domestic unpacked event.

Google app could level up with this powerful AI feature for Android users

The latest Google app update introduces a new video analysis feature for Gemini, similar to ChatGPT. Users can upload videos

Google’s new Veo 3 could land on YouTube Shorts this summer

YouTube's CEO confirmed Google's Veo 3 model is headed for Shorts this summer.

We called this phone ‘incredibly gorgeous’ two years ago, and now it’s over 50% OFF at Best Buy

Best Buy is carving an outstanding $450 off the Motorola Edge Plus (2023), one of our favorite Moto phones in

Samsung’s next Unpacked event may be around the corner, leak suggests

Prominent tipster Evan Blass took to X to state that Samsung's summer Galaxy Unpacked will be held on July 9,

Google’s new update lets you have a real voice chat with Search

Google is testing voice chats in Search that talk with you in real time.

Rokid’s new AR glasses are basically a laptop you wear on your face

Rokid’s AR Spatial glasses want to turn wherever you are into your own personal work-and-play zone.

Craig Federighi Explains Why Apple Won’t Merge iPad and Mac: ‘We Don’t Want to Build Sporks’

MacStories' Federico Vittici, who is known for his focus on the iPad as a main computing device, recently did an