It is suggested that Apple is aiming to enter a new product category in less than a year. The company has reportedly secured names for the upcoming devices to avoid risks. It is rumored that the Reality Pro trademark has already been registered. The iPhone maker intends to lay the groundwork for its expansion into AR and VR headsets. Let’s figure out what is known now and how Apple's new products will impact the industry.
(Image credit: Future)
As a mobile games development company that provides AR/VR app development services, HitBerry Games keeps up with the industry's latest trends and updates. In this blog post, we will share with you all the known-for-now details concerning AR VR solutions by Apple that make us, as well as other AR VR development companies pretty excited.
Apple Inc., apparently, is getting ready to make a push into its first new product category in years. The last time the company presented a new hardware category was seven years ago - when Apple Watch was launched. Now the tech giant seems to be working on at least three augmented-reality and virtual-reality headset devices. The devices are expected to be a mixture of augmented and virtual reality technologies. This makes Apple Inc. a strong competitor for Meta Platforms Inc. which is currently the leader among VR gear providers.
So, what do we know now?
Applications were filed for the names Reality One, Reality Pro, and Reality Processor in a number of countries all over the world, namely in the US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, and Uruguay. Needless to say that Apple didn’t directly request the trademarks and the company’s spokeswoman declined to make any comments on the filings. Still, they followed a pattern they have already used a few times in the past - these trademarks were filed by law firms previously used to lock down brands.
The rumors concerning Apple’s intention to develop AR VR headsets appeared earlier this year when trademark applications were spotted for realityOS at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in May. Considering realityOS as a name for the operating system, it is very likely that Reality One, Reality Pro, and Reality Processor are the names for the actual headsets. The new trademarks are all registered to a shell corporation Immersive Health Solutions LLC which was incorporated in February. Here Apple Inc. applies the typical scheme of registering the upcoming product name months or even years before its official launch. This helps to avoid the risk of having to buy the name later from another trademark holder. Still, as the trademark apps haven’t been approved yet, we cannot say for sure now that the innovative devices being under development will carry any of these names. Apple typically uses monikers One and Pro for its high-end products. This gives a hint of Reality One and Reality Pro being possible options for future products. Apple could be filing a number of names at once in case they plan to launch several devices.
When should we expect the new AR/VR Reality headset?
The most recent rumors suggest that Apple Inc. will release the headset no earlier than 2023.
What does this mean for the industry, specifically for AR VR gaming?
We do not have any concrete information concerning future Apple products, so all we can do is make assumptions based on the facts we have.
The very first device under the code N301 has all the chances to become one of the most powerful and expensive models on the market at the moment of its release. The company is already working on the follow-up devices codenamed N602 and N421. But these are not expected to be launched until later this decade.
N602 as the successor to the first Apple Reality Pro can come in at a bit lower price point.
N421 is an AR glasses device.
The trademark for Reality Processor could refer to a specialized M-2 chip destined for the headset. As reports state, it may include 16 gigabytes of memory. Additional processing technology for high-resolution AR VR graphics will be needed. The upcoming headset may include VR-based versions of such Apple applications as Maps and FaceTime with collaboration features for multiple users wearing the headsets so it can easily compete with the Meta technology. Users will be able to use the device for watching movies and other content. Health-related functions will be offered, too. As for the rest of the potential features, we expect Apple to launch the first headset with 4K micro-OLED displays, 15 optical modules, two main processors, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, eye tracking, object tracking, and hand gesture controls.
A lot of things are still unclear, like when the world will see the new devices and what the approximate price point is. But what we are sure of is that this will change VR and AR game development significantly. Apple is going to set a new revolutionary direction for AR VR software development. The Reality headset will take the entire industry to a higher level. After all, AR VR solutions are no longer for entertainment only. They are widely used in various sectors including education, healthcare, etc.
About us
HitBerry Games is a mobile app development studio with profound experience and solid expertise in AR VR app development services. We bring together dedicated and talented experts which are ready to implement any of your ideas and turn them into an appealing and lucrative playable game. Our company has been creating games of different types and genres for more than 12 years already. We offer end-to-end AR VR solutions for gaming, education, and brands. HitBerry Games provides AR VR app development services including AR games in Unity development for all popular platforms, including Oculus, HTC Vive, Pico, and many others designed for enterprises and start-ups.
Do you need help with developing a VR game? Do not waste time - contact us and share your idea! We look forward to taking on challenges! Let’s create a mobile game jointly.