Apple and Augmented Reality: Apple Glass Launch Is Near 

After a few years of rumors, it looks like we'll soon have it in our hands Apple's new product for augmented reality. 

We already knew that something was cooking: for a couple of years there has been talk of Apple Glass, the designer augmented reality glasses, or of a new visor based on Facebook's Oculus. Little certain news and many rumors, including even that of two different prototypes, N301 for the VR visor and N421 for the AR glasses.

New product launch in June

But the real news came on March 31, when Apple announced the official dates of the next WWDC 2021, an online event dedicated to Apple developers that will take place from June 7 to 11. 

If we go on official website of the WWDC 2021, we are greeted by a cute video of a girl with fuchsia hair wearing huge glasses and opening the screen of a MacBook. When opening the screen, icons are clearly reflected on the glass of the glasses.

To die-hard Apple fans, this might seem like a reference to Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of the company, while opening the Mac Book Pro during a presentation.

Same pose, same light.

But… what if this was a hint of the real news that will welcome developers in June? 

So the hypothesis of augmented reality glasses, which were supposed to be released in 2023, is back on the table.

Apple Glass, the new glasses for augmented reality

Since this is the major's first new product after the Apple Watch, the rumor there are many and imaginative. Some official, some less so.

What we know for sure 

• That Apple will announce the product “in the coming months,” whether it’s Apple Glass or a VR headset

• That iOS developers will soon have detailed information for app development
• which will be a lightweight system, therefore a light and easily portable device

What we don't know

• Product specific features: will it be only augmented reality or mixed reality? (read here to find out the difference between AR and VR)
• Will it be a standalone or will it need another supporting device, such as a PC, smartphone or console?
• Will it be glasses, as seen in the image released by Apple itself, or a visor? Apple has often spoken of a “headset”, leaving plenty of room for speculation.

Apple Glass Features: What the Rumors Say

Collecting tweets and tips obtained from some prestigious newspapers such as Bloomberg, we have a more or less complete picture of what these mysterious Apple Glasses for augmented reality will look like.

Potential features of the new product 

• They would be made of mixed materials, fabric and metal
• They should have a built-in fan
• They will have a more powerful processor than the M1, the one that runs on the latest Macbook Air and Pro
• They could be graduated, to allow those who wear glasses to wear just one pair of glasses.

Apple's investment in AR and VR

Apple Glass glasses/visor for virtual or augmented reality have been talked about since 2019, and we must not forget that the expectation and news disclosed through the press are also a good fuel that pushes investors not to lose faith in the brand. 

The public's great anticipation is mainly explained by the fact that we are talking about the first new Apple product after the Apple Watch.

Certainly, the choice of the hi-tech giant to make its way into the field of augmented reality represents a turning point for the market: whether it is Apple Glass glasses or a visor, we are not just facing the Apple version of the Oculus by Facebook or Sony PlayStation VR. A very large market segment, less connected to videogaming, is also gathered here. 

For businesses around the world, the fact that iOS developers may soon have the tools to work on Apple Glass is great news: Augmented reality would really be ready to land in the company.