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Yesterday, a new Kuo report said that Apple was planning to release its first AR device at some point this year. While that won’t go into detail, the analyst previously suggested that we can expect to see Apple-powered Apple glasses, at least for the first generation of the company’s move to augmented reality.
While there are pros and cons to making the iPhone do the heavy lifting, I think overall this is an approach that makes sense …
The report that glasses are just an external display device dates back to 2019.
Kuo says Apple’s first generation AR glasses will be heavily reliant on the iPhone. The analyst says the AR glasses will essentially act as a display only with the actual compute, render, internet connectivity, and location services coming from the iPhone in the user’s pocket. It is assumed that the pairing will work wirelessly like Apple Watch, but the report does not explicitly state this.
Yesterday’s report didn’t add anything on what to expect, only stating that one type of Apple AR device will launch in 2021.
We can think that the two AR approaches are today equivalent to virtual reality headsets. The Oculus Rift relies on a computer for processing, while the headset is just a screen with sensors and input devices. In contrast, the Oculus Quest is a standalone VR device that does all of the processing itself. The Quest does have a built-in Android phone.
Taking the first approach – but using an iPhone rather than a PC – has three big advantages.
First of all, the cost. It is significantly cheaper to manufacture a device that does not need its own computing power. This should make Apple glasses more affordable than they otherwise would be.
Second, the weight. Removing the “computer” from the headset allows the glasses to be lighter, and therefore more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Third, longevity. You can buy a single pair of glasses and keep them for multiple generations of iPhones, reaping the benefits of improved performance each year.
It will be interesting to see how Apple presents the first generation glasses. A report released in 2019 claimed that Apple’s long-term plan for this type of device is to replace smartphones “ in about a decade. ” Personally, I am not convinced.
Are we really going to be in a position where every person who now owns an iPhone is going to wear glasses? And if we’re not going to be wearing them all the time, does it make more sense to search our pocket for a pair of Apple glasses than to search our phone?
I then explained the reasons why I would probably buy a pair, but as a replacement for my Apple Watch, rather than my iPhone.
What is your opinion? Do you think it makes sense to have Apple glasses powered by iPhone, or do you prefer to see a stand-alone device? Please let us know in the comments.
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