Report: Apple Mixed Reality headset to feature Digital Crown, may require AirPods Pro 2 for audio - BGR

Apple is expected to present its Mixed Reality headset successful 2023. While rumors person been a spot sparse successful the past fewer months, a study by The Information (via 9to5Mac) shows a question of caller features coming to this device.

One of the astir absorbing features is an Apple Watch-like Digital Crown that volition alteration users to modulation betwixt the virtual and carnal worlds. Apple’s Digital Crown is presently disposable connected Apple Watch models and the AirPods Max.

This Mixed Reality headset is besides rumored to diagnostic Apple’s audio H2 chip, which is presently lone disposable connected the AirPods Pro 2. The Information says this processor has a “secret” low-latency transmission mode, which is designed to enactment alongside the H2 spot that volition beryllium disposable connected the headset.

Even though the headset volition person built-in speakers, the work says, “Apple whitethorn necessitate AirPods to beryllium utilized erstwhile communicating with others,” arsenic adjacent bystanders tin perceive the audio. For privateness reasons, paired AirPods Pro 2 whitethorn beryllium required. Other wireless headphones wouldn’t beryllium compatible owed to the lag betwixt what users perceive and what they see.

Apple mixed world glasses render – bottommost view. Image source: Ian Zelbo

9to5Mac highlights 1 of the changes that this Mixed Reality headset volition person owed to improvement constraints:

A peculiar alternate headband volition beryllium disposable for developers, apt allowing for the instrumentality to beryllium hooked up to a Mac for development. However, The Information nary longer expects Apple to beforehand freely-swappable headbands arsenic a diagnostic of the headset, a la easy interchangeable bands connected the Apple Watch. Unlike Apple Watch bands, the headset headbands are much analyzable arsenic they incorporate physics components and batteries. 

Apart from that, The Information corroborates previous reports that the Mixed Reality headset volition diagnostic 4K micro-LED displays for each eye, Apple’s M2 chip, and an costly $3,000 outgo owed to its “ultra-premium components and chassis materials similar aluminum, glass, and c fiber.” That said, this merchandise volition beryllium “much thinner and lighter” than the just-released Meta Quest Pro.

The work says Apple volition absorption the Mixed Reality headset chiefly for videoconferencing with virtual conversations conducted with integer avatars, arsenic the institution doesn’t expect games to beryllium a superior usage case. Some teams astatine Apple are moving connected AR acquisition contented and iPhone apps moving successful an overlaid 2D format.

You tin find the full-paywalled study here.