Apple AR glasses set for late 2019 or early 2020 release, needs iPhone

It is no secret that Apple is seriously interested in augmented reality technology. Tim Cook has openly spoken about how he thinks the tech has game changing possibilities, but so far we have only seen Apple explore the AR tech on its iPhones and iPads while others have launched headsets to create a more immersive experience. If renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is correct, we could see Apple’s rumored AR glasses reach the market as soon as late this year, or early 2020.

While it was originally though that Apple’s solution might operate as a standalone device, it now looks like Apple will require an iPhone to give the device its CPU and GPU processing power. Given that Apple’s A-series SoCs. are the fastest and most efficient ARM-based chips on the market, it looks like it might have finally found a way to properly tap into all of that processing power, which often goes to waste. The biggest advantage of this approach is that it will help to make the proposed headset lighter as a result, and knowing Apple, one would expect that the system would work wirelessly.

Microsoft is currently the leader in the AR headset space recently revealing its HoloLens 2. However, its system is very expensive and, as a result, has been targeted at enterprise to assist with CAD and other industrial design applications. In terms of making the technology more accessible to everyday users, Apple’s ARKit has helped developers create popular apps like Pokémon Go that harness the iPhone camera and display to create AR experiences. It is possible that Apple has some like Magic Leap more in mind for its AR glasses entry.