Apple AR Glasses Could Arrive in 2018
Apple has long been rumored to be working on augmented reality (AR) glasses. Though the Cupertino-based tech giant has yet to officially confirm the wearable technology, the latest reports suggest its development is running along smoothly.
According to the Financial Times, Apple's AR glasses won't be ready until 2018 but sources have revealed that the company is stepping up the pace in order to catch up to Magic Leap, a secretive start-up that has yet to divulge its upcoming wearable tech, and Microsoft, with its HoloLens.
"As its engineers have become more adept at miniaturisation technology with products such as its AirPods wireless headphones and the iPad's Pencil, AR seems to have overtaken Apple's secretive car project as the company's top priority for its next big launch, beyond the iPhone," the publication noted.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
It was also noted that Facebook is joining the race to create AR glasses as well but, as hinted by CEO Mark Zuckerberg, technologies today have yet to catch up to what they envision the wearable device to be.
Though Apple remains tight-lipped when it comes to its much-talked-about AR glasses, CEO Tim Cook has been very vocal about the value of AR technology and why he prefers it over virtual reality (VR).
"My own view is that augmented reality is the larger of the two, probably by far, because this gives the capability for both of us to sit and be very present talking to each other, but also have other things visually for both of us to see," Cook explained during an interview with "Good Morning America" last year.
On the other hand, VR can be isolating as it encloses and immerses a person inside a particular experience, the Apple executive said. As such, he expects VR to have lower commercial interest over time.
When it comes to the technical specifications of Apple's AR glasses, not much is known. However, it was previously rumored that Apple could be working with Carl Zeiss AG for the upcoming wearable device.
