This article may contain affiliate links. Learn more on our Partner Program page.
The development of Apple's much-discussed augmented reality (AR) headset is similar to the time before the launch of the Apple Watch. That's what analysts at Morgan Stanley are saying.
In a letter to investors obtained by Investor's Business Daily viewed , analysts at Morgan Stanley declare that after years of building expertise and a series of setbacks, Apple's long-awaited AR headset is "close to launch." This is evidenced by the fact that Apple's AR project is reportedly beginning to catch up with the development of the Apple Watch before its announcement in late 2014. The company has published a large number of patents related to augmented reality and virtual reality, including hardware, input mechanisms, and user interfaces. Now, Apple's patent portfolio is beginning to reflect the era before the launch of the Apple Watch. Even before the Apple Watch was unveiled in 2014, Apple patented the technology behind the device, including iPhone connectivity and sensors, pedometer function and detection, low-power Bluetooth, and much more.
Apple AR headset could be a game changer
In fact, Apple patents involving head-mounted devices with displays have been reported for well over a decade, but in the last few years the number of patents has increased significantly, with the final product becoming clearer. Morgan Stanley stressed that while Apple has encountered difficulties in developing its AR technology, the project is getting closer to launch:
The enormous technical challenge of compressing daily battery life, 5G, processing power, cameras, lidar, projectors and waveguide lenses into a lightweight, attractive pair of glasses is hard to overestimate, but we are getting closer to launch.
The analysts conclude that "Apple's entry into the eyewear market will be a game changer for everyone involved, as the technology becomes normalized and popularized." Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo currently expects Apple's "Mixed Reality" headset to be released in late 2022 to early 2023. A separate smart glass device is then expected to be unveiled sometime between 2023 and 2025. Accordingly, the next few years should definitely remain exciting with regard to Apple's AR and VR efforts. (Photo by maxxyustas / Bigstockphoto)
