Apple’s Rumored Upcoming VR Headset May Cost $3,000
Last updated June 16, 2021
- Apple’s VR Headset is rumored to have two 8K screens and an array of internal and external cameras.
- The headset may be made available to consumers or businesses, as the price tag makes predictions hard.
- If rumors are true, it’s going to be the highest resolution VR headset available in the market.
According to an allegedly credible report by The Information, Apple’s upcoming VR (virtual reality) headset will have a very salty price tag, selling for as much as $3,000. Apple certainly doesn’t belong to a group of companies that focus on affordability or value for money, as they’re basically leading the premium consumer electronics space. Still, though, this price is pretty salty so let’s dive deeper to see what one would get in the particular headset.
Based on what has been made known through leaks so far, the product is going to be a mixed-reality headset powered by an M1 chip, featuring two 8K screens, a dozen of cameras for hand-tracking, a fabric-like mesh for a snugly feel, and silent tiny fans to keep the inside chamber well-ventilated for comfort. Additionally, internal cameras that track the user’s eye movement will be used for optimization in the content delivery, while the headset will also feature an external screen so that people outside the VR experience can see what the wearer is seeing.
All that certainly add up to offer something that we haven’t seen on other VR headsets, which typically cost between $300 and $1,000. But are they enough to justify the $3,000 price tag? This is close to the cost for Microsoft’s HoloLens 2, which belongs to an entirely different category, and aims at professional applications. So, possibly, Apple won’t direct the marketing of its VR headset to the consumer space, but the corporate field. As the same rumors spread about the Apple car being made available to businesses only, Apple will likely open up a new handle that caters to this different category.
On a final note about the product, the 8K screens will deliver a crystal viewing experience for high-resolution content on the tiny distances between the wearer’s eye and the visor screen. Still, it’s not the end of the road for human eye biology. That would be 11K, which actually can create 3D illusions by successfully tricking the brain. According to limited study findings, this is the ceiling of human eye perception at VR headset distances.
If Apple brings something with 8K, though, it’s going to be the highest available resolution in any VR headset in the market. For comparison, HoloLens 2 has a resolution of 2048 x 1080 (per eye), and Oculus Quest 2 delivers 1832 x 1920 (per eye).