Apple Glasses could redefine wearable computing. Here’s everything we know so far.
The year 2020 looks primed to be a great year for consumer gadgets. Apple has targeted 2020 for the release of its Apple Glasses. It’s an attempt to succeed where Google Glass failed years ago. But with Apple’s 2020 product line fully fleshed out with the likes of the iPhone 12, Apple Watch 6, and AirPods Studio. So the near future Apple AR glasses looked blurry.
One reliable analyst said Apple Glass could come as soon as next year, while another longtime source for Apple product releases believes the release won’t happen until 2022. Either way, the project is definitely in the works.
Apple Glass expected to run on Starboard, a proprietary operating system uncovered in the final version of iOS 13. The augmented reality framework shows up multiple times in code and text documents. Which means Apple is likely testing activation and application.
The company allegedly planned to unveil the lenses as a “one more thing” announcement at its annual fall keynote. But might wait due to global tech delays. Here’s everything else we know about Apple Glass, including the release date, price, design, features, and hardware.
Apple Glasses features
According to rumors, the Apple AR Glasses will bring information from your phone to your face. Specifically, the eyewear expected to synchronize with a wearer’s iPhone to display things such as texts, emails, maps, and games over the user’s field of vision. Apple also has plans for third-party apps, and is considering a dedicated app store. This is similar to installing apps for the Apple TV and Apple Watch.
Apple Glasses release date
Jon Prosser, a reputable Apple leaker, says Apple Glasses could come sooner than we thought. Prosser believes the launch aimed for “March-June 2021.” Prosser also says the company will announce Apple Glass before it’s ready to ship. Much like it waited several months to sell the first-generation Apple Watch after its debut. Apple allegedly wants members of the media present for the unveiling, so it could wait until in-person tech events resume.
Hardware
According to Jon Prosser, the Apple Glasses will be called Apple Glass and will be capable of displaying information on both lenses, with a user controlling them via gestures both on and in front of the frames.
All the processing will be handled by connecting an iPhone, and Apple Glass supposedly wouldn’t have conventional cameras but would have a LiDAR scanner to power AR experiences. The ToF sensor employed on the latest iPad Pro models and used to produce more accurate depth measurements for AR, portraits, and other features based on these measurements.
Other details from the source include that there apparently won’t be a sunglasses version, as the display doesn’t work with tinted lenses, that observers won’t be able to tell the lenses are displaying anything, and that the frame
Apple Glasses price
According to Prosser, the Apple glasses are currently priced at $499 plus prescription fees and support 5G. Apple Glass, rather, will rely on a companion iPhone for processing. It’ll work more like the Vuzix Blade smart glasses, which have a built-in camera and Alexa integration. Still, Vuzix Blade starts at $799. Apple’s entry point is significantly more accessible, costing as much as some of it’s top-specked smartwatches.
Design
Based on the patent images, the Apple glasses could look just like a regular pair of glasses, which means there will be a lot of complex, miniaturized technology to get right before they can be released. It has a LiDAR scanner on the right temple. The wearable will not have any extra cameras. This is probably a good decision on Apple’s part because one of the reasons why Google Glass failed as a consumer product. The glasses also come with a plastic stand with wireless chargers.
Being an accessory to the iPhone will have implications on the Apple Glass design. Though the glasses won’t be lightweight. They could be light enough and comfortable enough to work as everyday glasses.
Hi, I’m Mithunraj Kurunthil, an aspiring blogger with an obesession for all things tech. This blog is dedicated to helping people learn about technology.