Something to wait forward to: Virtual reality as we know information technology has been around for a while, but it has only recently started to entreatment to a more mainstream audience. According to a new report, Apple tree will join the political party next year with a VR headset featuring an integrated fan and support for wearers of prescription lenses.

Thanks to games such equally One-half-Life: Alyx and high-end headsets, including the excellent Valve Index, we're now seeing VR live up to its potential. There'southward nonetheless a way to become, but its popularity could increase once Apple releases a VR-focused device side by side year, followed by an AR device in 2023.

According to Bloomberg, Apple tree has two headsets in the works. The first of these will be a VR ready with AR capabilities. The plan is to include displays that have a higher resolution than those in electric current rivals. The Valve Index, for reference, has a 1440 × 1600 LCD panel for each eye for a combined total resolution of 2880 x 1600.

The VR headset, codenamed N301, has reportedly been tested with chips that outperform Apple's lauded M1 processors, which sounds enticing. It'south a standalone device then you won't need any extra hardware for power.

Volition Apple's standalone headset lucifer the PC-powered Valve Index?

Those who find VR headsets make them sweat like they're doing a workout will exist happy to learn that Apple'southward offer could accept the perfect solution: an integrated fan to keep wearers cool.

1 of the headset's most innovative pattern features is its ability to have custom prescription lenses over the screen. Most VR wearables get out a space between a user's face and the display for glasses, simply this gap could be removed if the lenses work every bit intended. Apple is yet looking at exactly how this would exist implemented and whether it would face up regulatory rules.

To make the headset lighter, Apple tree is planning to employ a fabric exterior. The device is also said to be more expensive than rivals—probably over $ane,000—with insiders assertive the visitor may only sell 1 headset per twenty-four hour period per shop.

The VR headset will reportedly be more than of a niche product that prepares devs and consumers for Apple's AR spectacles, codenamed N421, which may exist unveiled in 2023.

Reports of Apple tree developing a VR headset go back to 2022. In 2022, we heard that Cupertino was working on two headsets launching in 2022 and 2023. Bloomberg's report lines upward with those dates, so adjacent twelvemonth could finally come across Apple enter the virtual reality market.

Masthead image credit: Halfpoint