Reality Pro: Mark Gurman, one of the few reliable sources when it comes to rumours about as-yet-unannounced Apple products, has revealed new details about Apple’s AR/VR visor, which is expected to be launched in the spring at a price of $3,000.

The first news concerns the visor’s interface, which will be very familiar to iPhone users who will find “many functions” from iOS and iPadOS, including the home screen with app icons that can be rearranged and customizable widgets. Users can view Mac’s display in VR, controlling the computer with a physical keyboard and trackpad/mouse. Available apps will include Safari, Photos, Mail, Messages, Apple TV+, Apple Music, Podcasts and Calendar, and even a dedicated App Store for third-party content.

Tracking the eyes

But, the real killer feature on which Apple relies heavily will be the tracking of the hands and eyes of the wearer of the visor, which will happen thanks to a series of cameras embedded in the device. According to Gurman, the visor will be controlled by looking at an item on display to select it; then, using gestures, it will activate. Therefore, unlike other visors, Apple will not rely on a physical controller. The visor will be able to switch between augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).

The former involves superimposing virtual objects in the real world, while the latter is an entirely virtual environment that excludes the surrounding world. The augmented reality functions will work through a pass-through mode using the visor’s cameras, and switching from AR to VR will use a knob similar to the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch or AirPods Max. Apple’s AR/VR visor can also be used for group and single FaceTime video conferences. A user’s real face and body will be shown in virtual reality in interactive meetings, with realistic avatars available for single chats. FaceTime with multiple participants will use less detailed icons such as Memoji.

Cupertino is working on VR content with Disney, Dolby and other companies and updating Apple TV+ programs and movies to be viewed by the viewer. The goal is to provide viewers with the experience of watching a giant screen in an outdoor environment or space. Reality Pro is expected to feature a 4K micro OLED display, more than ten cameras, iris tracking, facial expression detection and more. As already anticipated, the visor will have an external battery to keep heat away from the face, the size of two iPhone 14 Pro Max stacked on top of each other and will provide about two hours of battery life.