Long awaited in virtual reality (VR) for years, Apple could unveil its first VR headset on Monday and thus challenge its neighbor Meta (Facebook, Instagram) in its new playground, the metaverse, which is struggling to emerge.
Observers are unanimous: the Apple brand will finally unveil its first mixed reality headset, which combines VR and AR, at its annual developer conference.
The “Reality Pro” has “out of this world” tech specs and will retail for “about $3,000,” according to Wedbush’s Dan Ives.
The headset was designed for playing video games, watching movies, taking part in video calls and doing sports, the analyst adds.
“But it looks like they’re going to come up with something bigger (and certainly more expensive), because they want enthusiasts and engineers to use it and start building an ecosystem of dedicated apps,” before designing lighter, cheaper devices for the public in general. he said.
The goal search
Virtual reality is currently dominated by Meta: its Quest-branded headsets accounted for more than 80% of the market by the end of 2022, according to firm Counterpoint.
On Thursday, the head of the group, Mark Zuckerberg, launched a new device, the Quest 3, the “first consumer headset with high-resolution color mixed reality.”
Mixed reality makes it possible to go from virtual reality, which immerses the user in a virtual universe, to augmented reality, where virtual elements appear superimposed on their real environment.
The Quest 3, which will start at $500 in the United States in the fall, is “40% thinner” than the previous model, “more comfortable” and “more powerful,” the leader stressed.
In late 2021, Facebook became Meta with the idea of becoming a metaverse company, described by Mark Zuckerberg as the future of the internet, after the web and mobile.
But the social media giant’s efforts have so far failed to result in significant mainstream adoption.
The number of users of such equipment jumped in 2021, during the pandemic and lockdowns, but has grown more slowly since then, at around 5-6% per year, according to Insider Intelligence.
“Fear of losing something”
According to this research firm, some 35 million people now use a VR headset at least once a month in the United States, or about 10% of the population.
Meta “would like to set the standards for the operating systems of this new technology, as Google and Apple have done for smartphones,” says Yory Wurmser. “As a result, they don’t mind selling the headphones at a loss to build a consumer base.”
The Cupertino group is known for releasing new products only when they are sure to cause a stir, even at too high a price for the general public.
In any case, virtual reality will first take shape “at work and at the level of universities and training,” says Rolf Illenberger, founder of VRdirect, a virtual reality consulting company.
And even at $3,000, “between Apple fans and fear of missing out, if all the hype around the new headset is true, it’s going to revolutionize virtual reality, augmented reality, and the way people view the world.” metaverse”, says the consultant.
Source: BFM TV
