There are still a few years until we see Apple's augmented reality glasses. It will be one of the biggest bets for something like that since the fall into disuse of Google Glass.
If you expected Apple's augmented reality to come out soon, better be patient. We will most certainly not see anything about it in 2020. Information sources claim that Apple held an internal presentation in October where it hoped to launch AR headsets (really a mixed AR / VR headset) in 2022, and AR glasses in 2023. However, there would be reasons to wait. If the leak is accurate, Apple will try to push the limits of AR technology.
The design would resemble an Oculus Quest in some ways, but would feature “high-resolution” headsets, possibly the 8K displays that have been previously rumored. And while the presence of cameras on the outside is pretty much expected at this point, Apple promises a relatively fluid experience for interacting with digital objects.
The glasses, meanwhile, aren’t as well defined. Existing prototypes reportedly resemble high-priced sunglasses. They would be very thick-framed to house the processors and battery. Apple has explored the possibility of lenses that darken whenever you’re using augmented reality and alert you to people nearby, though it’s not certain this would be useful. The company is apparently confident in the technology, at least. Senior managers have reportedly told employees that later versions of the glasses could obviate the need for iPhones in “about a decade,” one source told the rumor mill.
A lot of investment in an undefined sector
Unsurprisingly, Apple has declined to comment, and it is important to note that a lot can happen in the span of more than two years. It wouldn't be surprising if the designs were changed, delayed, or even canceled entirely. However, if they are real, they suggest that Apple is playing a very long game when it comes to AR and VR: It is willing to wait years to release accessories that it likes rather than rush to compete with HTC and Oculus. There is already part of the code in iOS 13, with what seems that they already prepare the iOS engineers for this purpose.
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