After years of rumors, Apple might finally launch its highly anticipated augmented reality glasses. Not only will “Apple Glass” be sold for the relatively low price of $499, but it will also be compatible with prescription lenses (for an additional cost).
As usual, the news comes from well-known Apple leaker Jon Prosser, who has been on quite the roll lately. He leaked a slew of the company’s upcoming products from the iPhone 12 to a new Apple TV.
Apple has yet to comment on or confirm any of these upcoming products, including Apple Glass. While Prosser doesn’t say anything about his sources, he does have a good track record when it comes to past leaks.
Prosser took to YouTube to divulge all the details including what the glasses might look like. However, he prefaced it by mentioning that it’s not going to be “this crazy holograph type experience.”
The prototype he saw features a plastic set of frames, but it’s highly likely the final version will be made of some type of metal. They’ll also support wireless charging and come complete with a charging stand.
Additionally, the Apple Glass will have a LiDAR scanner integrated into the right temple. You know, the same one that was included in the new iPad Pro and will also be featured in the upcoming iPhone 12 lineup.
The display will appear in both lenses, using Apple’s UI called Starboard, allowing you to control the glasses using gestures on the frames as well as waving your hands in front of the lenses. But all of the data processing will come from your actual iPhone.
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Prosser didn’t go into too many details about what the features will look like, but according to what he saw on the prototype, you can’t tell there is anything on the display unless you’re actually wearing them.
You’ll be able to get them with prescription lenses at launch. But you’ll have to wait a little longer for sunglasses. Apple is apparently struggling to get the display working on tinted lenses.
As for a launch date, it seems Apple wants to announce Apple Glass at its hardware event alongside the iPhone 12 and the Apple Watch as a “one more thing” reveal.
While that event typically takes place in September, it’s still unclear how or when Apple plans on going forward due to Covid-19.
According to Prosser, it’s possible Apple might wait to make the announcement in March 2021 instead.
Regardless, Apple reportedly wants the media present whenever they do unveil the glasses — which makes sense, given that it’s a very “hands-on” product. So it’s likely they’ll wait until it’s safe again to gather thousands of people under one roof.
As for availability, however, these new frames probably won’t hit shelves until late 2021 or even 2022.