Apple’s headset will reportedly run “xrOS”

Rumors of Apple’s mixed-reality technology and VR headset have been floating around for years, but things are finally coming into focus. In May, the company demonstrated a version of the headset to its board of directors. And now we’re hearing Apple has a new name for the software as it inches closer to a release date.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the internal name of “realityOS” we reported on in August is changing internally to “xrOS,” which stands for extended reality. With a heavy mix of virtual and augmented reality experiences, not to mention virtual versions of all of Apple’s most popular apps, “extended reality” makes sense.

Furthermore, Gurman reports that a shell corporation named Deep Dive LLC has filed a trademark for the brand “xrOS,” suggesting a release date is on the horizon as Apple readies its Metaverse competitor.

While we still don’t much much about Apple’s VR headset or what it’ll be called, previous reports suggest a high-end device that could cost anywhere from $2,000 to upwards of $3,000. And while that sounds expensive, the Meta Quest Pro is available at an eye-watering $1,500, so nothing would surprise me.

So, does this mean Apple is preparing to release its first AV/VR headset? We’re not sure. At the beginning of the year, Bloomberg said Apple delayed the launch until 2023 due to “challenges related to content and overheating,” along with camera issues.

With 2023 fast approaching, we could be on the verge of getting a taste of Apple’s vision for AR and VR.

via Engadget