Apple iPhone 'Virtual Reality' In The Works: Release Date, Featured Patents, & Other Rumors

By Rita Mendoza - 04 Nov '16 09:58AM

"Apple Virtual Reality" is now beginning to keep up with the other leading smartphone companies in the industry. They are already releasing their own Virtual Reality headset and before long, Apple will be another major player in the industry.

Apple has been rumored to be exploring virtual and augmented reality technologies for many years. The speculation goes that Apple has a search research unit with hundreds of employees working on Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, and exploring how it can be used in Apple products. According to MacRumors, “VR/AR hiring has ramped up and Apple has acquired multiple AR/VR companies, suggesting something is afoot in Cupertino.”

Release Date

Apple is still working on their virtual reality headset, and currently in the prototype stage. So it might take years before the product launches, should there be any. With Apple’s recent acquisitions related to augmented reality, Apple bringing AR to iPhone is not far off. After all, Augmented Reality doesn’t need any new hardware to be implemented.

Featured Patents

In a report by DigitalTrends, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PDF) granted Apple a new patent on Tuesday called “Head-Mounted Display Apparatus For Retaining A Portable Electronic Device With Display.” The bearing similarity with Samsung’s Gear VR headset, Apple’s Virtual Reality is designed for smaller phones and users wearing glasses.

Apple’s patented design can accommodate iPhone Plus. If the user inserts the Plus size, the VR will display a smaller screen and might have a lower resolution depending on the distance of the consumer’s eyes. But, the VR is not restricted to displaying only one image frame. The patent also illustrates a solid pair of glasses than an engulfing headset, with built-in arms, and dangling earphones that look much like the pair that comes with the iPhone.

Apple is clearly taking steps towards creating their own VR headsets and AR technology for iPhone owners. While the granted patents look particularly interesting, it means that Apple iPhone Virtual Reality may already be in the works, and will probably hit the market sooner than later.