Apple has finally revealed its highly anticipated AR headset at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference, and it’s even stranger-looking than expected. One of its quirkiest features is a front-facing display that shows the wearer’s expressions to others by projecting a live view of their eyes on the screen. This confirms previous leaks and adds a comical touch, as it resembles googly eyes stuck to the front of ski goggles.
This headset carries significant weight as Apple’s first original hardware line in the Tim Cook era. Considering the challenges faced by competitors like Facebook in the metaverse space, Apple is facing an uphill battle.
The unconventional front-facing display might not be helping its cause. Apple aims to position the headset as a social way to experience augmented worlds, and the EyeSight feature could potentially enhance emotional expression compared to bulkier devices—though it remains to be seen in practice.
Given the revealed information, there are serious doubts about the execution of Apple’s vision. Will anyone be willing to pay a hefty $3,499 for this device? Can Apple singlehandedly revitalize an industry that has struggled to bring VR headsets into the mainstream for years?
Unsurprisingly, social media had a field day mocking the headset’s eye transparency feature through memes. Tech reviewer Marques “MKBHD” Brownlee shared a Spongebob Squarepants meme, playfully mocking the lifelike eyes on the front of the device.
“Feeling dystopian yet?” he added in a follow-up.
The Daily Newsletter Morning Brew chose an image of Anakin Skywalker wearing an ill-fitting pod-racing headset from “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.” While some onlookers cautiously expressed optimism, Apple faces the challenge of convincing enough people to invest over three thousand dollars in this device.
“After hearing about Apple’s headset for so long, this is honestly kind of surreal,” tweeted Riley Murdock, a video producer at the YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips. “Looking really great so far.”
“I love shitting on Apple but if anyone is going to make AR/VR a mainstream thing, it’s them,” he added.
Adding to the difficulties, the headset will not be available until “early next year,” prolonging the wait for answers and further complicating Apple’s task.