Apple's AR headset to weigh just 300 grams and offer hand tracking

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shares his predictions regarding the rumored AR headset. He says that it will weigh anything between 300 and 400 grams, which is pretty light, to begin with, and will be powered by the M1 silicon.

But since the AR glasses will rely on the user's hand gestures for navigation through the UI, the device will pack some advanced tracking hardware as well. The analyst thinks that the company will use a combination of ToF (time of flight) and structured light sensors. The latter are the staple of today's iPhones' Face ID but since the user's hands will be further away, the sensors will have to increase their reach by 200%.

The software will also be able to sense "dynamic detail change" of the hands that would further improve accuracy. That's how Face ID works - it can detect facial expressions that won't interfere with the unlocking process.

The ToF sensors, on the other hand, would aid in the low-latency tracking and improve the field of view of the headset.

It's also worth noting that according to inside sources, Apple is already working on a second iteration of the device, which will likely be even lighter than the first one. That suggests that Apple is close to launching the original version.

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