Apple Showed Its Mixed-Reality Headset To Its Board of Directors.

Media Credit: 9to5mac

According to Bloomberg, Apple's board of directors previewed its mixed-reality headset last week, indicating that the company's next significant new product category might debut shortly.

The debut of a new product category for Apple might open up new markets and perhaps re-create the world-changing iPhone launch of 2007. However, if the headset is a flop, it may reignite doubts about the company's product strategy and execution. According to Bloomberg, the new device will employ cameras on the outside to send images to high-resolution displays on the interior of the virtual reality headset, a method known as "pass-through" augmented reality. Apple Watch, the company's most recent significant new product category, debuted in the fall of 2014 and was introduced the following year.

Media Credit: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Experts say the ideal augmented reality gadget would have clear lenses and be as light as a pair of glasses, but the underlying technology isn't there yet.

Concerns concerning the headset's price and utility have yet to be addressed. According to some predictions, the retail price would be around $3,000, more than twice as much as a new iPhone model, and potentially limit sales. Apple also ntends to release augmented reality versions of its iPhone apps for its new product.

Apple isn't alone in working on a mixed-reality headset. Last week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg showed off "Project Cambria," a virtual reality headset with augmented pass-through reality. Google also unveiled a prototype of smart glasses that can interpret foreign languages in real-time last week. Also, with Apple inviting developers to their campus, I have a strong feeling they might preview the headset at WWDC.