Oliver Haslam on January 6, 2022, 12:00 am

Apple’s AR/VR Headset Could Arrive In 2022 With 3P Pancake Lenses

Apple is roundly expected to launch at least one mixed reality headset within the next couple of years with a new report suggesting that one of those headsets could arrive as soon as this year. We’ve already heard similar reports from elsewhere, but this latest one comes via a research note from Ming-Chi Kuo.

The note, which was seen by MacRumors, suggests that not only will the new headset arrive before the end of the year but that it will also feature so-called 3P pancake lenses.

According to MacRumors, the lenses could allow for a smaller, lighter design.

In a research note with TF International Securities, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo said Apple’s headset will feature two “3P pancake lenses,” which have a folded design that allows light to reflect back and forth between the display and lenses. This design can allow Apple to release a more compact and lightweight headset.

Display analyst Ross Young yesterday noted that we should expect the new headset to ship with three displays built in rather than the traditional two.

Apple’s mixed reality headset is expected to be a costly thing when it does arrive, with similar reports saying that we should expect the device to be severely supply-constrained once it does land. With that in mind, ready availability seems more likely to be a 2023 thing than something we will see this year.