Apple was granted a new patent this week for a head-mounted display (HMD) accessory that can be inserted into an iPhone phone, allowing users to temporarily turn their iPhone phones into virtual reality or augmented reality headsets.
Earlier in the year Apple released its most anticipated AR hardware product at its Worldwide Developers Conference: the Vision Pro. Its price tag of $3499 has deterred many consumers, and even Apple CEO Tim Cook isn’t sure if the average person can afford it.
Apple is also rumored to be developing a “cheap” version of the Vision Pro, but even the “cheap” version probably won’t be cheap. Apple’s new patent suggests that users could put their iPhone or iPad into a slot attached to a headband that looks like a pair of goggles. The patent also suggests that the iPhone would have a detection mechanism that would communicate with the device to establish a wireless connection, meaning Apple is exploring new ways for people to use their iPhones and iPads.
The exact mechanism for this headband and how it will communicate with the iPhone or iPad to create a VR experience is not yet clear. The patent doesn’t necessarily mean that a product will actually be made, but it does suggest that Apple engineers are considering a way to turn an iPhone or iPad into a VR headset.
