Apple AR/VR Headset will scan your iris when you put it on

A new report in The Information has revealed some new details about Apple’s upcoming augmented and virtual reality glasses.

Among other things, the report details the features that set Apple’s headset apart from Meta’s just-announced Quest Pro, which is likely to be Apple’s biggest device competitor.

The new headset will scan the user’s iris so that they can be recognized and logged into their individual account as soon as they put on the headset. This feature will work for multiple users, making it easier, for example, to transfer a headset from one person to another. In addition, iris scanning technology will be used to authenticate payments. The Meta headset will not have an iris scan.

In other words, it will be the headset equivalent of Face ID or Touch ID, the biometric authentication methods previously used on iPhones, iPads and Macs.

The headset will also offer adjustments for users who wear glasses. They will be able to “magnetically mount prescription lenses inside the headset.”

This won’t be the only way an Apple headset scans its wearer. Earlier it was reported that the device will have 14 cameras. The two, as stated in today’s report, will scan the wearer’s legs so that the position of said legs can be accurately displayed by a virtual avatar.

In contrast, the recently announced Meta Quest Pro headset has four fewer cameras (10) and no foot cameras. Floating torsos and legless faces are often seen in 3D telepresence applications, but it looks like Apple wants to get away from that standard.

Apple and Meta are ready to battle for the mixed reality space. Meta has been in VR for seven years now, but Apple has a stronger AR experience thanks to sensors and developer support on its iPhones and iPads. And while Meta has a significant lead in immersive virtual reality software, it’s not as experienced as Apple in hardware product development.

Meta’s Quest Pro was first introduced on October 11th and will be available for purchase starting October 25th for $1,499.99. Apple’s headset has faced several delays, but is now scheduled for release in 2023 at a higher price.