Which Is Winning The Augmented Reality Race: Apple Or Google?
The technology of the future will be augmented reality, and Apple and Google will be the frontrunners.
When it comes to launch timing, privacy, and patents, Apple has the upper hand.
According to Loup Funds co-founder Gene Munster, augmented reality, or AR, is the next computing platform, and Apple, Inc. is leading the charge.
Google's AR Glasses: According to Munster, Google previewed its AR glasses at I/O 2022, but did not say when they will be available. It should be accessible by 2024, according to the analyst.
According to the analyst, Google's AR glasses preview highlighted an AR implementation of Google Translate, which provides subtitles to one's perception of the world. This isn't surprising, he says, because real-time translation has long been a desired feature of an AR garment.
According to the analyst, the main difficulty with Google's AR Glasses would be privacy, based on privacy concerns with Google Glass, which the firm unveiled a decade ago.
According to the analyst, Google built retinal projection technology that contains 2D elements floating a meter in front of the eyes through its 2020 acquisition of smart eyeglass producer North. He also mentioned that the corporation has purchased other AR technology.
Google's R&D spending on AR is estimated to be approximately $39 billion, according to the analyst.
Apple MR Glasses: According to Munster, Apple prioritizes AR less than auto but more than healthcare. However, together with Google, the company will be one of the two most significant contributors to AR hardware, he noted.
Education, entertainment, interactive gaming, and enterprise are among the use-case visions of Apple CEO Tim Cook, according to the analyst.
Apple is expected to release its MR headset in 2023 or 2024, followed by Apple Glass in 2026, according to the expert.
In terms of privacy, Apple has wisely chosen LiDAR sensors over cameras, according to the analyst. He emphasized that this will promote environmental awareness without invading people's privacy.
According to Munster, Apple has filed over 59 patents related to in-air motions as well as patents for a spatial 3D audio engine to improve virtual reality games. The company has also applied for patenting a technology known as "optical subassembly," which would correct damaged eyesight and allow the AR device to replace prescription lenses, according to the analyst.
Apple's MR headgear is expected to cost roughly $3,000, making it only affordable to computer nerds and early adopters, according to Munster.
"To convince people to wear these devices in their daily lives, we'll need a price around $1,000 and more functionality," he continued.
According to the analyst, Apple might invest roughly $26 billion on AR research and development.
According to Benzinga Pro statistics, Apple concluded Friday's session up 3.19 percent at $147.11. Alphabet, the parent company of Google, closed 2.96 percent higher at $2,330.31.