According to The Information media, Apple and Foxconn have reached a key milestone in the development of Apple’s long-rumored augmented reality (AR) head-mounted device. The device’s translucent lens has transitioned from prototype to trial production. According to people familiar with the matter, Apple is developing translucent lenses on a production line at the Foxconn factory in Chengdu, southwest China. It is worth mentioning that most of Apple’s iPad production is concentrated in this factory.
Apple has multiple stages in the development of AR devices, starting with the prototype design stage in California and China. During this period, Apple manufactured dozens and hundreds of products and parts, respectively. According to people familiar with the matter, as of May, Apple translucent lenses have entered a stage known as engineering verification testing or EVT, during which Apple usually produces thousands of lenses to determine the design and begin testing whether it is suitable for mass production.
According to people familiar with the matter, the manufacture of Apple's AR lenses is particularly challenging because they are made of multiple layers of very thin and different synthetic materials, and each layer is prone to bubbles, scratches and other marks. To reduce defects, lenses must be manufactured in dust-free areas. These translucent lenses are larger than normal lenses.
The report shows that the translucent lens (and the device itself) is at least one to two years away from mass production, and various rumors point to release around 2022. It is said that in addition to the original head-mounted device (codenamed N301), Apple has a number of AR and VR projects under development, as well as a pair of stylish AR glasses codenamed N421, which may be launched in 2023.
Apple has multiple stages in the development of AR devices, starting with the prototype design stage in California and China. During this period, Apple manufactured dozens and hundreds of products and parts, respectively. According to people familiar with the matter, as of May, Apple translucent lenses have entered a stage known as engineering verification testing or EVT, during which Apple usually produces thousands of lenses to determine the design and begin testing whether it is suitable for mass production.
According to people familiar with the matter, the manufacture of Apple's AR lenses is particularly challenging because they are made of multiple layers of very thin and different synthetic materials, and each layer is prone to bubbles, scratches and other marks. To reduce defects, lenses must be manufactured in dust-free areas. These translucent lenses are larger than normal lenses.
The report shows that the translucent lens (and the device itself) is at least one to two years away from mass production, and various rumors point to release around 2022. It is said that in addition to the original head-mounted device (codenamed N301), Apple has a number of AR and VR projects under development, as well as a pair of stylish AR glasses codenamed N421, which may be launched in 2023.
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