Apple's New Patent: A Step Closer To Reality Or Just Another Quirk For Vision Pro?

Apple Inc. AAPL has recently acquired a patent that hints at innovative functionalities for the Vision Pro's external display. Apple's former chief design officer, Jony Ive, is listed as one of the inventors in the patent.

What Happened: The patent, as reported by The Verge on Wednesday and first spotted by Patently Apple, implies that the Vision Pro’s external display could display what the user is seeing inside the device.

The patent sheds light on how an external screen on a generic head-mounted display could be used to project the wearer’s vision to those around them.

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In simpler words, the Vision Pro's outer display could show others what the wearer is seeing. It could also show some other useful or even silly animations if the wearer so wants it. This also includes a "Do Not Disturb" sign, which could alert others not to bother the wearer.

It's worth noting that merely winning a patent does not mean Apple will include this feature in the Vision Pro headset – either now or in the future. However, it shows that the company is exploring possibilities to make the virtual reality headset more useful.

Why It Matters: The patent news comes at a time when there’s a buzz about a significant display overhaul for the second edition of the Vision Pro mixed reality headset, as suggested by a market intelligence firm, Omdia.

The speculated display technology for the Vision Pro 2 is expected to offer enhanced brightness and efficiency, potentially addressing the original Vision Pro’s power consumption issue.

Apple is also reportedly preparing to launch its $3,500 Vision Pro headset in the last week of January. This accelerates the launch timeline from February.

Photo by Hadrian on Shutterstock

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.