iPhone “Ultra” model with spatial video and image capture support for Apple Vision Pro in development: report
According to a report, Apple is working on an iPhone “Ultra” model that could, for the first time, support the recording of special videos and images to be used on the Apple Vision Pro, its first spatial computer. The Cupertino-based company is reportedly developing a cellphone that could launch next year after the Vision Pro goes on sale. When its first wearable mixed reality headset was announced earlier this year, Apple said it would offer “incredible depth,” and the device uses cameras on the outer casing to record a user’s surroundings.
A report by MacRumors, citing an unnamed Weibo user, claims that an “Ultra” iPhone model is in the works and that it will “make the market reconsider what kind of photos and videos a cellphone can take should record”. While the report doesn’t mention details about the alleged phone’s camera configuration, it does suggest that the phone could be used to capture detailed, immersive videos and photos that could be used on Apple’s first spatial computer — the Apple Vision Pro.
Back in February, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claimed in his weekly Power On newsletter that Apple was planning to launch a new iPhone model in 2024 that would be an even more advanced version of the company’s flagship iPhone range, which was expected to launch later in the year year will be on the market. Apple has since confirmed that it will hold a launch event on September 12, but in true Apple fashion, there’s no word from the company on how many models will be launching next week.
Apple unveiled the Vision Pro headset at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) event in June, but said the device won’t be available to customers until early 2024. Developers can currently test their apps in simulators and in development labs set up by the company in selected regions.
The company’s first mixed reality headset features high-resolution displays with Apple’s proprietary EyeSight, which allows the wearer to keep an eye on their surroundings. It supports both augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies and has a number of sensors and cameras located on the body. According to the company, the headset will use these sensors to map the wearer’s environment and enable finger-based gesture inputs. Apple has yet to announce whether the Vision Pro headset will be available in multiple markets, including India.
