Apple is expected to unveil its first virtual reality headset, dubbed Vision Pro, later this year. The headset will feature advanced technologies like room-scale VR capabilities, powerful on-device processing, and ultra high-resolution displays. Now, accessory maker Belkin has revealed plans for an official battery clip accessory that will extend the battery life of the Vision Pro.
Belkin Battery Clip Provides Additional Power
According to reports from leading Apple insider Mark Gurman, Belkin is developing a battery pack accessory that clips onto the Vision Pro headset. The battery pack will connect to a port on the headset to provide additional power.
Details are slim, but Gurman says the battery clip will “provide more battery life for the headset when on the go.” It remains unclear exactly how much extra battery life the clip will provide. Gurman speculates it could be in the range of 2-3 additional hours.
The Vision Pro headset itself is expected to provide 2-3 hours of battery life for gaming and other intensive use cases. A battery clip accessory would help extend VR sessions for those unable to charge frequently.
Pricing and Availability
Belkin plans to launch its Vision Pro battery clip accessory around the same time Apple unveils the headset later this year. Specific pricing details have not been announced.
However, Gurman reports that Apple may not include the battery clip for free with Vision Pro purchases despite it being an official accessory. This suggests the clip may carry a premium price tag above typical Belkin accessories.
With Apple having historically priced many accessories like chargers and cables separately from iPhone purchases, an extra cost for the VR battery clip aligns with their strategy. Nonetheless, the move may disappoint some eager early adopters hoping for a battery boost bundle.
What We Know About Vision Pro So Far
While Belkin’s battery clip marks the first announced third-party accessory, it joins a steadily growing list of details around Apple’s VR/AR roadmap.
Here’s a quick recap of key things we know so far about Vision Pro based on credible reports:
- Launch planned for 2023 (likely early 2H)
- Industrial design by Apple’s former chief design officer Jony Ive
- Ultra high resolution displays exceeding 4K per eye
- Room-scale capabilities for movement in VR environments
- On-device processing from custom Apple silicon
- Retailed around $2,000+ making it a premium consumer device
- Advanced hand tracking and camera technology to enable avatar representations of users in VR
- Tight integration with Apple’s ecosystem of products and services
The Vision Pro headset represents Apple’s first major entry into the VR/AR market that CEO Tim Cook has frequently touted as “critically important” for the company.
While no complete launch game plan has surfaced yet, Apple is likely to position Vision Pro similarly to the iPhone as a breakthrough new platform primed to take immersive technologies mainstream beyond gaming and enterprise use cases.
What’s Next for Apple VR?
Following reports of Belkin’s Vision Pro accessory reveal, excitement will continue building around the headset unveiling expected later this year.
Apple is likely to ramp up teases, leaks, and hints about its VR roadmap over the coming months. With large headsets presenting unique design constraints, accessories like Belkin’s battery clip may prove critical to driving mainstream adoption.
Beyond 2023, rumors point to Apple having more AR-focused devices in store leveraging technologies from Vision Pro. Respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted back in 2021 Apple’s long-term goal is to create AR glasses by 2025. An AR headset could succeed Vision Pro before eventually evolving into lightweight smart glasses for all-day wear.
For now, Belkin’s battery clip headlines a flurry of accessory makers likely preparing add-ons to bolster Vision Pro’s capabilities for power users. But if Apple sticks to its usual strategy, first-party accessories like a charging dock could also make an appearance to provide integrated out-of-box solutions too.
Either way, the pieces are falling into place for Apple’s next “one more thing…” blockbuster reveal as the VR/AR era prepares to kick into high-gear. 2023 is shaping up to be monumental year for Apple’s ambitions beyond the iPhone. And with Belkin riding shotgun with the first accessory, Apple’s ecosytem stands ready to evolve reality once again.
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