When Apple unveiled its first-ever augmented reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at WWDC 2023, they only provided a glimpse of its potential use cases.
However, Ming-Chi Kuo, a renowned industry analyst known for his insights into Apple, recently shared some information about how the iPhone 15 could enhance the functionality of the headset.
Kuo suggests that Apple is planning to aggressively upgrade its hardware to create a more competitive ecosystem for the Vision Pro.
One particular technology that Apple is focusing on is Ultra Wideband (UWB). UWB was introduced with the iPhone 11 series in 2019 and has primarily been used for proximity-based pairing and sharing between compatible devices, such as AirDrop and Handoff.
It is also the technology behind Precision Finding for AirTag trackers.
Currently, UWB functionality relies on Apple’s U1 chip, which is built on a 16nm process, However, Kuo claims that the iPhone 15 will feature an upgraded U1 chip built on a more advanced 7nm process.
This upgrade aims to improve performance and reduce power consumption.
This enhancement could give iPhone 15 devices an advantage in real-time media sharing and other experiences with the Vision Pro headset.
It also opens up possibilities for enhanced functionality that other Apple hardware may not support due to the superior combination of cameras and sensors found in the iPhone.
Kuo also mentioned Apple’s plans for Wi-Fi 7, stating that it will provide a better ecosystem experience by enabling seamless integration of hardware products running on the same local network.
He anticipates that the iPhone 16, expected in 2024, will feature Wi-Fi 7, further enhancing Apple’s ecosystem.
While many questions still surround the Vision Pro’s hardware and software ahead of its release in 2024, the potential connectivity options with the iPhone 15 and 16 raise further speculation.
Hopefully, come September, Apple will reveal how the enhanced UWB experience on the next iPhone will augment the capabilities of the Vision Pro headset.
