Apple's rumored VR and mixed reality headset has the potential to be a big hit, given that it is said to allow hand gesture control and object detection. That's right, there will be no need for clunky controllers like Meta's current Oculus Quest 2.

This latest information comes from trusted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors), who also recently claimed that Apple's potential mixed reality headset could weigh around 300-400 grams.

According to Kuo, the device is expected to feature a "highly sensitive 3D sensing module" that would enable the aforementioned features.

He predicts that "AR/MR headsets will be able to detect not only changes in the position of the user's or another person's hand or object in front of the user, but also changes in the dynamic details of the hand." Simply put, this technology could work in the same way that an iPhone recognizes your facial movements and expressions through Face ID."

Kuo claims that by capturing the precise details of hand movements, a "more intuitive and vivid human-machine UI" can be achieved. This could open the door to new immersive experiences. As an example, Kuo proposed that when a user changes his or her hand from a clenched fist to an open hand, the machine could track this movement and create an image that floats up as if a balloon were released

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To enable such an experience, Apple's headset is expected to have four sets of 3D sensors, each more powerful than those in the current iPhone. This could allow the UI to be controlled without the use of an external controller by detecting micro gestures, eye movements, facial expression changes, and voice control.

Meta (the company formerly known as Facebook) is working on its own new high-end mixed reality headset, codenamed Cambria for now, and the company seems to be focusing on two main areas. First, it will be able to capture facial expressions in real time to convey emotions. Cambria will also offer augmented reality (AR) capabilities, allowing objects in the physical world to be represented with a sense of depth.

However, we have yet to hear whether Meta will stick to physical controllers or go the route of hand recognition and gesture control. We do know, however, that Google is working on a new AR device.

MacRumors also reports that a patent application found earlier this year by Patently Apple titled "Devices, Methods, and Graphical User Interfaces for Interacting with Three-Dimensional Environments (Devices, Methods, and Graphical User Interfaces for Interacting with Three-Dimensional Environments)" and notes that it describes a similar concept.

Of course, there has been no official announcement from Apple yet, but if Kuo's claims come to fruition, this device will be part of our best VR headset roundup.

Cupertino's mixed reality product is one of many Apple products that could be announced in 2022. Over the next year, Apple is also said to be working on an Apple Glasses product that uses augmented reality and would ship in 2023.