Mashable: Apple has been investing in AR since at least WWDC 2017 when it introduced ARKit.

Apple is just about to announce its mixed reality headset at WWDC 2023. The device combine will combine augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in one sleek and lightweight gadget that lets you see and interact with virtual content in your real environment, or immerse yourself in a completely different world.

But this device didn’t come out of thin air. It’s actually the result of years of work that Apple has been doing with AR on the iPhone and iPad, laying the groundwork for the technology that powers the headset.

According to a report from 9to5Mac, Apple has been investing in AR since at least WWDC 2017, when it introduced ARKit, a framework that enables developers to create stunning AR apps for iOS devices. Since then, Apple has been adding new AR features and capabilities to every keynote, from playing with virtual LEGO sets on a table to trying on glasses without touching them.

Apple has also been improving its hardware to support AR. From Face ID and Animoji to LiDAR scanners and Neural Engines, Apple has been equipping its iPhones and iPads with sensors and chips that can handle complex AR tasks. These features not only make AR more realistic and responsive, but also more fun and accessible.

But as impressive as AR is on the iPhone and iPad, it’s not the ultimate way to experience it. The screen size and weight of these devices limit how immersive and comfortable AR can be. That’s why Apple needed a headset that could take AR to the next level.

And that’s exactly what can be expected at WWDC 2023. The mixed reality headset is a sleek and lightweight device that combines AR and VR in one. It lets you see virtual content overlaid on your real environment, or switch to a fully immersive VR mode when you want to escape reality.

The headset will uses the same technologies that power AR on iOS devices, but with more advanced capabilities. It can track your face, eyes, hands, and body movements, as well as your surroundings and other people. It can also render high-quality graphics and audio that make you feel like you’re in another world.

The headset will also leverage the power of the iPhone and iPad to run apps and games. You could also use your existing iOS devices as controllers, or use gestures and voice commands to interact with the headset. You could also access all your favorite iOS apps and services on the headset, as well as new ones designed specifically for mixed reality.