After years of rumors and months of small leaks regarding details, we now know about the Apple Vision Pro. The company’s first space computer was unveiled during the last WWDC, leaving us all amazed. Amazed by its capabilities, yes, but also by the integration it will have with other devices in the Apple ecosystem. Something that will make the iPhone 15 even better thanks to these two components.
Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has recently shared his insights into the strategy that the tech giant has in mind to compete in the field of augmented and virtual reality. Apple’s plan involves not only their newly announced Vision Pro, set to hit the US market in early 2024, but also future models of the iPhone, starting with the iPhone 15 expected to be unveiled later this year. According to Kuo, Apple intends to significantly enhance the hardware features of the iPhone 15 to seamlessly integrate with the ecosystem spearheaded by the Vision Pro.
A more efficient U2 chip: spatial awareness sustained over time
According to Kuo’s tweet, Apple is focusing on “aggressively improving the hardware specifications” of its iPhones to strengthen the Vision Pro ecosystem. Specifically, he points out that the main hardware specifications that will be enhanced in this year’s iPhone models are Wi-Fi and, especially, Ultra Wideband (UWB). These are two technologies that play a vital role in wireless communication and also in precise device positioning, which Apple refers to as spatial awareness.
The first step in these changes will be the improvement of the Ultra Wideband chip in the iPhone 15. Currently, Apple uses the U1 chip for Ultra Wideband technology. The U1 chip made its debut in the iPhone 11 and has been part of every iPhone model since then. This chip is also present in the AirTag, Apple Watch Series 6 and later models, HomePod mini, second-generation HomePod, and the charging case of the latest generation AirPods Pro. Now, this chip could potentially see an evolution to a U2 version, according to Kuo, transitioning from 16 nm to 7 nm technology. This would be a significant change as it would allow for improved performance and lower power consumption in close-range interactions.
In other words, while the current chip already functions as part of the Find My app, Handoff technology, precise device localization, AirDrop, music sharing with HomePod, and other uses, it could now go beyond that. With improved efficiency, its usage can be sustained for a longer time without a significant impact on battery life. This enhancement, when considering the integration of the iPhone 15 into the Vision Pro ecosystem, can bring significant advantages.
Wi-Fi 7: iPhone 16 connectivity enhancements
Moving on to the next generation of the iPhone, Kuo also ventures to claim that the iPhone 16 will be Apple’s first iPhone to offer support for Wi-Fi 7 technology. This new standard promises a significant advancement in data transfer speeds and, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance, provides substantial benefits for virtual reality and augmented reality. This aligns perfectly with the goals of Vision Pro, which will now be able to create a dedicated network between devices with much lower latency and significantly higher data transfer capacity.
Currently, we are not aware of the technical specifications of Vision Pro. We have seen it in operation, but that’s about it. In this regard, especially considering its planned release in early next year, we may be in for some surprises. Surprises like the U2 chip that could arrive with the iPhone 15 this coming September.
In any case, the anticipated improvements for the iPhone 15 and subsequent models in terms of Wi-Fi connectivity and UWB capability, as mentioned by Kuo, will not only make these devices more efficient and powerful but also prepare them for the near future, enabling optimal integration with Vision Pro. Clearly, this is excellent news for devices that will soon be at the forefront of the new technological era.
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