Apple may again be looking to nail down “Reality” trademarks ahead of the launch of its much-anticipated AR/VR headset, Bloomberg has reported. Applications were filed for the names “Reality One,” “Reality Pro” and “Reality Processor” in the US, EU, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica and Uruguay. While Apple didn’t directly request the trademarks, they were filed by law firms that it has previously used to claim brand names.
Clues emerged in February that Apple may be using “Reality” branding for its headsets, when the term was spotted in GitHub open source code and App Store upload logs. Then in May, trademark applications were spotted for “realityOS” at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Those were filed by a company called Realityo Systems, but evidence suggests that’s a shell company created by Apple to cover its tracks.
With realityOS as a potential name for the operating system, Reality One and Reality Pro could be naming options for the actual headsets. “Reality Processor” could be an M2-based chip designed for the headset that reportedly includes 16 gigabytes of memory, along with graphics technology designed for high-resolution VR and AR images.
There are similar clues with the new filings. The three “Reality” trademarks were filed by a shell company called Immersive Health Solutions LLC incorporate in February, according to Bloomberg. That was registered by another shell corporation (Corporation Trust Co.) often used for filings by firms who want to avoid publicity. Trademarks filed in other countries like New Zealand, meanwhile, were made by law firms that Apple has used in the past.
Apple’s development of AR/VR headsets has been rumored for years, after it purchased VR company VRvana in 2017. The most recent rumor from Bloomberg suggests that the headset will be delayed until 2023 . It may include VR versions of apps like Maps and FaceTime along with collaboration features that will help it compete with Meta. It may also let users watch movies and other content, while offering health-related functions.